News  /  September 3, 2025  /  

Shawn Holley To Represent Tyler Skaggs Estate in Wrongful Death Civil Trial Against the Los Angeles Angels

KHIKS’ powerhouse named partner Shawn Holley has been added to the trial team representing the Estate of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs against the baseball club. Skaggs died in 2019 in a Texas hotel room during an Angels road trip. Holley, alongside famed Houston trial lawyer Rusty Hardin, will prove that the Angels were aware that their Communications Director, Eric Kay, was distributing drugs to Skaggs and other team members, but did not intervene to protect the players. Kay was convicted in federal court in 2022 after admitting to providing the illegal drugs.

Despite years of delays and various attempts by the Angels to have the case dismissed, an Orange County Superior Court judge has ruled that the wrongful death civil trial over Skaggs’ tragic death will move forward, with jury selection to begin on October 6, 2025.

In her recent ruling denying the Angels’ motion for summary judgment, Judge H. Shaina Colover wrote, “There is evidence that … Angels Baseball had knowledge that (former Angels communications director Eric) Kay was distributing drugs to players and failed to take measures to get him to stop.”

Shawn’s new role and the recent victory were highlighted in The Athletic and The Orange County Register.