Settlement reached in wrongful death lawsuit involving major leaguer Jim Leyritz, car crash

Leyritz wrongful death lawsuit in Fla. settled

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A settlement has been approved in a wrongful death lawsuit involving former major leaguer Jim Leyritz, who was charged in a drunken driving manslaughter crash.

An attorney for the family of the woman killed in the December 2007 crash said Tuesday that Leyritz’s insurance will pay $250,000. Attorney Sam Coffey, who represents the family of Fredia Ann Veitch, also the the family will receive $1,000 a month for 100 months, or slightly more than eight years beginning next April.

A DUI manslaughter trial is scheduled to start later this year for Leyritz. His attorney, John Richards, says the lawsuit settlement isn’t an admission of guilt and that Leyritz maintains his innocence.

Leyritz played for six teams. He last played in the majors in 2000.