Former NFL star Shawne Merriman, 42, has been ordered to pay $4 million after a jury found him liable in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a Playboy employee’s fatal overdose.
The case began way back on July 21, 2017, when Kimberly Fattorini’s friends discovered her unconscious at a Hollywood, California, home. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Fattorini, a model and casting associate for Playboy, died after an overdose of alcohol, cocaine, and the drug GHB.
A jury ruled Shawne Merriman responsible for Kimberly Fattorini’s death
Fattorini’s parents sued Shawne Merriman, a nightclub, and other parties for wrongful death even though Kimberly’s death was officially declared “accidental.” Kimberly was allegedly drugged and perhaps assaulted prior to her death, according to the lawsuit.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, a Los Angeles judge issued a $4 million judgment against the former Chargers linebacker and three other defendants in connection with Kimberly Fattorini’s 2017 death. A jury found Shawne Merriman and other defendants liable last year.
Additionally, the nightclub defendants, including The Highlight Room, Tao Group, and The Warwick, won’t have to compensate Kimberly’s family because the judge decided in their favor.
What allegedly happened the night that Kimberly Fattorini died
Fattorini reportedly danced and celebrated with pals at a nightclub on July 20, 2017. Later, at the club promoter’s house, Kimberly and her companions carried on the celebration, allegedly using cocaine. Kimberly was allegedly given GHB by the former San Diego Chargers player, according to the Fattorini family’s legal team, which also claimed to have damning text exchanges that bolstered their case.
“You friend just poor’d half G in my drink,” Kimberly Fattorini allegedly texted the promoter from inside the house. According to Kimberly’s parents, the “G” stands for GHB, sometimes referred to as a “club drug” or “date rape” drug. After that, Kimberly sent a number of incoherent texts, leading her parents to assume that she was extremely drunk or under the influence of drugs.
A friend later found Fattorini unconscious and called 911
A friend of Fattorini later discovered her unconscious and contacted the police. She was allegedly discovered by first responders “half-naked with her jeans unzipped and unbuttoned, as though someone had tried to pull her jeans onto her body before the police or paramedics arrived.” After Kimberly died, police said there was no foul play; therefore, examiners did not perform a sexual assault exam.
The family claimed he was present when her friend dialed 911, but Shawne Merriman allegedly made it clear to everyone that he didn’t want anyone to know he was there. The family also claimed that there are texts from the promoter that read: “Shawn killed her a–, what a f—— idiot.” There is another supposed text from the promoter that reads: “That dumba– been drugging girls for years.”
On September 6, 2009, Merriman was arrested and charged with battery and false imprisonment by his former girlfriend, reality TV star Tila Tequila. The charges were dismissed less than a week later.
In both cases, Shawne Merriman denied any wrongdoing and was never found guilty of any crime.