- The Los Angeles Angels and the family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs agreed to a last-minute settlement in a civil lawsuit tied to Skaggs’ 2019 death.
- Settlement terms and amount were not disclosed; the Skaggs family had sought up to $118 million.
- Jurors had been deliberating and asked questions suggesting the verdict could favor the family before talks resumed.
- Eric Kay, an Angels employee who provided a fentanyl-laced pill to Skaggs, is serving a 22-year federal sentence.
H2: Angels and Skaggs family reach settlement after tense trial
The Los Angeles Angels and the family of former pitcher Tyler Skaggs agreed Friday to a last-minute settlement in the civil lawsuit stemming from Skaggs’ death in 2019. Court sources said the parties reached the deal as jurors, who had begun their third day of deliberations, sent questions that indicated the verdict might go in the family’s favor. The amount and terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
H3: Background of the case
Tyler Skaggs died in 2019 after taking a fentanyl-laced pill provided by Angels employee Eric Kay. Kay pleaded guilty in federal court for his role in Skaggs’ death and is serving a 22-year prison sentence. The Skaggs family argued the team failed to monitor or discipline Kay and therefore shared responsibility.
H3: What was at stake in trial
The family had sought up to $118 million in potential lost earnings and additional damages. During the trial, five wage experts testified with estimates of Skaggs’ lost career earnings ranging from about $21 million to nearly $125 million. Jurors also asked whether they could award punitive damages.
H4: Trial details and jury process
The trial spanned 31 days, with testimony and depositions from 44 witnesses and the presentation of 312 exhibits. Judge H. Shaina Colover presided. Jurors were given instructions that required answers to up to 26 questions, some factual and some assessing negligence or culpability. For each question, nine of 12 jurors needed to agree.
H4: Arguments from both sides
Plaintiffs’ attorney Daniel Dutko said the Angels knew of Kay’s drug problem and failed to act, arguing the team left Skaggs exposed to harm. The Angels’ lead attorney, Todd Theodora, countered that Kay acted independently and that the team was unaware of his pill distribution. The Angels also contended Skaggs concealed his prior addiction when signing with the club.
H3: Settlement avoids verdict assignment
Because the parties settled, the jury did not render a verdict and did not assign percentages of responsibility among Skaggs, Kay and the Angels. Both sides had been in discussions outside the courtroom and privately before Judge Colover as deliberations progressed; settlement talks intensified Thursday, according to court sources.
Embedded post
Tweet by Michael Rothstein (author reporting from the trial): https://twitter.com/MikeRothstein
H5: What happens next
Terms of the settlement remain confidential; there is no public timetable for disclosure. The civil case’s resolution brings a long legal chapter to a close nearly six years after Skaggs’ death.
Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47359175/angels-skaggs-family-reach-last-minute-settlement
