Wheeler’s Parents Unite for Suit

George Wheeler Jr. and Linda Will, the divorced parents of Rashidi Wheeler, agreed Tuesday to become co-administrators of their son’s estate while designating their attorneys co-counselors in the wrongful death suit against Northwestern University.

Rashidi Wheeler, an Ontario native and graduate of La Verne Damien High, died Aug. 3 after collapsing during a series of football conditioning wind sprints on a Northwestern practice field. The suit contends Northwestern administrators, coaches and staff were negligent in their sideline treatment of Wheeler, who was ruled to have died because of exercise-induced bronchial asthma. Northwestern has disputed that medical examiner’s finding, contending the supplement ephedrine contributed to the death.

“The parties agreed it was important to present a united front,” said Randall Schwartz, a Chicago-based attorney for Will. The administrator designation issue was scheduled to be heard in the Cook County (Ill.) probate courtroom of Judge James Kennedy, but the parties settled during a two-hour meeting outside the courtroom. Will, from Ontario, was represented by Schwartz, her lead attorney Jim Montgomery and probate attorney Dave Martin. Wheeler Jr., of Northridge, was accompanied by his Chicago attorney, Tom Demetrio.

Will, who retained full custody of Rashidi while he was a minor, said before the court date that she wanted to maintain the administrator distinction originally filed in Montgomery’s Aug. 23 suit.

“I feel I connected with Linda and found her to be a delightful, very astute, sharp lady,” Demetrio said. “I think she needed some assurances from me that our unification was real and she was entitled to that.”