Tyler Skaggs Trial: Lawyer accuses Angels of his death, alleges negligence.

Trial for the Death of Tyler Skaggs: The Los Angeles Angels on the Stand

At the center of attention is the civil trial for the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs in 2019, a case that pits the Los Angeles Angels against accusations of negligence. Opening statements, presented on Tuesday, revealed the opposing stances of the defense and the prosecution. Lawyer Shawn Holley, representing the Skaggs family, held the Angels responsible for the player’s death, arguing that the team put Skaggs “directly in danger” by keeping Eric Kay on their roster. Kay, a former communications director for the team, was convicted in 2022 for supplying the oxycodone pill with fentanyl that caused Skaggs’ death and is serving a 22-year prison sentence. On the other hand, Angels’ attorney Todd Theodora insisted that the team was unaware of Skaggs’ drug problems and Kay’s involvement in supplying pills. Theodora attributed Skaggs’ death to his “reckless decision to mix large amounts of alcohol with narcotics” on the night of the incident.

“The Angels didn’t kill Tyler Skaggs, and the Angels only wish he had spoken about his problems,” Theodora stated.

Todd Theodora, Angels’ attorney

Skaggs’ widow, Carli, and his mother, present in the courtroom, are seeking $118 million in damages, including Skaggs’ estimated loss of earnings, damages for the family’s suffering, and punitive damages against the Angels. The Angels’ owner, Arte Moreno, and team president, John Carpino, were present in the room during the opening statements. The lawyers’ presentations offered diametrically opposed perspectives on the facts and evidence that will be presented to the jury. Holley, in his 52-minute statement, directly held the Angels responsible for Skaggs’ death. For her part, Theodora, in a 58-minute statement, argued that the Angels were unaware of Skaggs’ drug use and Kay’s involvement. Holley mentioned several occasions in which the Angels were informed about Kay’s drug problems since 2013, including periods of rehabilitation and appearances at work under the influence of substances. Testimony is expected to be presented about a club employee who saw Kay using drugs in the club’s kitchen in 2016 and an intervention in 2017, where pills were found in individual bags at Kay’s house.

“That type of packaging was indicative of drug sales,” Holley stated. “…The Angels knew it.”

Shawn Holley, attorney for the Skaggs family

Holley argued that the Angels ignored team policies on drugs in Kay’s case, while other employees were suspended or fired for drug or alcohol-related issues. Theodora mentioned that the team was aware of Kay’s bipolar diagnosis and his family history of mental illness, offering him help in managing his condition and any medication-related problems. Theodora stated that Kay “was better than ever” after his outpatient treatment and that there was no reason to fire him because his treatment was related to prescription drugs. As part of her presentation, Theodora showed photos of the desk in Skaggs’ hotel room the night of his death, including a room key and a straw for inhaling drugs. Theodora also presented the autopsy report showing the levels of oxycodone, fentanyl, and alcohol in Skaggs’ system.

“Really, this is a simple case,” said Theodora. “Tyler, and only Tyler, decided to obtain the illicit pills and take the illicit drugs along with alcohol the night of his death.”

Todd Theodora, lawyer for the Angels

Theodora reiterated that the Angels wished Skaggs had told them about his drug problems because “we could have helped him.” She also mentioned that the Angels suspended and eventually fired Kay after learning that he had been in Skaggs’ hotel room the night of his death. Theodora indicated that the evidence will show that Skaggs used illicit drugs before joining the Angels and that several former Angels players and current players will testify about Kay or Skaggs. Theodora explained that oxycodone was not prescribed to Skaggs and that fentanyl was a “counterfeit” pill provided by Kay. Although the amounts of oxycodone and fentanyl were in therapeutic ranges, the combination with alcohol (between 11 and 13 drinks) is what caused Skaggs’ death.

“It was the mix”, said Theodora, “of this amount of alcohol with this amount of oxycodone with this amount of fentanyl that caused Tyler’s death”.

Todd Theodora, lawyer for the Angels

The trial, which could last six weeks, is expected to continue Wednesday morning with the testimony of Tim Mead.

Angels players placed their jerseys with the number 45 in honor of pitcher Tyler Skaggs on the mound after a combined no-hitter two weeks after his death in 2019.