Lawsuit Settled Following Tragic Death of Angels Pitcher Tyler Skaggs
Settlement Reached in Tyler Skaggs Wrongful Death Lawsuit
A settlement was announced Friday regarding the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Tyler Skaggs against the Los Angeles Angels, stemming from the pitcher’s opioid overdose in July 2019 during a team road trip. Skaggs was found unresponsive in a hotel room in Texas on July 1, 2019, at the age of 27.
The details of the settlement, reached on the fourth day of jury deliberations, have not yet been disclosed, concluding a two-month trial that explored the circumstances of Skaggs’ death. A coroner’s report indicated that he choked on his vomit after a toxic combination of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone was found in his system.
Central to the case was Eric Kay, a former Angels public relations staffer who struggled with drug addiction. Attorneys for Skaggs’ family asserted that Kay’s practice of dispensing pills to players significantly contributed to Skaggs’ untimely death. “We believe Tyler Skaggs should be alive today,” stated attorney Daniel Dutko, representing Skaggs’ widow and parents. He accused team officials of minimizing Kay’s issues, suggesting they ignored signs of drug abuse among their staff.
During closing arguments, Dutko remarked, “Major League Baseball never knew anything about Eric Kay,” emphasizing a lack of oversight regarding Kay’s actions. Kay was previously convicted in federal court for providing Skaggs with counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl and is serving a 22-year prison sentence. Testimony revealed that several MLB players received oxycodone from him between 2017 and 2019.
The lawsuit demands $118 million in damages for future earnings, along with punitive damages. The Angels’ legal team argued that Skaggs battled his own painkiller addiction and that the combination of substances in his system was primarily self-inflicted, asserting that the doses were not lethal on their own.
Angels President John Carpino was the final witness in the trial, stating he was unaware of any substance abuse problems involving either Skaggs or Kay. He recalled being informed about Kay witnessing Skaggs using drugs in the hotel room, prompting him to contact legal counsel and authorities. "We were never indicted or accused of any wrongdoing. It was strictly pinned on Eric Kay," he explained.
Emotional testimony came from Carli Skaggs, who recounted her life with Tyler and the plans they had for the future before receiving the heartbreaking news of his death. Other key witnesses included Camela Kay, Eric’s ex-wife, and Skaggs’ teammate Mike Trout, who expressed disbelief at the absence of warning signs of drug use.
Following Skaggs’ death, Major League Baseball implemented new policies for opioid testing of players and referrals for treatment.
Skaggs had been with the Angels since late 2016, marking a career that began with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he had quickly become a formidable presence in the team’s starting rotation.
