Philadelphia, PA – The parents of an 18-year-old Bucknell University football player, who died following a practice session last summer, have initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against the institution. The lawsuit claims that the university failed to take necessary precautions for their son, who had a known medical condition.
Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr., a freshman at Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, tragically collapsed during the football team’s initial workout on July 10, 2024, and succumbed to his condition two days later. He had been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a severe condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue leading to the release of a damaging protein into the bloodstream.
Before CJ’s participation in the athletics program, Bucknell’s sports department had been informed of his positive test for sickle cell trait, a condition that enhances the risk of developing rhabdomyolysis. Research by reputable health organizations like the Cleveland Clinic shows a correlation between the trait and heightened vulnerability to this muscle condition, particularly under physical stress.
CJ’s parents, Nicole and Calvin Dickey Sr., allege in their filing that the university assured them that appropriate measures would be in place to manage their son’s health risks. Nonetheless, according to them, these promises were inadequately fulfilled.
During the team’s workout, which was the season’s first, CJ and other freshmen were subjected to rigorous physical activities as a form of “punishment” for errors during practice. This allegedly involved repeated intensive exercises which are cited in the complaint as having likely contributed to his rapid health decline.
Following his collapse, CJ was rushed to the emergency room, where his condition worsened, leading to multiple organ complications, convulsions, and severe distress. His parents were faced with the harrowing decision to cease resuscitation efforts after he suffered several cardiac arrests.
In response to the lawsuit, Bucknell University expressed its condolences but refrained from commenting directly on the ongoing litigation. The institution reiterated its commitment to student safety and wellness as its foremost concern.
The legal claim filed by the Dickey family demands that Bucknell University disclose full details of the circumstances leading up to CJ’s death, accept responsibility, and provide compensation for the loss of their son. The family also seeks that the university initiates programs to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Currently represented by attorneys Michael Caspino and Stuart Price, the Dickey family articulate their principal motive for the lawsuit is to uncover the facts of their son’s final days and to ensure that such a tragedy does not recur affecting another family.
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