Stringer Family to Sue Vikings

The family of Korey Stringer, the Minnesota Viking tackle who died three months ago of heatstroke complications, plans to sue the NFL franchise for more than $100 million.

The details of the suit will be announced at a news conference in Minneapolis today, where Stringer’s widow, Kelci, will be joined by a legal team that includes attorney Stanley M. Chesley, who has vast experience in wrongful-death cases.

“There was a gross violation of [Stringer’s] rights,” Chesley said Wednesday. “The Vikings violated every standard of conduct there is.”

Viking officials did not return phone messages to discuss the Stringer case.

The list of defendants has not been finalized, although it is expected to include Viking Coach Dennis Green; assistant head coach/offensive line coach Mike Tice; and Dr. David Knowles, the team’s physician during training camp, in addition to other members of the Viking medical staff.

The lawsuit, which will be filed the day after the Viking season ends, alleges team officials, coaches and medical personnel were negligent and wholly unprepared to deal with severe heat sickness when Stringer fell ill on the second day of training camp in Mankato, Minn.

Stringer first experienced problems on the opening day of camp, held in 90-degree heat. He vomited during practice--something not uncommon for him on the first day--but did not receive intravenous fluids, although two teammates did.

He practiced again the next day, vomiting three more times as the temperature rose to 91 on the hottest day of the year in southern Minnesota. High humidity made it feel even warmer, and the “heat index” was 110 degrees. Practice lasted 10 minutes longer than usual, the suit alleges, and Stringer retreated to an air-conditioned trailer after finishing. There, the effects of heatstroke began to take hold.

Paramedics did not reach Stringer until 12:07 p.m., more than a half-hour after Stringer staggered into the trailer. Part of the lawsuit focuses on what happened during that critical span of time, while members of the training staff tried to cool him with wet towels.

“Experts tell you when it’s heatstroke, you’ve got to get to it right away,” said James Gould, Stringer’s agent. “It just gets worse and worse. It essentially boils the organs. He was in very bad shape when he got to the hospital and we believe they dropped the ball completely.”

Stringer was unconscious upon arriving at the hospital and his body temperature was 108.8 degrees. He never regained consciousness before being pronounced dead early the next morning.

A week ago, the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Division cleared the Vikings of any direct responsibility in Stringer’s death. The 300-page report said the team provided sufficient training about the hazards of heat, and that the temperature and humidity were not high enough on the day Stringer collapsed to justify cutting practice short.

“OSHA didn’t talk to us, they didn’t talk to Kelci,” Gould said. “Who knows what they investigated? We’re going to blow holes through that report. We’re going to go after the people who are responsible for Korey’s well-being.”

Gould said the Vikings have made no attempt to reach a settlement with Kelci, a 27-year-old widow with a 3-year-old son, Kodie. The team was obligated to pay $2.85 million, Stringer’s salary for this season.

“What Kelci wants to know is, ‘How did my husband die?”’ he said. “What Kelci wants is an apology. What she wants is for people to stop making excuses and saying, ‘We did everything right.’ We were trying to do this very peacefully, and they’ve done everything wrong.”