Parents of Football Player Who Died After Alleged ‘Punishment’ Exercises Sues Bucknell University: ‘100% Preventable’

• The family of 18-year-old Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. is suing Bucknell University for negligence and wrongful death
• The family claims in the lawsuit that the university knew about their son’s sickle-cell trait diagnosis, which makes him more susceptible to getting a rare muscle condition, but he was still made to do “punishment” exercises during football practice
• Bucknell University said it extends its “heartfelt sympathies” to CJ’s family the school would “continue to focus” on the “health and safety of all Bucknell students”

The family of a Bucknell University student is suing the Pennsylvania school after their son’s death at the age of 18.

In documents filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, April 2, Calvin Dickey Sr. and Nicole Dickey claimed that the university knew about their son Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr.’s sickle-cell trait diagnosis — which makes him more susceptible to getting a rare muscle condition — and could have prevented his death, which occurred following his first football practice, according to ESPN, NPR and NBC Philadelphia. 

Bucknell University is accused of negligence and wrongful death, alongside other claims, the outlets reported.

“He died a horrible, painful death that was 100% preventable,” the family’s attorney, Mike Caspino, said of CJ in a press conference that was shared by Ceisler Media.

Caspino did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, April 5.

Bucknell University told PEOPLE in a statement that “the death of a student is always a tragic loss.” 

“Bucknell University is aware of the lawsuit filed by the parents of CJ Dickey,” the university continued. “While the University will not comment on pending litigation, we again extend heartfelt sympathies to CJ’s family, and we will continue to focus on our most important priority — the health and safety of all Bucknell students.”

Caspino said in the April 2 press conference that CJ died of “rhabdomyolysis,” which is a condition in which “your muscles are so overworked that they start to secrete toxins that kill off your organs.”

He further explained that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began mandating in 2010 that athletes begin testing for sickle-cell trait, as they were more susceptible to getting the condition. (CJ had tested positive for sickle-cell trait ahead of joining the university’s football team, which made him “200 times more likely” to get rhabdomyolysis, Caspino said.)

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“If an athlete has sickle cell trait, they are not to be worked out on their first day of practice, they are not to do sprints, they are not to do up-downs, they are to be eased into their practice regime, otherwise they can get rhabdomyolysis,” Caspino said.

The attorney added in the press conference, and said in the lawsuit, that CJ showed up for his first day of practice at Bucknell University on July 10, 2024.

While there, he and other freshmen were made to do 100 up-downs or burpees “as punishment,” after they “messed up” at a workout, per ESPN and NPR.

Caspino said CJ “was falling behind the rest of the group” and could not keep up with the exercises. He added that students “present at the workout” and employees at the Pascucci Team Center gym, where the workout was taking place, witnessed him “in distress.” 

CJ then “passed out” and “hit the floor,” and he was taken to the hospital, Caspino continued in the press conference. Once at the hospital, he was put on dialysis, and emergency surgery was done to help relieve pressure building in his extremities, according to ESPN.

However, CJ’s heart stopped, and doctors were unable to resuscitate him for 20 minutes. He died two days after the practice. 

The lawsuit also alleged that the Pascucci Team Center did not have an emergency action plan to respond to medical emergencies like the one CJ experienced, per ESPN and NPR.

“We do this for CJ, for every young man on that team, and anyone who comes after him, and anyone at any university,” mom Nicole said, per ESPN. “This is a longer, harder path, and I am ready for it. My boy is worth it.”

“We don’t want another athlete, another family, brother, cousin to go through this type of agony and pain and death, especially when it’s not necessary or completely avoidable,” dad Calvin added.