Police crime scene tape is posted around the intersection of S.E. 7th ST. and S.E. Lawrence St. Friday morning. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
8-Year NFL Linebacker Found Guilty In Wrongful Death Case - Breaking News 1
Former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman has been hit with a $4 million wrongful death judgment over the 2017 death of Kimberly Fattorini, according to court records cited by TMZ.
A Los Angeles judge entered the judgment on October 5, naming Merriman and three other defendants in the order. The money will go to Fattorini’s parents, DeAnn and Ferdinand, who have spent years pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit over what happened to their daughter.
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A Milwaukee police car sits outside the home as Milwaukee police search in the yard of a home once owned by notorious Milwaukee drug dealer Michael Lock in Milwaukee, on April 21, 2026. The search included detectives excavating the property at 4343 N. 15th Street as they looked for the remains of homicide victims at a home now listed in city tax records as owned by Shalanda Roberts, formerly Shalanda Lock, who was once married to Michael Lock.
A Milwaukee police car sits outside the home as Milwaukee police search in the yard of a home once owned by notorious Milwaukee drug dealer Michael Lock in Milwaukee, on April 21, 2026. The search included detectives excavating the property at 4343 N. 15th Street as they looked for the remains of homicide victims at a home now listed in city tax records as owned by Shalanda Roberts, formerly Shalanda Lock, who was once married to Michael Lock.
Long Time NFL Linebacker Shawne Merriman Found To Be At Fault
Fattorini was just 30 years old when she died in July 2017 after a night out in Hollywood. The coroner determined that her death was caused by a combination of alcohol, cocaine and GHB, a drug also known as gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Her death was ruled accidental.
But her parents questioned what happened during their daughter’s final hours. In their lawsuit, they pointed to text messages they believed showed Fattorini had been given a drug without her consent. They filed the case in July 2019, seeking to hold those they believed were responsible accountable for her death.
The judgment also names nightclub promoter Elias Wehbe, J.P. Castro and Monica Maass. While the case centers on Fattorini’s death, the civil judgment does not mean criminal charges were filed. No criminal charges have been reported in connection with her death.
Nightclubs Avoid Damages in the Case
Nov 1, 2009; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (56) celebrates following a tackle during the first half against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images NFL
Nov 1, 2009; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (56) celebrates following a tackle during the first half against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Not everyone named in the broader lawsuit was ordered to pay. According to TMZ, The Highlight Room, Tao Group and The Warwick were among the businesses that prevailed and were not ordered to pay damages to Fattorini’s family under the reported judgment.
The case went before a jury in 2025, and the court docket shows that the legal fight continued into the fall, with objections to proposed judgments filed by Merriman, Wehbe and nightclub defendants.
Nearly a decade after Fattorini’s death, the $4 million judgment marks a major development in the case her parents have pursued since 2019.