Family Settles with High School Over Player’s Death

The family of a Rolesville (N.C.) High School football player who died as a result of head injuries sustained during practice has settled a lawsuit against the Wake County school system.

According to a report from The News & Observer, Isaiah Langston was 17 when he collapsed during pre-game warm-ups on Sept. 26, 2014. Langston died three days later.

A medical examiner determined the cause of death as “head trauma while playing football.”

Langston was hit on the back of the head during football practice on Sept. 24, 2014, and his family alleged that the school did not follow state mandated concussion protocol, which is mandated by state law in North Carolina for students who show symptoms of concussion.  

While Langston was held out of practice for two days following the hit because of headaches, the school maintains that there was “no medical evidence that Langston ever suffered a concussion.” 

A report by medical examiner Dr. Andrew Rand did not state that Langston had a concussion but it did note that he was held out of practice for two days because of headaches following the hit in practice. 

Attorneys for the Wake County argues that Rand reached his conclusion without having done an autopsy, saying that he relied on statements made to emergency personnel by Langston’s mother.

The case was prepared to go to trial in November.   

Tim Simmons, a spokesman for Wake County schools, said that he could not confirm whether there was a monetary aspect to the settlement. He did note that all four of the Rolesville High School coaches involved in the matter had been dismissed from the lawsuit. 

“The parties engaged in extensive discovery that led to a clear conclusion that school personnel acted with care and without any fault, which was the basis for filing the motion for summary judgment,” Simmons said.