Maine School Settles Over Death of Cross Country Runner

A Maine lawsuit brought by the mother of a 14-year-old runner who died while competing in a cross-country race has ended in a $100,000 settlement.

School Adminstrative District 34 agreed to the settlement with the estate of Joseph DiPrete-DiGioia of Belfast, who collapsed during the Maine Cross Country Festival of Champions at the Troy Howard Middle School on Oct. 4, 2003.

The lawsuit filed in Waldo County Superior Court accused the school district and staff of negligence and willful, wanton and reckless conduct before and during the race.

Maura DiPrete claimed that up to two hours passed before her son was located in wet grass beside the running course and that if race organizers acted sooner, he could have been saved. The cause of DiPrete-DiGioia’s death was determined to be cardiac arrhythmia.

Under terms of the settlement, none of the parties named in the suit admit any wrongdoing.

Named as defendants were the school district, Belfast Area High School, its principal, assistant principal, athletic director and several coaches.