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08-18-2005, 11:44 AM
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Watson, Crick & A Twist
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Northwestern Settles for $16 Million
Hopes it ends the lawsuit brought against the University after the tragic death of Rashidi Wheeler.
Quote:
CHICAGO (AP) -- A judge approved a $16 million settlement of a lawsuit on Monday that calls for Northwestern University to pay the family of a football player who collapsed and died during practice four years ago.
Rashidi Wheeler's mother, Linda Will, who has objected to settling the case, filed an appeal to the order.
In the court order, Circuit Judge Kathy M. Flanagan wrote that she approved the settlement to protect the interests of Wheeler's three half brothers, all of whom are minors. Flanagan wrote that if Will was the only plaintiff in the case, she would have the right to reject any settlement.
Will said the settlement was unjust and she expected the ruling to be overturned.
Wheeler, 22, collapsed in August 2001 after participating in a conditioning drill. His parents sued the school, claiming officials did not give their son, an asthmatic, timely or adequate medical treatment.
Northwestern spokesman Alan Cubbage said in a statement that the school agreed to the settlement to end the legal battle.
Updated on Monday, Aug 15, 2005 10:24 pm EDT
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08-18-2005, 12:05 PM
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Herbie for President
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I'm not too familiar with the case... however my understanding is that NW did nothing wrong... if that's the case they shouldn't pay a nickel to the family. The school wants this to be over so they are caving in... not too sure why the mother thinks the family should get more (prob. has something to do with the fact the attorney is getting a large chunk of the settlement and the leftovers will be split between several family members... the mother is prob. not getting $3 Million.... and that number is before taxes)...
Once again a stupid lawsuit clogging up our legal system...
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08-18-2005, 12:44 PM
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Watson, Crick & A Twist
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Originally Posted by LightningRod
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Which records destruction and Deposition by the Doctor are the key points. If the doctor's testimony left no doubt that he was acting alone, it seems less likely that NW would even get close to a settlement.
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Originally Posted by gbearbuck
I'm not too familiar with the case... however my understanding is that NW did nothing wrong... if that's the case they shouldn't pay a nickel to the family. The school wants this to be over so they are caving in...
Once again a stupid lawsuit clogging up our legal system...
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You don't settle for $16 Million to get a case like this off the docket.
You settle at $16 Million because you fear trial will lead to (much) harsher judgment against the school.
What did the Doctor actually say in his deposition? (Which if the agreement stands would remain closed).
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08-18-2005, 01:00 PM
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Like a deer in the headlights... then and now.
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About fifteen years ago a kid was injured playing football. He was left a quadriplegic and the parents sued; not on the grounds that he was not coached or supervised correctly, not on the grounds that a referee failed to enforce rules, not on the grounds that his equipment failed, but on the grounds that no one had told the student or his parents that the game was violent. They went after the Seattle Public Schools system and got an enormous settlement, something on the order of 60 Million.
As you can imagine right after this suit was settled the price of football helmets went up to something on the order of $350 a piece. All but Riddel left the helmet business, though I think others have come back recently.
Also as a result, all Ohio HS coaches of everything from football to golf must take a six hour course in athletic injuries and first aid each and every year that they coach along with an additional course in CPR. I didn't mind the CPR, in fact I was glad I had it, but the 6 hours of annual "This-is-what-can-happen-..." became a real pain in the ass.
One thing that was stressed was the need to fit helmets properly. This came from college trainers as well as reps of Riddle Helmets. They were very emphatic about making sure that helmets were tight, so tight that they could not come off in play.
The fad of ripping off your helmet after a big play seems to run counter to this training.
I'm convinced that pro and college teams aren't meeting this level of protection as demonstrated by the number of helmets I have seen fly off in games the last three or four years. This leads me to wonder when the next big lawsuit, perhaps the one that ends football, will come about.
If, as I suspect, teams are not fitting helmets properly due to resistance from players then a huge lawsuit is deserved and inevitable.
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08-18-2005, 01:07 PM
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Heisman Candidate
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To my understanding as well, NW didn't do anything wrong as well. Wheeler was a grown man and understood the risks involved. Football practice is supposed to be brutal and straining on the body. Two-a-Days are supposed to be extra straining because it is supposed to get you ready for the upcoming year. It sounds like times are changing, and I can even see it now at the highschool level.
I remember when Two-a-Days were from 8:00AM to 12:00PM then started back up from 2:00PM to 6:00PM. There were times when we didn't get water till the end of the first practice. Now I see more and more Highschools practicing at like 10:00AM to 11:30AM then from 3:00PM to 4:30PM. I believe that different Highschools/Institutions are being scared into changing how they run their teams. This lawsuit may worsen the situation.
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08-18-2005, 01:33 PM
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blissfully stupid
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by cincibuck
If, as I suspect, teams are not fitting helmets properly due to resistance from players then a huge lawsuit is deserved and inevitable.
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i can't make you not kill yourself.
in that case i doubt football will be done away with. but rather a very detailed disclaimer will have to be signed before a child/adult can enter into sports similar to the one i signed when i started scuba lessons. my disclaimer stated essentially that i was waiving not only my right to sue, but anyone on my behalf for any reason what-so-ever up to and including blatant negligence on the part of the instructors and company. |
08-18-2005, 02:41 PM
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Loves Buckeye History
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Nordberg
To my understanding as well, NW didn't do anything wrong as well. Wheeler was a grown man and understood the risks involved. Football practice is supposed to be brutal and straining on the body.
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NW may have done nothing wrong before Wheeler's tragic death, but when the medical records were destroyed shortly after his death, they had already lost this lawsuit before it was filed.
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08-18-2005, 02:55 PM
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Herbie for President
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