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A Los Angeles judge has ordered former NFL linebacker [Shawne Merriman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawne_Merriman) to pay $4 million to the family of Kimberly Fattorini, who died of an overdose in 2017, after a jury found him and three other defendants liable in a wrongful‑death lawsuit.
**Key facts**
- The judgment was issued in early October 2025 against Merriman, J.P. Castro, Monica Maass and Elias Wehbe.
- Kimberly Fattorini, a 30‑year‑old casting associate for Playboy, was found with alcohol, cocaine and the date‑rape drug [GHB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%B3-Hydroxybutyric_acid) in her system.
- Her parents, DeAnn and Ferdinand Fattorini, had sued Merriman in 2019, alleging he drugged and sexually assaulted their daughter before the fatal overdose.
- Merriman’s attorney called the allegations “baseless” and said police investigations uncovered no evidence linking him to the crime.
- The court did not hold the nightclub operators – The Highlight Room, Tao Group and The Warwick – responsible for any damages.
**What did the court decide?**
The Los Angeles judge ordered Merriman and the three co‑defendants to collectively pay $4 million to the Fattorini family. The award is intended to cover wrongful‑death damages stemming from the alleged drugging and subsequent overdose.
**Background on the case**
Kimberly Fattorini worked part‑time as a model for publications such as Maxim and FHM Thailand while serving as a casting associate for Playboy. In 2017, after a night out, she was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. The medical examiner ruled the death accidental, noting the presence of multiple substances, including GHB, a drug often associated with sexual assault.
**Merriman’s response**
Merriman, 42, who spent eight seasons in the NFL—six with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and two with the Buffalo Bills—has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He was the 2005 Defensive Rookie of the Year and retired in 2013 at age 28.
**Legal history**
The Fattorini family’s 2019 lawsuit claimed Merriman’s friend had slipped GHB into Kimberly’s drink, leading to her overdose. After years of litigation, a jury in 2025 found Merriman and the three other defendants liable, prompting the recent monetary award.
**Implications**
The ruling underscores the legal risks public figures face when alleged to be involved in drug‑related incidents, even if they deny direct involvement. It also highlights the challenges families encounter when seeking accountability for accidental overdose deaths.