BillsFever
07-11-2003, 10:49 PM
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University is seeking to have the mother of player Rashidi Wheeler barred from court depositions in her lawsuit involving his death.
Northwestern contends in papers filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court that Linda Will has glared at witnesses and called coach Randy Walker a "murderer" during depositions in the wrongful-death suit.
The university has asked the court to bar Will from future depositions or assign someone to monitor her if she is allowed to attend.
"Because of Will's repeated verbal and nonverbal personal assaults on witnesses and attorneys and her continued harassing, threatening, and intimidating behavior, certain witnesses have refused to attend depositions without the presence of armed police officers," wrote Eric Quandt, a university lawyer.
Wheeler's parents filed the lawsuit because they contend the university provided poor medical care when Wheeler, a starting safety, collapsed and died on Aug. 3, 2001, after participating in a conditioning drill. Northwestern argues ephedra-containing supplements Wheeler was taking caused his death.
Will lives in Ontario, Calif., but has attended almost every deposition in the case.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2003/0711/1579735.html
Northwestern contends in papers filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court that Linda Will has glared at witnesses and called coach Randy Walker a "murderer" during depositions in the wrongful-death suit.
The university has asked the court to bar Will from future depositions or assign someone to monitor her if she is allowed to attend.
"Because of Will's repeated verbal and nonverbal personal assaults on witnesses and attorneys and her continued harassing, threatening, and intimidating behavior, certain witnesses have refused to attend depositions without the presence of armed police officers," wrote Eric Quandt, a university lawyer.
Wheeler's parents filed the lawsuit because they contend the university provided poor medical care when Wheeler, a starting safety, collapsed and died on Aug. 3, 2001, after participating in a conditioning drill. Northwestern argues ephedra-containing supplements Wheeler was taking caused his death.
Will lives in Ontario, Calif., but has attended almost every deposition in the case.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2003/0711/1579735.html