LOS ANGELES — Four years after the family of deceased Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs filed a wrongful death suit against the Angels, and two months into often contentious testimony in an Orange County Superior Court courtroom, jurors are set to begin deliberations on whether Skaggs’ widow and parents deserve hundreds of millions of dollars.
During closing statements Monday, plaintiffs lawyer Daniel Dutko argued that the Angels were negligent in failing to supervise Eric Kay, the drug-addicted team communications director who gave Skaggs the fentanyl that killed him in 2019.
kAmw@H6G6C[ p?86=D =2HJ6C %@55 %96@5@C2 :?D:DE65 E92E $<288D H2D 2 D6=7:D9[ D64C6E:G6 @A:@:5 255:4E H9@ 7@C J62CD >2?:AF=2E65 z2J :?E@ @3E2:?:?8 5CF8D 7@C 9:>] %96@5@C2 E@=5 E96 ;FCJ E92E E96 p?86=D 5:5?VE @H6 E96 $<288D 72>:=J 2?J 2H2C5]k^Am
kAmQw6 5:65 H96? 96 H2D 5@:?8 E9:?8D H6 E6249 @FC 49:=5C6? 2?5 8C2?549:=5C6? ?@E E@ 5@ — 5@ ?@E 49@A FA 2?5 D?@CE A:==D 7C@> E96 DEC66E[Q %96@5@C2 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE :EVD ?@E ;FDE $<288DV 72>:=J 2?5 E96 p?86=D H9@ 92G6 2 =@E C:5:?8 @? E96 ;FCJVD 564:D:@?] p>@?8 E9@D6 A@H6C7F= DE2<69@=56CD H9@ 92G6 366? H2E49:?8 E96 AC@4665:?8D 4=@D6=J 2C6 E96 286?4:6D E92E :?DFC6 E96 p?86=D]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ A6@A=6 H:E9 @H=6586 @7 E96 p?86=DV 5676?D6[ E96 E62> 😀 :?DFC65 3J D6G6C2= 4@>A2?:6D E92E 6249 AC@G:56 4@G6C286 H:E9 G2C:@FD =:>:ED[ 2?5 :EVD A@DD:3=6 E92E E9@D6 :?DFC6CD 4@F=5 724:=:E2E6 2 42D6 D6EE=6>6?E 6G6? 367@C6 E96 ;FCJ C62496D :ED G6C5:4E]k^Am
kAmQx?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 😕 E96 3FD:?6DD @7 >:E:82E:?8 C:D2C< ;FCJ G6C5:4ED] Q%96J 42=4F=2E6 C:D< 2?5 AC@4665 7C@> E96C6] x? E9:D 42D6 H6 2C6 E2=<:?8 23@FE >F=E:A=6 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D[ 2 E@H6C @7 :?DFC2?46]Qk^Am
kAmtG6? E9@F89 E96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D C6AC6D6?E E96 p?86=D[ E96J F=E:>2E6=J 4@F=5 C65F46 C:D< 7@C E96 $<288D 72>:=J 2?5 E96:C =2HJ6CD E9C@F89 2? “E9\9@FC D6EE=6>6?E]k^Am
kAm{682= 6IA6CED D2J E92E 😕 42D6D H96C6 6?@C>@FD DF>D @7 >@?6J 2C6 2E DE2<6[ E96 EH@ D:56D 42? C6249 H92E 😀 42==65 2 9:89\=@H 28C66>6?E[ H:E9 E96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D AC@>:D:?8 E@ A2J A=2:?E:77D 2? 28C665\FA@? DF> 6G6? :7 E96 ;FCJ 2H2C5D ?@E9:?8] x? 6I492?86 E96 A=2:?E:77D 2446AE 2? 28C665\FA@? 42A E@ E96:C 2H2C5 — 6G6? :7 E96 ;FCJ E9@F89E E96J 56D6CG65 >@C6]k^Am
kAmp ?:89E>2C6 @FE4@>6 7@C E96 $<288D 72>:=J H@F=5 36 E96 ;FCJ 2H2C5:?8 E96> ?@E9:?8[ >62?:?8 E92E 😕 255:E:@? E@ H:5@H r2C=: $<288D 2?5 A2C6?ED s633:6 w6E>2? 2?5 s2CC6== $<288D =62G:?8 6>AEJ\92?565[ E96:C 9:89\A@H6C65 =682= E62> E92E 92D DA6?E E9@FD2?5D @7 9@FCD @? E96 42D6 H@F=5?VE 36 A2:5] %96:C 4@?E:?86?4J 766 — EJA:42==J bdT E@ c_T @7 2? 2H2C5 — H@F=5 36 K6C@]k^Am
kAmp 9:89\=@H 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 p?86=D H@F=5 6?DFC6 E92E $<288DV =2HJ6CD 2C6 A2:5 2?5 E96 72>:=J 86ED D@>6 >@?6J 6G6? :7 E96 ;FCJ 56?:6D E96> 2?JE9:?8]k^Am
kAmq@E9 D:56D 2C6 D4C2>3=:?8 E@ 2DD6DD C:D< 367@C6 E96 ;FCJ C6EFC?D 2 G6C5:4E] p?@E96C D@FC46 @7 :?7@C>2E:@? 7@C E96 p?86=D 92D 366? 2 QD925@H ;FCJ[Q 2 92=7\5@K6? @C D@ A6@A=6 9:C65 3J E96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D E@ D:E 😕 @? E96 EC:2= 2?5 AC@G:56 7665324< E@ E96 p?86=D =2HJ6CD @? E96:C C624E:@?D E@ E96 E6DE:>@?J]k^Am
kAm}6IE 4@F=5 4@>6 ?68@E:2E:@?D H:E9 =:EE=6 E:>6 E@ DA2C6]k^Am
kAmQ(9@ 😀 8@:?8 E@ 3=:?< 7:CDEnQ !2?:D9 D2:5] Q%96 A@DEFC:?8 2?5 >2?6FG6C:?8 😀 @G6C] %96 92J 😀 😕 E96 32C?] %96 3C:4
kAmp A6CD@? H:E9 @H=6586 @7 324 ?68@E:2E:@?D 36EH66? E96 EH@ D:56D D2:5 @?6 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?J H:E9 2 C6=2E:G6=J =@H =:>:E @? :ED 4@G6C286 @7 E96 p?86=D — ?62C E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 E@H6C — 92D 3=@4<65 AC@8C6DD E@H2C5 2 D6EE=6>6?E] %96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D 6G6?EF2==J >256 2 Q=@H32== @776CQ >@C6 E92? 2 >@?E9 28@ E92E H2D C6;64E65 3J E96 $<288D 72>:=J]k^Am
kAmQx7 2 D6EE=6>6?E AC@A@D2= 😀 H:E9:? E96 :?DFC2?46 A@=:4J =:>:ED[ E96C6 H:== 36 AC6DDFC6 @? E96 5676?D6 E@ D6EE=6[Q !2?:D9 D2:5] QqFE :7 :E 😀 23@G6 E96 =:>:ED[ D2J 4@G6C286 😀 7@C Sd_ >:==:@? 2?5 E96 56>2?5 😀 S`__ >:==:@?[ E96 :?DFC2?46 4@>A2?:6D 42?VE 7@C46 E96 p?86=D E@ D6EE=6 3642FD6 E96J H@F=5 92G6 E@ A2J E96 6I46DD 2>@F?E]Qk^Am
kAm%96 724ED C682C5:?8 $<288DV 562E9 2C6 ?@E 😕 5:DAFE6] p? 2FE@ADJ 4@?4=F565 E96 af\J62C\@=5 =67E\92?56C 244:56?E2==J 5:65 @7 2DA9JI:2 27E6C 2DA:C2E:?8 9:D @H? G@>:E H9:=6 F?56C E96 :?7=F6?46 @7 76?E2?J=[ @IJ4@5@?6 2?5 2=4@9@= E96 ?:89E @7 yF=J `[ a_`h[ H96? E96 p?86=D H6C6 😕 %6I2D 7@C 2 E9C66\82>6 D6C:6D 282:?DE E96 #2?86CD]k^Am
kAmz2J AC@G:565 $<288D H:E9 E96 4@F?E6C76:E @IJ4@5@?6 A:== =2465 H:E9 76?E2?J= 2?5 😀 D6CG:?8 aa J62CD 😕 7656C2= AC:D@? 7@C 9:D C@=6 😕 E96 562E9]k^Am
kAm%96 $<288D 72>:=J =682= E62>[ =65 3J 2EE@C?6JD #FDEJ w2C5:?[ $92F? w@==6J 2?5 sFE<@[ 2C8F65 E92E D6G6C2= p?86=D 6>A=@J66D 6H 23@FE z2JVD @H? J62CD\=@?8 255:4E:@? E@ @A:@:5D 2?5 :8?@C65 E62> 2?5 |2;@C {628F6 q2D632== A@=:4:6D 3J 72:=:?8 E@ C6A@CE @C AF?:D9 z2J]k^Am
kAmsFE<@ D2:5 z2J H2D @A6C2E:?8 H:E9:? 9:D D4@A6 @7 6>A=@J>6?E H96? 96 82G6 $<288D 2?5 D6G6C2= @E96C A=2J6CD @A:@:5 A:==D — 2 DE2?46 G:8@C@FD=J @AA@D65 3J %96@5@C2] sFE<@ C676CC65 E@ E6DE:>@?J E92E z2J 5:5 2?JE9:?8 96 4@F=5 E@ A=62D6 A=2J6CD — @3E2:?:?8 ‘:28C2 AC6D4C:AE:@?D 2?5 >2C:;F2?2 G2A6 A6?D 7@C E96>[ 3@@<:?8 E66 E:>6D 2?5 >2DD286D[ 2?5 9F>@C:?8 E96> 3J E2<:?8 2 72DE32== @77 9:D 66 2?5 62E:?8 A:>A=6D @77 E96 324< @7 DE2C @FE7:6=56C |:<6 %C@FE]k^Am
kAmQuC@> ‘:28C2 E@ G2A6 A6?D E@ @A:@:5D] tC:4 z2JVD ;@3 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ H2D E@ 86E E96 A=2J6CD 2?JE9:?8 E96J H2?E65[Q sFE<@ D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96@5@C2 4@?E:?F2==J A@CEC2J65 $<288D 2D 2 4@??:G:?8 5CF8 255:4E H9@ 42==@FD=J AC6DDFC65 z2J E@ @3E2:? A:==D 7@C 9:> 2?5 5@=65 @FE A:==D E@ E62>>2E6D[ 6G6? AC6DDFC:?8 z2J E@ 56=:G6C @A:@:5D D9@CE=J 27E6C E96 =@?8E:>6 6>A=@J66 2?5 25>:EE65 5CF8 255:4E 42>6 @FE @7 C6923]k^Am
kAm~? |@?52J[ %96@5@C2 C6G:6H65 E6DE:>@?J 7C@> 7:G6 @7 $<288DV E62>>2E6D 52E:?8 324< E@ a_“ 2?5 2C8F65 E92E ?@E @?=J 925 $<288DV 5CF8 FD6 6D42=2E65 @G6C 2 ?:?6\J62C A6C:@5[ 3FE E92E $<288D 925 :?EC@5F465 z2J E@ E96> 2?5 A6CD@?2==J @3E2:?65 A:==D 7@C E96 A=2J6CD]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 42==65 E96 492:? @7 5:DEC:3FE:@?[Q %96@5@C2 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 $<288D 72>:=J 😀 D66<:?8 ?@E @?=J =@DE 62C?:?8D 2?5 6>@E:@?2= 5:DEC6DD 52>286D 3FE 2=D@ AF?:E:G6 52>286D] r2=:7@C?:2 =2H 5@6D?VE 2==@H AF?:E:G6 52>286D 😕 2 HC@?87F= 562E9 42D6[ 3FE AC64656?E 8@:?8 324< E@ E96 ~]y] $:>AD@? 42D6 >2<6D 2? 6I46AE:@? :7 E96 A6CD@? DF776C65 AC@A6CEJ 52>286 367@C6 562E9] $<288D =2HJ6CD 36=:6G6 z2J H2D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 76?E2?J= 4@?E2>:?2E:?8 E96 A:E496CVD :!25[ H9:49 H2D 4@?7:D42E65 2?5 ?6G6C C6EFC?65 E@ E96 72>:=J]k^Am
kAmQ%96 ;FCJ 7:CDE >FDE 7:?5 E96 5676?52?E =:23=6 7@C 64@?@>:4 2?5 6>@E:@?2= 5:DEC6DD 52>286D[ 2?5 E96? 2 D64@?5 56=:36C2E:@? H:== 56E6C>:?6 :7 AF?:E:G6 52>286D 2C6 2AAC@AC:2E6[Q D2:5 t5D@? z] |4r=6==2?[ 2? xCG:?6 =2HJ6C H9@ DA64:2=:K6D 😕 9:89\DE2<6D 4:G:= 2?5 6>A=@J>6?E =:E:82E:@?] Q%96 AFCA@D6 @7 AF?:E:G6 52>286D 😀 E@ D6?5 2 >6DD286 E@ E96 5676?52?Ei s@?VE 5@ E9:D 282:?]Qk^Am
kAm|4r=6==2? D2:5 2 AFCA@D6 @7 4=@D:?8 DE2E6>6?ED 😀 E@ QDH2J 962CED[Q E@ A6CDF256 ;FC@CD H9@ >:89E ?@E 92G6 >256 FA E96:C >:?5D] q@E9 D:56D 82G6 :>A2DD:@?65 2C8F>6?ED E92E E96 42D6 E96J AC6D6?E65 @G6C EH@ >@?E9D G2=:52E65 2 G6C5:4E 😕 E96:C 72G@C]k^Am
kAmq@E9 D:56D H:== 8:G6 4=@D:?8 C63FEE2=D %F6D52J 367@C6 E96 42D6 8@6D E@ E96 ;FCJ] yF586 w] $92:?2 r@=@G6C 92D 6>A92D:K65 E92E D96 H2?ED 2 G6C5:4E 3J uC:52J] &?=:<6 2 4C:>:?2= EC:2= E92E C6BF:C6D 2== `a ;FC@CD E@ 28C66 @? 8F:=E @C :??@46?46[ @?=J ?:?6 @7 E96 `a 2C6 ?66565 E@ 56=:G6C 2 G6C5:4E 2?5 28C66 @? 52>286D 😕 2 4:G:= EC:2=]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm©a_ad {@D p?86=6D %:>6D] ‘:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2E:>6D]4@>^Qm=2E:>6D]4@>k^2m] s:DEC:3FE65 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EC:3F?64@?E6?E286?4J]4@>Qm%C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^2mk^Am
Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency.