URI Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit with Family of Late Student-Athlete

KINGSTON, RI—The University of Rhode Island and its insurers have settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a student-athlete who died after a strength and conditioning workout at the school in 2011.

The university settled the lawsuit for $1.45 million three days before its trial was set to be begin on Jan. 11 and will establish a separate scholarship in memory of Joseph P. Ciancola, III, of Orange, Conn., who was a member of the URI baseball team.

Ciancola’s mother, Michele, brought the lawsuit in August 2012.

Ciancola died three days after the Oct. 24, 2011 workout session during which he collapsed.

URI disputed the allegations in the lawsuit and both sides “claimed strong support for their respective positions,” according to a news release.

The decision to settle “recognizes that this was a tragic death and acknowledges the uncertainty involved in litigation of this nature,” the release stated.

The lawyer representing Michele Ciancola said that the settlement was “good for both sides.

“This was a tragic death and a hard-fought legal dispute. We are pleased that in addition to the settlement funds, URI will set up a scholarship in Joe’s memory,” said Patrick C. Barry of Decof, Decof & Barry, P.C.

“Joe was, and with this scholarship, will continue to be part of the University of Rhode Island Athletics family,” said Thorr Bjorn, URI Athletic Director.

Since Ciancola’s death, his mother has been an advocate for increasing access to automatic external defibrillators, or AEDs, on college campuses.

“My hope is that no mother or athlete will ever have to bear what I have been through,” she wrote in a 2012 letter to members of the Connecticut legislature urging them to consider a bill addressing the accessibility of AEDs.

She said that her son’s initial condition was deemed heat stroke and he was transported to the local hospital, South County Hospital, which lacked a trauma unit. By the time he was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, his temperature was 107 and he suffered kidney failure.

Ciancola, 20, might have had a fighting chance if he had immediate access to an AED and thermistor in place, his mother said.

“Joey was strong and fought hard, but lost his battle. . .an untimely death that could have been prevented if proper protocol and equipment were in place,” she wrote.

Ciancola was a graduate of Amity High School’s class of 2010 and is remembered as a gifted and accomplished athlete, an All State and All Conference MVP, a fan of freshwater fishing, Phish concerts, his strings and playing pond hockey with his friends.

“He had a very humble and caring soul who appreciated the every day things in life and took immense pleasure in having breakfast with Pop,” according to his obituary.

Photo courtesy: Ciancola Family