The family of former Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs have filed two lawsuits against the team and two former employees, claiming negligence over his drug-related death two years ago, attorneys announced Tuesday morning h/t Los Angeles Times.
Skaggs' widow, Carli, filed in Fort Worth, Texas and Skaggs' parents, Darrell Skaggs and Debbie Hetman, filed in Los Angeles. Both lawsuits were filed in state courts and do not specify how much money they are seeking.
The complaints, which name former communications director Eric Kay and longtime vice president of communications Tim Mead as defendants in addition to the Angels, accuse the team of wrongful death and negligence. Here is what it says:
“The Angels owed Tyler Skaggs a duty to provide a safe place to work and play baseball,” the lawsuit filed in L.A. said. “The Angels breached their duty when they allowed Kay, a drug addict, complete access to Tyler. The Angels also breached their duty when they allowed Kay to provide Tyler with dangerous illegal drugs. The Angels should have known Kay was dealing drugs to players. Tyler died as a result of the Angels’ breach of their duties.”
Skaggs attended Santa Monica High School down here in Southern California and the Angels drafted him in 2009. He made his Major League Baseball debut on August 22, 2012, and pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
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