Former School Security Guard Collapses During Shilo Sanders Bankruptcy Trial John Darjean, a former school security guard, collapsed in the courtroom during the ongoing bankruptcy trial of Shilo Sanders, a former University of Colorado football player. The incident occurred on Thursday as Darjean concluded his testimony, which is central to determining whether Sanders must pay him $11.89 million from a previous civil case. The trial, held in Denver bankruptcy court, is assessing whether Sanders acted willfully and maliciously during a 2015 incident at a Dallas school, which Darjean claims caused him permanent injuries. Darjean testified that on September 17, 2015, Sanders, then 15 years old, was “out of control” during an altercation. He described Sanders as cursing and hitting him multiple times. The trial has focused on conflicting accounts of the incident, with Sanders denying any physical contact and claiming he only tried to avoid Darjean. During Thursday’s proceedings, Darjean reported severe back pain and required frequent breaks to take medication, which he has endured throughout the trial. The collapse occurred during lunch break, with Darjean’s attorney, Ori Raphael, stating that he was transported to a hospital via ambulance. Darjean had previously described his physical struggles, including back spasms and excruciating pain, which he attributed to the 2015 incident. The trial has also featured testimony from Sanders, who contradicted earlier accounts. On Wednesday, Sanders testified that he never struck Darjean and only attempted to leave the scene, directly opposing Darjean’s claims and witness statements presented earlier. The incident began when Darjean was called to escort Sanders from class after the student was disrupting the classroom and gambling with dice.#deion_sanders #shilo_sanders #john_darjean #university_of_colorado #denver_bankruptcy_court
Bankruptcy Trial Unfolds as Former CU Football Player Faces Willful Injury Claims A bankruptcy court in Denver is currently deliberating whether Shilo Sanders, a former University of Colorado football player, must pay $11.89 million to Dallas school security guard John Darjean, who claims Sanders caused him permanent injuries during a 2015 incident. The trial, which has been ongoing, centers on whether Sanders acted willfully and maliciously during the altercation, as U.S. bankruptcy law prohibits discharging debts from such actions. Testimony from multiple witnesses has revealed conflicting accounts of the Sept. 17, 2015, incident at Focus Learning Academy, a Dallas school. Ruda James, the former principal of the academy, testified that Darjean attacked Sanders by pushing him into a glass window and choking him. She described the confrontation as a sudden, violent act, emphasizing that Darjean’s actions left Sanders in a vulnerable position. However, during cross-examination, Darjean’s attorney, Ori Raphael, highlighted inconsistencies in James’ statements. A phone call recording played during the trial showed James telling Sanders’ mother that Darjean had “Shilo against the wall and then they both fell to the ground.” When asked if Darjean choked Sanders, James responded, “I didn’t see the neck part,” contradicting her earlier account. James also faced scrutiny over her written statements, which she claimed were “collected thoughts” but failed to clarify which document she referenced. A police report from the incident, however, did not include any mention of Darjean’s hands on Sanders’ neck, raising questions about the credibility of James’ testimony. Raphael argued that James’ past animosity toward Darjean could bias her account, but Judge Michael E.#shilo_sanders #john_darjean #focus_learning_academy #ori_raphael #michael_e_romero
Shilo Sanders' Creditor Collapses During Bankruptcy Trial, Taken to Hospital DENVER — John Darjean, a former school security guard owed $12 million by Shilo Sanders, collapsed in court and was hospitalized after completing his testimony in Sanders’ bankruptcy trial on Thursday, September 3. Darjean, 50, testified for over two hours before collapsing in pain at the end of his testimony. He was released from the hospital later that day, but the incident marked a significant development in the case, where Sanders is seeking to discharge a $11.89 million judgment against him stemming from an incident at Sanders’ school in Dallas in 2015. This was the fourth day of the trial, which included conflicting witness accounts and medical reports from the 2015 incident. Judge Michael Romero also ruled that Deion Sanders, Shilo’s father, did not need to testify, citing that his testimony was unnecessary after Day 4. Darjean, the plaintiff in the case, sued Shilo Sanders in 2016, alleging that Sanders assaulted him and caused permanent injuries when Darjean tried to confiscate his phone at the school on September 17, 2015. Darjean claimed the incident aggravated a preexisting spinal injury, leading to chronic health issues including incontinence, nerve damage, and ongoing pain. His testimony during the trial revealed his physical distress, which intensified before he collapsed. During cross-examination, Sanders’ attorney, Victor Vital, questioned whether Darjean’s health issues predated the 2015 incident, noting Darjean’s history of degenerative disc disease. Vital asked if Darjean had possibly sustained the condition while playing baseball, but the judge intervened, stating that the causation of Darjean’s injuries is not central to the trial.#deion_sanders #shilo_sanders #john_darjean #judge_michael_romero #ruda_nash_james
Colorado Coach Deion Sanders Subpoenaed to Testify in Son's Bankruptcy Trial Colorado football coach Deion Sanders is being called to testify at his son Shilo’s bankruptcy trial, according to a judge’s remarks during a pretrial conference. The trial, scheduled to begin August 31 and last through September 4, overlaps with the University of Colorado’s season opener against Georgia Tech on September 3. Judge Michael E. Romero highlighted the potential scheduling conflict during a Zoom conference on August 14, noting that Sanders might attempt to challenge the subpoena. Shilo Sanders, a former Colorado football player, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2023 to discharge an $11.89 million debt owed to John Darjean, a former security guard at his Dallas school. The debt stems from a 2015 incident in which Darjean claimed Shilo assaulted him, leading to a $11.89 million default judgment against Shilo in 2022. The bankruptcy trial now focuses on whether the debt is dischargeable, as Darjean argues it resulted from a “willful and malicious injury.” Shilo’s legal team contends it was self-defense. The judge noted that Deion Sanders was subpoenaed to testify, though it is unclear if he has been officially served the subpoena. Court records do not show the subpoena on the docket, and it remains uncertain whether Sanders will attempt to quash it. The judge emphasized the conflict with the football season opener, stating he is “not a CU alum or I have no ties to CU” but acknowledged the potential issue. The 2015 incident involved Darjean, who claimed Shilo assaulted him after attempting to confiscate his phone at Deion Sanders’ direction. Darjean alleged that Shilo punched him and swung a roundhouse elbow into his neck, aggravating a previous spinal injury.#deion_sanders #shilo_sanders #john_darjean #university_of_colorado #court_records
