Skaggs Wrongful Death Trial: Can the Angels Be Held Liable? Latest Updates

The tragic death of Tyler Skaggs, a promising pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball and beyond. Skaggs, only 27 years old, died on July 1, 2019, from asphyxia after ingesting a toxic mix of alcohol, fentanyl, and oxycodone. Now, years later, a wrongful death trial is underway, seeking to determine whether the Angels organization bears responsibility for his untimely passing. The trial began October 14, 2025, and is expected to last for two months.

At the heart of the case is the question of negligence and employer liability. Can a team be held accountable for the actions of its employees, particularly when those actions lead to the death of another? This blog post will delve into the details of the Skaggs wrongful death trial, exploring the arguments, potential legal precedents, and the latest updates as they unfold.

The Central Question: Angels’ Liability

The lawsuit, filed by Skaggs’ widow and parents, alleges that the Angels are responsible for his death due to the actions of Eric Kay, the team’s former communications director. Kay was convicted in 2022 of providing Skaggs with the fentanyl-laced pill that led to his overdose and is currently serving a 22-year federal prison sentence. The Skaggs family contends that the Angels knew or should have known that Kay was supplying drugs to Skaggs and at least five other players, creating a toxic environment that ultimately contributed to the pitcher’s death. They are seeking $118 million for Skaggs’ lost earnings, as well as compensation for the family’s suffering and punitive damages.

The family’s attorney, Shawn Holley, argued in opening statements that the Angels “buried their heads in the sand” regarding Kay’s drug use and dealing, failing to follow their own drug policies and allowing him to remain in a position where he had access to players. Holley stated that the Angels allowed “a drug user, a drug addict, and a drug dealer to remain employed in the Angels organization,” which ultimately led to Skaggs’ death.

The Defense: Shifting Blame and Denying Knowledge

The Angels, however, deny any responsibility for Skaggs’ death. Their defense hinges on the argument that Skaggs’ actions were his own, taken in the privacy of his hotel room and outside the scope of his employment. The team also claims that they had no knowledge of Skaggs’ drug use and that Kay’s actions were not within the scope of his employment.

Todd Theodora, an attorney for the Angels, told jurors that autopsy results showed Skaggs had also been drinking and taking oxycodone when he died, and was snorting painkillers. Theodora stated that the team would have done something to help had they known Skaggs was taking drugs. He further argued that Skaggs “died due to his reckless decision to mix large amounts of alcohol with narcotics on the night he died, and he did that to get high,” and that “Angels Baseball did not know that Tyler had a drug problem or that Eric Kay was distributing drugs to any player. Period. End of story.”

The Angels’ legal team also argues that Skaggs had been using unprescribed drugs since 2011, before he even joined the team in 2013, and that he acquired drugs from other sources. They aim to demonstrate that the fentanyl-laced pills provided by Kay were not the substantial cause of his death.

Legal Concepts at Play: Negligence and Employer Liability

This case raises important questions about negligence and employer liability. In legal terms, negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person. To prove negligence in a wrongful death case, the plaintiff must establish that the defendant owed a duty of care to the deceased, breached that duty, and that the breach directly caused the death.

In the context of employer liability, the legal doctrine of respondeat superior comes into play. This doctrine holds employers vicariously liable for the negligent acts of their employees if those acts occur within the scope of their employment. However, employers are generally not liable for employee actions that occur outside of work hours and are unrelated to their job duties.

The central question in determining the Angels’ liability is whether Kay was acting within the scope of his employment when he provided Skaggs with the drugs. The Skaggs family argues that Kay’s actions were facilitated by his position within the team and that the Angels failed to adequately supervise him, creating a dangerous environment for players. The Angels, on the other hand, contend that Kay’s actions were a personal matter and not connected to his job duties.

Key Evidence and Testimony

The trial is expected to involve a significant amount of evidence and testimony, including:

Testimony from MLB players: Several players are expected to testify about obtaining illicit oxycodone pills from Kay, potentially shedding light on the extent of drug use within the team and the Angels’ knowledge of Kay’s activities.
Team policies and procedures: The Skaggs family will likely argue that the Angels failed to enforce their own drug policies and that this failure contributed to Skaggs’ death.
Financial records: The plaintiffs are seeking $118 million in lost earnings, so financial experts will likely testify about Skaggs’ potential future income.
Testimony from Tim Mead: Tim Mead, a former Angels vice president of communications and Kay’s boss, testified that Kay was good at his job but had some behavioral issues and had been taking prescription medication to deal with depression and bipolar disorder. Mead also stated he believed Kay was mismanaging his medication.
Evidence from Kay’s criminal trial: Judge Shaina Colover ruled that the Angels will be limited to the evidence presented at Kay’s criminal trial.

Potential Outcomes and Implications

The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Major League Baseball and other professional sports organizations. If the Angels are found liable for Skaggs’ death, it could set a precedent for holding teams accountable for the actions of their employees and for failing to protect players from drug use. It could also lead to changes in team policies and procedures regarding drug testing, supervision, and employee conduct.

Conversely, if the Angels are found not liable, it could reinforce the idea that individuals are ultimately responsible for their own choices, even in the context of a professional sports environment.

Latest Updates

Opening statements: Opening statements began on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, with the Skaggs family’s attorney arguing that the Angels “buried their heads in the sand” regarding Kay’s drug use and dealing. The Angels’ attorney countered that Skaggs’ actions were his own and that the team had no knowledge of his drug use.
First witness testimony: Tim Mead, former Angels VP, testified on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, about Kay’s mental health issues and behavioral problems.
Judge Rulings: Judge Shaina Colover ruled that the Angels will be limited to the evidence presented at Kay’s criminal trial.

Seeking Justice and Accountability

The Skaggs wrongful death trial is a complex and emotional case with far-reaching implications. It raises important questions about negligence, employer liability, and the responsibility of professional sports organizations to protect their players. As the trial unfolds, the legal community and sports world will be watching closely to see whether the Angels will be held liable for the tragic death of Tyler Skaggs.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about wrongful death lawsuits or employer liability, please consult with a qualified attorney.