12/19/25 02:29:00
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12/19 14:26 CST Los Angeles Angels settles lawsuit with family of late pitcher
Tyler Skaggs over fatal overdose
Los Angeles Angels settles lawsuit with family of late pitcher Tyler Skaggs
over fatal overdose
By AMY TAXIN
Associated Press
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) --- The Los Angeles Angels on Friday settled a lawsuit
over the drug overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.
The decision to settle was reached after a two-month civil trial in Southern
California over whether the Angels should be held responsible for Skaggs' 2019
death after he snorted a fentanyl-laced pill provided by the team's
communications director, Eric Kay.
Skaggs' widow, Carli, and his parents filed a lawsuit alleging the MLB team
knew or should have known Kay was a drug addict and dealing painkillers to
players. The team contended officials didn't know Skaggs was taking drugs and
would have sought him help if they did. The team was expected to make a
statement later Friday.
Jurors began deliberating earlier this week.
Orange County Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover thanked jurors for their
diligence. "That is why this matter was able to be resolved today," she said,
before releasing them.
Six years ago, the 27-year-old left-handed pitcher was found dead in the
suburban Dallas hotel room where he was staying as the Angels were supposed to
open a four-game series against the Texas Rangers. A coroner's report said the
player choked to death on his vomit, and a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl and
oxycodone was found in his system.
Kay, a longtime Angels employee, was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with
a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and sentenced to 22 years in
prison. His criminal trial in Texas included testimony from five MLB players
who said they received oxycodone from Kay at various times from 2017 to 2019.
In California, MLB players including outfielder Mike Trout, Angels president
John Carpino, and Skaggs' and Kay's relatives testified during the trial in a
Santa Ana courtroom. Witnesses for the plaintiffs described how Kay was acting
erratic at the stadium and found with multiple plastic bags filled with pills
at his home and later hospitalized for a drug overdose. They also recounted how
Kay got players massage appointments, tee times and even prescription
medication, and was paid by players for stunts like taking a fastball to the
leg.
Angels attorneys pointed out that Skaggs was hooked on painkillers before he
signed with the Angels in 2013. They said Skaggs got his teammates into taking
pills and got Kay to provide them, but kept it secret out of concern it could
jeopardize their MLB careers. Had team officials known Kay was dealing drugs,
or Skaggs was taking them, they would have done something, the lawyers said.
Witnesses also sparred during the case over how much money Skaggs would have
made as a pitcher had he lived. Experts for the plaintiffs said he could have
reeled in between $91 million and $101 million, while the Angels put the figure
at no more than $32 million.
Skaggs had been a regular in the Angels' starting rotation since late 2016 and
struggled with injuries repeatedly during that time. He previously played for
the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After Skaggs' death, the MLB reached a deal with the players association to
start testing for opioids and to refer those who test positive to the treatment
board.
Before the judge announced the settlement Friday, jurors had remained behind
closed doors after lawyers for both sides had gone to speak with Colover.
Late Wednesday, jurors had sent out a note asking whether they "get to decide
the punitive damage amount," saying there is no field for it on the verdict
form. The judge said she would send a note replying that if they decide there
should be punitive damages, they would decide how much at a later time.
The jury did not work on Thursday and resumed deliberations Friday morning.
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