Family of pitcher Tyler Skaggs sues Angels for negligence in his 2019 death


Nearly two years after Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found dead in a Texas hotel room, his family is suing the team and two former employees for wrongful death and negligence.
Two lawsuits were filed on Tuesday: one on behalf of Skaggs' widow, Carli, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, and another by his parents, Darrell and Debbie, in Texas' Tarrant County District Court. In addition to the Angels, the suits also name the team's former communications director Eric Kay and vice president of communications Tim Mead.
On July 1, 2019, Skaggs, 27, was found dead in his Southlake, Texas, hotel room. The Tarrant County medical examiner ruled his death an accident, after "mixed ethanol, fentanyl, and oxycodone intoxication" led him to choke on his vomit, the Los Angeles Times reports. Kay was later arrested and charged in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth with providing counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to Skaggs that resulted in his death; he pleaded not guilty, and his trial is set to begin in mid-August.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The lawsuits allege that Kay had a "long history of drug abuse" and gave drugs to Skaggs and "at least five" other Angels players. Carli Skaggs' lawsuit contends that the team "should have known Kay was dealing drugs to players. Tyler died as a result of the Angels' breach of their duties."
In a statement, the Angels called the lawsuits "entirely without merit" and the allegations "baseless and irresponsible." Mead's attorney, Eric Vandevelde, said his client "was not aware, informed, or had any knowledge whatsoever that Tyler may have used opioids or that Eric Kay or any Angels employee had ever provided opioids to any player."
Rusty Hardin is representing the Skaggs' family, and he said it was "a very difficult" decision to file the lawsuits, but "if it were not for the fentanyl in the counterfeit pill provided by Angels employee Eric Kay, Tyler would be alive today."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
'More must be done'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Are masked ICE agents America's new secret police?
Today's Big Question Critics say masks undermine trust in law enforcement
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Thunder beat Pacers to clinch NBA Finals
Speed Read Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals
-
MLB lifts ban on Pete Rose, other dead players
speed read 16 deceased players banned for gambling and other scandals can now be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey final
Speed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX
speed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
-
Indian teen is youngest world chess champion
Speed Read Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, unseated China's Ding Liren
-
Europe roiled by attacks on Israeli soccer fans
Speed Read Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv team clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in 'antisemitic attacks,' Dutch authorities said
-
New York wins WNBA title, nearly nabs World Series
Speed Read The Yankees with face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming Fall Classic
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever