UPDATE: The Los Angeles Angels are facing serious allegations in a civil trial over the tragic overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Opening statements in this high-stakes lawsuit were delivered today in Santa Ana, California, where Skaggs’ family contends that the team failed to enforce its own drug policies, allowing a drug-addicted employee to remain close to players, directly leading to Skaggs’ death.
The lawsuit, filed by Skaggs’ wife and parents, claims that the Angels should be held accountable for the 27-year-old pitcher’s fatal overdose, which occurred during a team trip to Texas in 2019. Eric Kay, the team’s former communication director, was convicted of providing Skaggs with a fentanyl-laced pill, ultimately resulting in his death.
Attorney Shawn Holley argued that Angels officials were aware of Kay’s opioid addiction and his erratic behavior, including showing up high to work. Holley emphasized that Kay was known to distribute drugs to at least six players, including Skaggs, yet the organization failed to take appropriate action. “They buried their heads in the sand over and over and over again, and as a result, Tyler Skaggs is dead,” Holley stated forcefully.
The Angels’ legal team is expected to counter with arguments that Skaggs was responsible for his own actions, as autopsy results indicated he was also consuming alcohol and taking oxycodone at the time of his death. They maintain that Skaggs and Kay were off duty and that the team’s responsibility could not extend into the privacy of a hotel room.
The trial, which seeks $118 million in damages for lost earnings and family suffering, is anticipated to last several weeks. It follows a coroner’s report confirming that Skaggs choked on his vomit due to a lethal combination of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system.
Kay, who was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for his role in Skaggs’ death, had previously supplied drugs to various Angels players, according to testimony during his criminal trial. Holley revealed that drugs were commonly exchanged in the clubhouse, locker room, and even the team parking lot, creating a dangerous environment for players.
The emotional toll of the case is palpable, with Skaggs’ wife and mother present in court today, alongside Angels owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino. The family’s fight for justice highlights the broader crisis of drug addiction and overdose deaths plaguing the United States, with fentanyl being a leading cause among young adults.
As this case unfolds, it may also include testimony from notable players such as Angels outfielder Mike Trout and former pitcher Wade Miley. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for both the Angels organization and Major League Baseball’s approach to player welfare and drug policies.
Stay tuned for more updates as the trial progresses and the shocking details continue to emerge.