Fattorini Family Fights Bid to Cut $4M Award

The parents of Kimberly Fattorini are pushing back against an attempt to reduce the $4 million judgment they won in their wrongful death case, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.com. Deann Fattorini and Ferdinand Fattorini filed the opposition in response to a motion by Elias Wehbe, a former nightclub promoter and associate of ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman, who argues that the evidence presented at trial did not justify the seven-figure sum he was ordered to pay.

The filing includes alleged text messages that Elias Wehbe sent on the night Kimberly Fattorini died in 2017. According to the parents, one message instructed her to come to his home to use "blow," a reference to cocaine. At trial, the family argued that Elias Wehbe made a practice of intoxicating women with the expectation that they would then be more amenable to sexual activity.

The parents further claim that Elias Wehbe saw an impaired Kimberly Fattorini leave in an Uber with Shawne Merriman, even though he had read a text message from her stating that Elias Wehbe's friend had placed GHB in her drink. Another alleged message showed the men discussing drugs and referring to "whores" at the house. The parents contend that the trial record contained ample evidence to support the judgment and are asking the judge to leave the award intact.

As TMZ.com first reported, Shawne Merriman, Elias Wehbe and others were ordered to pay $4 million to Kimberly Fattorini's parents. In the underlying suit, the parents alleged that Shawne Merriman slipped GHB, a drug used as a date-rape agent, into her drink. Officials ruled Kimberly Fattorini's death an accident but noted that she had cocaine, alcohol and GHB in her system. Shawne Merriman has adamantly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.