The bankruptcy trial for Shilo Sanders, son of University of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders, saw a dramatic turn on Thursday when accuser John Darjean collapsed in court. Darjean, a former school security guard, had been testifying for more than two hours in the Denver court as Sanders attempts to discharge an $11.89 million debt.
Darjean, 50, reportedly collapsed in pain after his testimony concluded and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was later released. The trial stems from an alleged assault by Shilo Sanders at a Texas high school in September 2015.
Judge Michael Romero announced that Deion Sanders would not be required to testify on Friday, the final day of the trial, deeming it unnecessary given the day's developments. A deputy from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office had previously attempted to serve civil papers to Deion Sanders on the University of Colorado campus last month while he was at an open practice.
Shilo Sanders is accused of assaulting Darjean at Triple A Academy, a school where Deion Sanders served as CEO. According to court documents, Shilo, who was 15 at the time, allegedly slammed Darjean in the chest and continued to punch him after Darjean attempted to discipline him for violating the school's no-phone policy.
Darjean filed a lawsuit in Dallas in 2016, claiming he sustained severe and permanent injuries. He won a default judgment of $11.89 million against Shilo Sanders in 2022 after Shilo failed to appear for a trial in Texas. Shilo Sanders is now seeking to invalidate this judgment through bankruptcy court.
Darjean's legal team argues that the debt should not be discharged because it stems from a "willful and malicious injury," an exception to debt discharge under bankruptcy law. Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, stating he had approximately $320,477 in assets. His legal team has accused Darjean of failing to disclose all possessions, pointing to social media as evidence of significant wealth, including a YouTube post from May 2023 where Shilo stated his intention to spend at least $50,000 at a Louis Vuitton store.
The trial is set to conclude on Friday, with a judge to decide the outcome based on the evidence presented. Shilo Sanders played safety for Colorado while his father was the head coach. He was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last preseason.