Angels Settle Tyler Skaggs Lawsuit Over Fatal Overdose

The Los Angeles Angels have reached a confidential settlement with the family of late pitcher Tyler Skaggs, concluding a wrongful death lawsuit that highlighted the team's responsibility following his tragic overdose.

Skaggs died in 2019 after taking a fentanyl-laced pill supplied by the team's former communications director, Eric Kay, who is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for his role in the death. The Skaggs family was seeking $118 million in damages, claiming the Angels knew of Kay's drug abuse and failed to act.

According to ESPN, the jury had been deliberating for over two days and hinted that they were leaning towards a verdict in favor of the Skaggs family. The family expressed gratitude to the jury and hopes that Major League Baseball will hold the Angels accountable.

The Angels have maintained that they were unaware of Skaggs' drug issues, asserting that he concealed his addiction from the team. During the civil trial, testimonies revealed that various players, including Mike Trout, indicated concerns about Kay's erratic behavior and drug dealings.

The trial lasted two months and included 44 witnesses and over 300 exhibits, with the jury ultimately not reaching a verdict before the settlement was reached. The implications of this case extend beyond the individual tragedy, highlighting broader issues of player health and team accountability within Major League Baseball.

As noted by Deadspin, if the Angels had been found negligent, they could have set a precedent as the first professional sports franchise in the U.S. held civilly liable for a player's death. The Skaggs family indicated that while nothing can bring Tyler back, they will continue to honor his memory and advocate for change in the MLB to prevent such tragedies in the future.