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Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman facing messy legal fight after he was ordered to pay up $4 million for Playboy model’s overdose death

One of the co-defendants in the case of the death of a former Playboy model is fighting a ruling that would order him and his fellow defendants - including ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman - to pay millions.

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 12:53 AM
Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman facing messy legal fight after he was ordered to pay up $4 million for Playboy model’s overdose death
Key Things to Know
  • A co-defendant is appealing a $4 million wrongful death judgment involving former NFL player Shawne Merriman.
  • The lawsuit stems from the 2017 overdose death of former Playboy model Kimberly Fattorini.
  • A 2025 court ruling found Merriman, Elias Wehbe, JP Castro, and Monica Maass liable for Fattorini's death.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Former NFL star Shawne Merriman and co-defendants were ordered to pay $4 million in a wrongful death lawsuit concerning former Playboy model Kimberly Fattorini. Co-defendant Elias Wehbe is now appealing the judgment, arguing that the evidence presented during the trial was insufficient. Fattorini died from an accidental overdose in 2017 after an evening out involving Merriman and several acquaintances in Los Angeles.

Fattorini's family filed the civil lawsuit in 2019, alleging that Merriman drugged and sexually assaulted her prior to her death. Merriman, Wehbe, JP Castro, and Monica Maass were found liable in a 2025 ruling, though all four defendants have consistently maintained their innocence and denied any wrongdoing.

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