Lawsuit alleges Dwayne Haskins was drugged as part of blackmail, robbery plan before death
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins' widow is taking legal action and demanding answers.
In a 26-page civil lawsuit, attorney Rick Ellsley lays out a theory, saying it's an important step to find the "complete truth about this tragedy."
The lawsuit lists four people, accusing them of drugging the 26-year-old quarterback as part of a plan to blackmail and rob him. It also lists four places in the Miami area including a hotel, driving range, restaurant and nightclub, claiming the businesses negligently allowed "patrons to use drugs and to drug other patrons," including Haskins.
Haskins, with a blood alcohol content more than double the legal limit in Florida, was reportedly walking to get gas after his rental truck malfunctioned.
"The theory of liability can extend to multiple parties so the attorney may be doing the right thing by attaching or trying to attach all of these parties that may be responsible for this man's death," said local defense attorney Ryan M. Tutera, who is not involved in the case.
Tutera says this suit can uncover details.
"Issuing subpoenas, scheduling depositions, sending out what we call interrogatories on the interested parties," said Tutera. "When you're served in civil court you have to comply, so it forces the other side to answer."
The suit also accuses the driver of the dump truck that hit Haskins and the dump truck's owner. It claims the driver was speeding in an overloaded truck with faulty brakes and tires when it hit Haskins on the interstate. It also claims that other drivers were able to see and avoid Haskins, so why didn't the truck driver?
"Responsibility can go up the ladder if you will, beyond the driver, and it certainly should, because I don't know anything about the driver, but you would think that the owner of that motor vehicle, that commercial vehicle, would have liability insurance to protect against you know a loss such as this," said Tutera.
Attorney Ellsley declined KDKA-TV's request for an interview but did provide a copy of the lawsuit.
