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  • Associated Press

FULLERTON, Calif. — A California judge is allowing a lawsuit to proceed against the

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    Last month, Eric Kay, a former Angels public relations employee, was sentenced in Texas to 22 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy and distributing the drugs that led to Skaggs’ death.

    The trial included testimony from five major league players who said they received oxycodone pills from Kay at various times from 2017 to 2019, the years he was accused of obtaining pills and giving them to players at Angel Stadium.

    Skaggs’ widow, Carli Skaggs, sued the Angels for wrongful death and negligent hiring and supervision, alleging that team officials knew Kay was distributing drugs to players but promoted him and allowed him continued access to them.

    The Angels have denied the accusation, but the judge rejected a request from the team to dismiss the suit, saying, “There are enough factual allegations” to proceed to trial.

    Two lawsuits were filed, one in Texas on behalf of Skaggs’ parents and one in California for his widow. The Angels this year agreed to allow the parents to join the California suit, and the Texas case is expected to be withdrawn.