The family of Dwayne Haskins filed a lawsuit in South Florida, alleging that the late NFL quarterback was the focus of a “blackmail and conspiracy.”
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Haskins’ widow, Kalabrya Haskins and his parents, Dwayne Haskins Sr. and Tamara Haskins, according to The Washington Post. The lawsuit was filed in Broward County last month, listing four persons, two restaurants, a golf driving range and a hotel as defendants in the alleged conspiracy against the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, ESPN reported.
Haskins, 24, was killed on April 9, 2022, after being struck by a dump truck while he was walking along Interstate 595, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Haskins, who was a standout at Ohio State University and led the Buckeyes to a Rose Bowl victory after the 2018 season, joined Pittsburgh after two seasons with the Washington Football Team.
Ellsley claims multiple other drivers saw Haskins on the road and avoided hitting him. He said the truck driver’s cell phone records have not been disclosed and the driver refused to provide a blood sample at the scene. https://t.co/DJcMc8dna7
— WPXI (@WPXI) April 10, 2023
He was in South Florida training with other quarterbacks and running backs, according to ESPN.
Attorney Rick Ellsley of The Ellsley Law Firm in Plantation, Florida, released a statement about the lawsuit, claiming the dump truck that fatally struck Haskins was speeding, carrying excessive cargo, had brake system problems and was traveling on low-tread tires.
According to the lawsuit, Haskins’ family alleges that Haskins was drugged and names the Boca Raton Hotel Group, Drive Shack Palm Beach, Blue Anchor Pub and E11Even Miami as defendants, according to The Athletic. The lawsuit claims the businesses were negligent “by allowing patrons to use drugs and to drug other patrons.”
The lawsuit names four individuals who they allege “committed battery” on Haskins by drugging him “to blackmail and rob him.” The suit alleges that the actions were a contributing cause that led to Haskins’ death.
The driver of the truck, Oriel Patino, was named in the lawsuit, according to the Post. The owners of the truck, Pedro Senecio Diaz and Sorrel Enterprises, Inc., were also named, The Athletic reported.
Patino declined to comment when reached by telephone on Monday, according to the Post.
The lawsuit also alleges negligence by the Florida Department of Transportation and an unnamed contractor for the company. Roam Rental Car, which owned the vehicle Haskins was driving on the day of his death, was also named as a defendant, according to The Athletic. According to court records, the company provided Haskins with a rental car “that was unreasonably dangerous and hazardous because it was mechanically damaged and ran out of gas.”
Attorney Rick Ellsley said “many questions remain unanswered” as to what happened in the hours before Haskins was killed.
“It is believed that Dwayne was targeted and drugged as part of a blackmail and robbery conspiracy. In fact, his highly-expensive watch was stolen from him shortly before his death,” Ellsley said in a statement. “The filing of this lawsuit is an important step in the process of uncovering the complete truth about this tragedy. The civil justice system allows for subpoenas to be issued for critical documents and for sworn testimony to be taken of people who have knowledge about the events leading up to Dwayne’s death.”
Dwayne Haskins’ attorney has filed a lawsuit one year after Haskins’ death — based on previously unseen evidence. The release, via Rick Ellsley of The Ellsley Law Firm: pic.twitter.com/1F4c13qu6L
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 10, 2023
The lawsuit does not provide details about the alleged drugging, blackmail or attempted robbery, according to the Post.
Dwayne Haskins’ autopsy report, released on May 23, 2022, indicated that he had ketamine in his system and that his blood-alcohol concentration was more than twice the state’s legal limit at the time of his death.
According to WPXI-TV, the autopsy concluded that Haskins, 24, “drank heavily” and ingested the Schedule III non-narcotic drug, regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, in the hours before he was fatally struck by the dump truck.
According to USA Today, the medical examiner’s office determined that Haskins had a blood-alcohol concentration of at least 0.20% at the time of his autopsy. Florida’s legal limit is 0.08%.
According to the autopsy report, Haskins died from “multiple blunt force injuries,” and his death was ruled accidental, WPXI reported.
