Former NFL star Shawne Merriman ordered to pay $4M for model’s overdose death

Former NFL star Shawne Merriman has been ordered to pay $4 million in a wrongful death lawsuit regarding a Playboy employee dating back to 2017, TMZ Sports reported Monday.

A Los Angeles judge gave the order against the former Chargers linebacker along with three other defendants — J.P. Castro, Monica Maass and Elias Wehbe in early October, per court documents, after a jury found them liable in 2025.

The funds will be paid to the family of Kimberly Fattorini, who died of an overdose after a night out.

Fattorini’s parents, DeAnn and Ferdinand Fattorini, previously sued Merriman in 2019, alleging he drugged and sexually assaulted their daughter before she overdosed.

Merriman, 42, previously denied the allegations.

His lawyer informed TMZ that the claims were “baseless” and that police went through with an investigation that yielded no evidence of culpability.

The lawsuit claimed Fattorini texted a club promoter that the three-time Pro Bowler’s friend poured GHB in her drink, which is commonly known as the date rape drug.

Fattorini’s death was ruled accidental, although she was found with alcohol, cocaine, and GHB in her system. She was 30.

The judge did not hold the nightclub defendants — The Highlight Room, Tao Group, and The Warwick- responsible for paying any damages to Fattorini’s family.

Fattorini was a casting associate at Playboy and also had part-time modeling gigs including for Maxim and FHM Thailand.

Merriman spent eight years in the NFL, including six years with the Chargers and two with the Bills. The Maryland product won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005 and retired in 2013 at 28 years old.