Court weighs Sanders’ $11.89 million debt
Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy case has entered a closely watched courtroom phase, bringing a long-running legal dispute back into the spotlight. At the center is an $11.89 million judgment stemming from a 2015 incident that has continued to follow the former Colorado football player for years.
Now, a federal bankruptcy judge must address key questions that could determine whether the massive debt remains enforceable or can be discharged. Here’s what has happened so far, and what the ongoing trial could decide.
The debt comes from a 2015 incident
The dispute stems from Sept. 17, 2015, when Sanders was 15 and attending Focus Learning Academy in Dallas. John Darjean, a security guard, said he was trying to confiscate Sanders’ phone when Sanders struck him.
Darjean later sued, alleging serious injuries from the encounter, including spinal injuries. Sanders has maintained that he acted in self-defense during the confrontation at school that afternoon.
Darjean sued in 2016
Darjean filed his lawsuit against Sanders in 2016, seeking damages connected to the school confrontation. The litigation continued for several years while Sanders and other parties remained involved in related claims.
Deion Sanders and Pilar Sanders were initially defendants, but the parents were later dismissed. Darjean’s claims against Shilo Sanders remained active after those developments.
The 2022 judgment followed a missed trial
The Texas case eventually went to trial in 2022, but Sanders did not appear for the proceeding. Darjean presented his case, and the Texas court entered a default judgment totaling $11,890,937 against Sanders.
The judgment found that Sanders caused physical harm and injuries to Darjean by assaulting him. Sanders later said he was unaware that the trial was taking place after he had fired his attorneys.
Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Darjean began efforts to collect the judgment in 2023, and Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2023. Bankruptcy generally allows qualifying debts to be discharged, but federal law contains exceptions for certain obligations.
Darjean argues that the judgment falls within the exception for debts arising from a willful and malicious injury. Sanders is seeking to have the judgment discharged through bankruptcy.
The bankruptcy judge narrowed the dispute
Judge Michael E. Romero previously ruled that the Texas judgment controls issues involving causation and damages in the bankruptcy case. However, the judge found that questions about a willful act, malicious injury, and self-defense remained unresolved.
Those issues are the focus of the current trial. The court, therefore, is not retrying every part of the original Texas lawsuit.
Self-defense is central to Sanders’ position
Sanders’ legal team maintains that he used force while trying to protect himself during the confrontation with Darjean. Court filings describe his position as an argument that any force used was reasonable and immediately necessary because of an alleged use or attempted use of improper force.
Darjean’s side disputes that account and seeks to keep the judgment enforceable.
Interesting fact: Colorado averaged more than 50,000 fans per game during the 2025 football season, reaching that attendance mark for only the 16th time in school history.
Day 1 featured prior testimony
On the first day, Darjean’s lawyers presented prerecorded testimony from witnesses who had previously testified in the Texas litigation. Witnesses described the confrontation and Sanders’ conduct during the incident, while Sanders’ attorneys challenged portions of their accounts.
The defense also presented its position that Darjean overpowered Sanders. Sanders did not take the witness stand on Monday.
Interesting fact: Colorado football sold out its season tickets for three consecutive seasons under Deion Sanders, marking the first such streak in the program since the early 1990s.
Shilo Sanders takes the stand
Shilo Sanders testified Tuesday, Sept. 1, saying John Darjean “attacked and assaulted” him in 2015, not the reverse, and that Darjean choked him and tore his arm’s skin.
Sanders denied ever hitting Darjean, contradicting earlier witnesses and the 2022 default judgment, and a doctor testified that Darjean needed spinal fusion on vertebrae C3 through C7. Judge Michael Romero told both sides to stop arguing on the stand, and Sanders’ testimony was set to continue Wednesday, Sept. 2.
The court has already fixed the damages amount
The bankruptcy trial is not reconsidering the amount of damages awarded in the Texas judgment. Judge Romero previously determined that the Texas findings on causation and damages have collateral-estoppel effect in the bankruptcy proceeding.
The remaining dispute concerns whether the debt resulted from a willful and malicious injury under bankruptcy law, an issue that could determine whether the judgment is dischargeable.
Deion Sanders may testify Friday
Deion Sanders has been subpoenaed in connection with his son’s bankruptcy trial. Judge Romero ordered the Colorado football coach to remain available remotely on Sept. 4 at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time if his testimony becomes necessary.
Deion did not witness the physical confrontation. But the court has considered earlier communications surrounding the phone dispute potentially relevant to the case.
The trial overlaps with Colorado’s football season opener
The bankruptcy proceedings overlapped with Colorado’s 2026 football season opener against Georgia Tech on Sept. 3. Deion Sanders is Colorado’s head coach, and the timing created a scheduling issue because he could be called to testify during the trial.
Judge Michael E. Romero ordered Sanders to remain available remotely on Sept. 4 if his testimony was needed. The court’s scheduling decision allowed the trial and football responsibilities to continue without requiring an immediate in-person appearance.
The internet is also talking about Pat McAfee calling for lifetime insurance coverage for former NFL players.
The 2019 settlement was separate
A separate lawsuit involving Shilo Sanders, Focus Learning Academy, and the school’s founder ended with a confidential settlement in 2019. That agreement did not resolve John Darjean’s lawsuit, which continued separately and later resulted in the $11,890,937 judgment involved in Sanders’ bankruptcy case.
The bankruptcy court is now deciding whether that judgment can be discharged under federal bankruptcy law.
In other news, Falcons quarterback battle turns against Tua Tagovailoa.
What do you think about the latest developments in Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy case? Like this slideshow and leave a comment with your thoughts on the case and its ongoing trial.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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