Los Angeles Angels settle wrongful‑death suit over Tyler Skaggs’ July 2019 opioid overdose, ending a two‑month trial that centered on former PR staffer Eric Kay.\n\n## Settlement Reached After Two-Month Trial\n\nIn a dramatic conclusion to a two‑month trial, the Los Angeles Angels reached a settlement in the wrongful‑death lawsuit filed by the family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died from an opioid overdose in July 2019. The settlement, announced on the fourth day of jury deliberations, was reached Friday and brought an end to the proceedings. Details of the settlement were not immediately released, but the agreement effectively concluded the litigation.\n\n## Jury Deliberations and Judge’s Remarks\n\nOrange County Superior Court Judge H. Shaina Colover dismissed jurors late Friday morning and thanked them for their service. “That is why this matter was able to be resolved today,” Colover told the panel after the agreement was announced. Earlier in the week, attorneys for Skaggs’ family and the Angels delivered closing arguments after about two months of hearing evidence tied to the July 1, 2019 death.\n\n## The Role of Eric Kay in the Trial\n\nA central figure in the trial was former public relations staffer Eric Kay and his struggles with drug addiction. Kay was convicted in federal court in Texas of providing Skaggs with a counterfeit oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. His federal criminal trial included testimony from five MLB players who said they received oxycodone from Kay at various times from 2017 to 2019.\n\n## Family’s Argument and Key Quotes\n\nAttorneys for the family claimed Kay’s habit of dispensing pills to players on the team was the primary cause of Skaggs’ demise. “We believe Tyler Skaggs should be alive today,” said attorney Daniel Dutko, who represents the parents and widow of Skaggs. “We wanted the truth to come out. The same cannot be said of the Angels.” Dutko accused team officials of gaslighting the jury and argued that even after repeated problems and drug rehab stints for Kay, the team ignored what he was doing. He also said, “Major League Baseball never knew anything about Eric Kay,” and added, “There is no evidence Major League Baseball was ever involved.”\n\n## Team’s Defense and Statements\n\nThe Angels’ attorneys contended that Skaggs struggled with his own addiction to painkillers and that his death was a result of mixing alcohol and drugs. They argued the dose of fentanyl was not potent enough to kill the pitcher by itself, noting that the drugs were more potent because Skaggs was snorting them instead of swallowing a pill. The team also maintained that any activity involving Skaggs and Kay happened on their own time and in the privacy of the player’s hotel room.\n\n## Witnesses and Testimonies\n\nAngels President John Carpino was the final witness in the trial. Before him, Angels executive Molly Jolly, the team’s chief financial officer, testified in the team’s defense. Carpino and Jolly said they were unaware of the substance‑abuse issues of Skaggs or Kay. Carpino discussed how he was alerted to the news that Kay saw Skaggs snorting drugs in his hotel room while the team was on a road trip July 1, 2019, to play the Texas Rangers. “I called counsel and asked how do we get a hold of authorities in Texas,” Carpino said. He added, “We were never indicted or accused of any wrongdoing. It was strictly pinned on Eric Kay.”\n\nCarli Skaggs, the widow of Tyler Skaggs, provided emotional testimony in the civil trial’s sixth week, describing how the couple met, their recent home purchase, and her lack of awareness of her husband’s other drug use. She also said they smoked marijuana together.\n\nOther witnesses included Camela Kay, ex‑wife of Eric Kay, who testified that the Angels failed her then‑husband, and Mike Trout, Skaggs’ teammate, who said he loved Skaggs like a brother and never saw signs of drug use before his death.\n\n## Aftermath and MLB Response\n\nFollowing Skaggs’ death, Major League Baseball reached a deal with the players association to start testing for opioids and to refer those who test positive to the treatment board. Skaggs had been a regular in the Angels’ starting rotation since late 2016, struggled with injuries repeatedly during that time, and had previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n- The Los Angeles Angels settled the wrongful‑death lawsuit, ending a two‑month trial.\n- Eric Kay’s drug‑related actions were central to the case, and he was sentenced to 22 years in prison.\n- The family’s attorneys claimed the Angels ignored Kay’s activities and gaslit the jury.\n- MLB has since implemented opioid testing for players.\n\nThe settlement marks the conclusion of a high‑profile case that highlighted the dangers of opioid misuse within professional sports and the responsibilities of team officials toward player safety.
Hi, I’m Cameron R. Hayes, the journalist, editor, and creator behind NewsOfFortWorth.com. I built this platform with a simple purpose — to deliver fast, clear, and trustworthy news that keeps Fort Worth informed and connected.
I’ve spent more than five years working in digital media, reporting on breaking news, local government, public safety, business growth, community events, and the real stories that shape life in Fort Worth. My goal has always been the same: to provide accurate, community-focused reporting that people can rely on every day.
