In June 2020, St. Henry high school soccer player Matthew Mangine Jr. collapsed on the field and later died. The family has now reached a settlement with his former high school, the Diocese of Covington, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare, where the school’s athletic trainer is employed.
Prior to the settlement on Jan. 20, the case was scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 23, over three years after his death.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in November 2020, alleged that over 10 minutes passed after the student collapsed before EMS arrived and used an automated external defibrillator, or AED to try to revive him.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the school was in violation of state law and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association policies.
“For many years, St. Henry and the Diocese have been operating their sports program, in conjunction with St. Elizabeth, in blatant and serious violation of the law, KHSAA policies and the applicable standard of care,” court documents stated.
Kentucky high schools are required by law to create and train location-specific emergency action plans, or EAPs, that outline the nearest location of emergency response equipment and how to use these devices properly.
At the time of Mangine’s collapse, the athletic trainer supplied by St. Elizabeth Healthcare was on the other side of the campus at another soccer practice, and the coach at the scene didn’t have the keys needed to retrieve the nearest AED.
A coroner’s report did not reveal traces of any substances in Mangine’s system at the time of his death, and the medical examiner listed the cause of death as “undetermined” with the primary complaint as cardiac arrest.
A settlement was reached, but the awarded amount has not been disclosed.
The settlement comes weeks after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after taking a hit during a Jan. 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycore Stadium, calling attention to the need for medical staff and AEDs onsite during athletic events.
“We are pleased that the lawsuit we filed for the wrongful death of Matthew Mangine Jr. has been resolved,” Kevin Murphy, the Mangines’ attorney, said in a statement Friday. “We were privileged to represent two very courageous parents, who brought this lawsuit not just for themselves, but to educate and compel change in order to put safety as the highest priority in high school sports.”
Murphy continued, “We all saw what happened when an Automated External Defibrillator was timely used on Damar Hamlin. Every school in the state of Kentucky should have an AED and an Emergency Action Plan that is practiced with simulated emergencies several times a year. A child’s life is worth it.”
The Diocese of Covington responded to the settlement with a statement.
“Matt Mangine was a loved and respected student, athlete, and friend at St. Henry District High School. Our school and faith community continues to grieve for him. We admire the efforts of his parents, Matthew Sr. and Kim Mangine, to increase the safety of student athletes throughout Greater Cincinnati through the Matthew Mangine Jr. ‘One Shot’ Foundation. With this legal settlement, it is our hope that the SHDHS community can help support that effort to honor the life of their son, our friend, Matt Mangine.”
Mangine’s family founded The Matthew Mangine Jr. “One Shot” Foundation, a nonprofit to bring awareness to emergency response and the installation of AEDs on sidelines of sports venues, following their son’s death.
“Every school in Kentucky should have an Emergency Action Plan that is practiced with simulated emergencies several times a year,” Murphy said. “A child’s life is worth it.”
