Dallas County Jury Awards $1.1 Billion in Child Abuse Case Against Stepfather Tied to Early Humble Oil Fortune A Dallas County jury awarded $1.1 billion to a young child and his family on Wednesday after finding his stepfather responsible for severe abuse that left him with life-altering injuries. The verdict included approximately $291 million in compensatory damages and $810 million in punitive damages. The case centers on Charles Brooks, Jr., the child’s stepfather, who was accused of causing catastrophic harm to the child, now 7 years old, during a 2021 incident. According to the lawsuit, Brooks, an unemployed trust fund beneficiary, assaulted the child, resulting in injuries that left him in a wheelchair and requiring lifelong medical care. The child’s mother, Madison Ball, alleged that Brooks lied about the circumstances of the incident. Ball claimed Brooks told her he had to visit his grandfather in the hospital in Dallas and took her 2-year-old son with him. However, the lawsuit states that Brooks did not visit the hospital and instead beat and abused the child, nearly killing him. Ball’s account details how Brooks told her the child had fallen off a kitchen table and was “non-responsive.” During a FaceTime call, Ball saw her son barely breathing, prompting her to demand immediate action. Brooks allegedly reassured her that the child had already been revived in an ice bath and would “sleep it off.” Despite her pleas, Brooks refused to call an ambulance and threatened her, saying he would “snap her neck” and “f*ing kill her” if she contacted authorities. Ball ultimately called an ambulance, but the lawsuit claims Brooks attempted to prevent her from doing so.#exxonmobil #charles_brooks_jr #madison_ball #humble_oil #texas_children
