Gwynn’s family sues tobacco industry over ex-Padre’s death

SAN DIEGO — Tony Gwynn’s widow and two children filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to hold the tobacco industry accountable for the Hall of Famer’s death.

The suit was filed in San Diego Superior Court by Alicia Gwynn and her children, Tony Jr. and Anisha Gwynn-Jones.

The suit says Gwynn started dipping as a 17-year-old freshman ballplayer at San Diego State. He died of cancer of the right parotid salivary gland on June 16, 2014, at 54.

The lawsuit said Gwynn dipped in his lower right cheek for more than 30 years.

The court filing lists eight defendants, including Altria Group Corp. and US Smokeless Tobacco Co. LLC., and two people the suit says ran an intramural softball team called “Skoal Brothers” at San Diego State in the late 1970s. The “Skoal Brothers” provided free samples of smokeless tobacco products, the lawsuit said.

Altria spokesman Brian May said in an email that the company had no comment.

According to the lawsuit, “Once Defendants got Tony addicted to their products, he became a self-described ‘tobacco junkie’ who used 1½ to 2 cans or tins of Defendants’ Skoal per day. … Sadly, the nicotine in the tobacco ultimately caused Tony’s cancer and killed him.”

The suit seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages.

Attorney David S. Casey Jr. of Casey Gerry said Gwynn became addicted to smokeless tobacco at a time when the industry knew the risks, but had no warning labels on its products.

“The tobacco industry had a responsibility to disclose the risk they knew of to him,” Casey told The Associated Press. “They did not. At the time he made a choice with them marketing to try tobacco at a time it was not disclosed that it was dangerous.”

Casey said the companies’ marketing targeted minors, black males, college students and athletes. “Tony Gwynn was caught in the crossfire of all four of those targeting efforts,” the attorney said.

According to the lawsuit, “Defendants continued to deluge Tony during his college years with countless free samples of ‘dip’ tobacco products they purposely adulterated to make more addictive. All the while, they did not mention either the highly addictive nature of their products or their toxicity.”

Gwynn was one of San Diego’s best-loved athletes. He played for the Padres for 20 seasons. He spent 12 seasons coaching his alma mater.

Gwynn had two operations for cancer in his right cheek between August 2010 and February 2012. The second surgery was complicated, with surgeons removing a facial nerve because it was intertwined with a tumor inside his right cheek. They grafted a nerve from Gwynn’s neck to help him eventually regain facial movement.

Gwynn had said in the years before his death that he believed the cancer was from chewing tobacco.

The sweet-swinging left-hander had 3,141 hits, a career .338 average, won eight NL batting titles, was a 15-time All-Star and led the Padres to their only two World Series appearances.

Tony Gwynn Jr., who played for his father at SDSU and later reached the big leagues, and Anisha Gwynn-Jones are scheduled to read statements on Tuesday.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.