Three days before a trial was to begin, the University of Rhode Island (URI) and its insurers settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the family of a student-athlete who died after a strength and conditioning workout at the school.
The family of Joseph P. Ciancola, III, of Orange, Conn. and their attorneys will reportedly receive $1.45 million. In addition, URI will establish a separate scholarship in memory of Ciancola, who was a member of the school’s baseball team.
The incident occurred during an Oct. 24, 2011 workout session. Believed to have suffered a heat stroke, Ciancola was transported to a local hospital that lacked a trauma unit. By the time he was transferred to Rhode Island Hospital, his body temperature had reached 107 and he had suffered kidney failure.
On October 27, Ciancola died. The family sued in August of 2012. URI disputed the allegations in the lawsuit
“Joey was strong and fought hard, but lost his battle,” Ciancola’s mother wrote in the aftermath. “(It was) an untimely death that could have been prevented if proper protocol and equipment were in place.”
Both sides welcomed the settlement.
URI spokesperson Linda Acciardo said in a statement that “the decision to settle recognizes that this was a tragic death and acknowledges the uncertainty involved in litigation of this nature.”
Meanwhile, the family’s attorney, Patrick C. Barry of Decof, Decof & Barry, P.C., said the settlement was “good for both sides.”
“This was a tragic death and a hard-fought legal dispute,” he added. “We are pleased that in addition to the settlement funds, URI will set up a scholarship in Joe’s memory.”
