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
