Northwestern State University of Louisiana former head football coach Brad Laird has been fully dismissed from the lawsuit that involves the death of former NSU football player Ronnie Caldwell Jr.
The now head football coach for Natchitoches Central High School has been in litigation since November of 2023. According to the lawsuit filed by Ronnie’s family, Laird neglected Ronnie’s safety. Ronnie’s father had called Laird on Oct. 9 to tell him that Ronnie’s roommate had pulled a gun on him, the lawsuit states.
After he called, Ronnie’s father said Laird told him he would move Ronnie from the location, according to the lawsuit. Three days later, Ronnie was murdered at his off-campus apartment complex, The Quad Apartments.
The lawsuit issued by the family also sued the Quad Apartments’ parent company Campus Advantage Inc. and the state of Louisiana through the board of supervisors of NSU. Originally, the lawsuit was filed under the United States District Court Western District Of Louisiana in the Alexandria Division.
After jurisdiction dismissals by Campus Advantage and NSU, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit and refiled it under the 10th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Natchitoches.
On June 20, 2024, Judge Layla B. Sylvester who is presiding over the case dismissed Laird from the lawsuit with “full prejudice.” This means Laird can’t be sued again over the claims presented. The reason for the dismissal is a missed deadline by the plaintiff’s lawyers and failure to provide evidence for the motion.
While Laird is no longer in litigation, all other parties including NSU remain in the lawsuit.
