Home / Sports / Angels Exec Accused of Perjury in Skaggs Family Lawsuit
Angels Exec Accused of Perjury in Skaggs Family Lawsuit
17 Nov
Summary
- Skaggs family suing Angels over pitcher's 2019 death
- Angels exec accused of contradictory testimony about drug use
- MLB denies being notified about drug issues with former Angels employee
The wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of former pitcher Tyler Skaggs against the Los Angeles Angels is currently in its sixth week, with the two sides engaged in a heated dispute over the validity of testimony from one of the team's top executives.
According to court transcripts, the Skaggs family's attorney, Rusty Hardin, has accused Angels VP for human resources Deborah Johnston of perjury, claiming her testimony in court differed from her previous deposition. Johnston had testified that the Angels had notified Major League Baseball about drug use by former communications director Eric Kay, but MLB has denied any such notification.
The Angels' attorney, Todd Theodora, has denied Hardin's perjury claim, stating that Johnston had testified truthfully and in good faith. However, Hardin has maintained his stance, saying the matter has not been resolved and that the Skaggs family has not abandoned the issue.
The judge in the case has acknowledged the "surprise" and "frustration" caused by Johnston's testimony, but has not made a formal ruling on whether perjury was committed. The Skaggs family has requested permission to issue a mid-trial subpoena to MLB, seeking to challenge Johnston's claims.
The lawsuit centers around the Angels' alleged knowledge of Kay's drug distribution to players, including Skaggs, which led to the pitcher's death in July 2019. Kay is currently serving a 22-year federal prison sentence for providing the fentanyl-laced pill that Skaggs ingested.
