Team says supplement a factor in heatstroke death of Korey Stringer

[The_Philster]

Attorneys for the Minnesota Vikings claim the diet supplement ephedra contributed to Korey Stringer's death from heatstroke at training camp in 2001 and that Stringer's remains weren't tested for the substance during investigations of his death.


"Evidence of Korey Stringer's use of ephedra can be causally linked to onset of heatstroke,'' team attorney James O'Neal wrote in papers filed in Hennepin County District Court.


The team was responding to a motion filed by Stringer's widow, Kelci, in her $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the team, scheduled for trial June 9. Kelci Stringer's attorney, Paul DeMarco, says the team is trying to smear the player's reputation.


In documents filed Friday, team lawyers cited the testimony of Stringer's roommate, guard David Dixon, who said Stringer had told him that he had taken a supplement containing ephedra on July 31, 2001....more

[The_Philster]

Stringer lawyer: Vikings promoted use of supplements

The Minnesota Vikings promoted the use of the types of dietary supplements Korey Stringer might have used before he died from heatstroke, attorney's for Stringer's widow say in court papers.

"The Vikings did not merely tolerate the use of such supplements, but rather promoted them,'' the attorneys contend in the memo filed Friday.

Jim O'Neal, an attorney for the Vikings, said the team did not promote supplements. Team attorneys have said Stringer was known to have taken supplements and contend it might have contributed to his death.

Stringer died after collapsing during training camp in 2001. His widow, Kelci, is suing the team for $100 million....more

[The_Philster]

Minnesota judge hears arguments about dismissal of Stringer suit

ST. PAUL (March 5, 2003 1:48 a.m. EST) - After hearing more than two hours of arguments Tuesday, a district judge said he will rule soon on whether to dismiss a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by Korey Stringer's widow against the Minnesota Vikings and team physicians.

Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson listened as both sides debated doctor-patient relationships, the intricacies of worker's compensation law and physical demands placed on professional athletes.

The Vikings have asked Larson to throw out the lawsuit filed by Kelci Stringer, who claims her husband didn't receive proper medical care when he collapsed during training camp on July 31, 2001.

Korey Stringer, a 335-pound Pro Bowl lineman, died early the next morning at 27....more

[honey]

Judge dismisses claims against Vikings in Stringer case

"(AP) (Minneapolis) A judge has dismissed claims by Korey Stringer's widow against the Minnesota Vikings and some doctors, but is allowing her wrongful death lawsuit to go forward against the team's training camp doctor and his clinic...."

more

[Steve-Mo]

[The_Philster]

Stringer's widow to press Vikings after settling with doctor, clinic

MINNEAPOLIS (May 19, 2003 4:22 p.m. EDT) - Korey Stringer's widow will ask an appeals court to reinstate her $100 million lawsuit against the Minnesota Vikings now that she has settled with the last defendants.

Kelci Stringer reached a deal with the Vikings' training camp physician, Dr. David Knowles, and his Mankato Clinic for an undisclosed sum, Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson said Monday.

Last month, Larson dismissed all of Kelci Stringer's claims against the Vikings and team officials over her husband's heatstroke death in 2001. But the judge allowed her $100 million wrongful-death lawsuit to go forward against Knowles, who was not an employee of the team.

Kelci Stringer's attorney, Paul DeMarco, said he expected to ask the Minnesota Court of Appeals in the next few weeks to reinstate the lawsuit against the team....
more

[Gunzlingr]

Stringer family settles with doctor, Mankato Clinic

Pam Louwagie, Star Tribune

Published May 20, 2003 STRI20

Korey Stringer's widow and the two remaining defendants in a suit over the Vikings tackle's heatstroke death have reached a settlement, signaling the end of the first phase of the family's legal battle to recover damages.

Terms of the settlement with Dr. David Knowles and the Mankato Clinic Ltd., where he works, are confidential, attorneys said Monday.

Knowles and the clinic were the only defendants left after Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson last month threw out claims against the Vikings, its employees and other doctors.

An attorney for Kelci Stringer said the family still intends to appeal Larson's ruling to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

The settlement with Knowles and the clinic "focuses the future litigation on the other parties that we think are responsible. In particular, the Viking defendants, but possibly others," said attorney Paul DeMarco. "It was an appropriate settlement, so we entered into it."

more

[BillsFever]

Korey Stringer's widow plans to sue league on Monday

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- An attorney for Korey Stringer's widow said she will sue the NFL on Monday, alleging that the league's policies led to Stringer's heat stroke death during Minnesota Vikings training camp in 2001.

Stan Chesley said Kelci Stringer's suit would also name football helmet maker Riddell Sports Group Inc., and some NFL medical advisers. He said the federal lawsuit would include a wrongful death claim on behalf of Stringer's widow and son, and a class action claim on behalf of all NFL players.

``What's on trial here is the rules and procedures and the culture'' of the NFL, Chesley said Saturday. ``Frankly, it's no coincidence that the average football player in the NFL plays for 4 1/2 years. They use them up and spit them out.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-vikings-stringer&prov=ap&type=lgns

[The_Philster]

'Twisted belief'

Lawsuit: Abusive exercise culture led to Stringer death
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Korey Stringer's widow sued the NFL in U.S. District Court on Monday, filing a suit that says the league fosters a "deadly culture" of abusive exercise that contributed to the death of the Minnesota Vikings' lineman.

Stringer died of heat stroke during training camp in 2001.

The suit seeks unspecified financial damages and asks the court to stop the NFL from forcing players to practice and play in high heat and humidity. It says NFL coaches, trainers and doctors subject players to potentially fatal conditions by forcing them to participate in practices while wearing improper clothing for such conditions....
more