Shilo Sanders, the son of Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last October due to a Texas court judgment against him for nearly $12 million in damages owed to a former security guard at his high school following an alleged assault. The security guard, John Darjean, claims that Sanders assaulted him in 2015, causing permanent neurological issues. Sanders has disputed the claims, stating that Darjean was the aggressor. His bankruptcy filing has raised questions about his personal net worth, especially in light of college athletes being able to profit from name, image, and likeness rights.
Darjean and his lawyers allege that Sanders did not properly disclose his assets in the bankruptcy filings. They are still trying to collect on the $11.89 million judgment against Sanders from the Texas court ruling in March 2022. Sanders claims that he was not aware of the trial and could not afford legal representation at the time. His previous lawyers withdrew from the case due to lack of funding. Sanders is described as a graduate student seeking a fresh start in life in his bankruptcy filings in Colorado.
Sanders and his lawyers have filed a motion to seal court records dating back to 2017 in a Dallas court. The motion claims that the records contain sensitive and confidential information about Sanders. Darjean has allegedly violated a protective order by sharing information on social media. The ongoing dispute stems from the fact that Sanders was a minor at the time of the incident. The University of Colorado, as well as Deion and Shilo Sanders, have declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
The alleged assault between Sanders and Darjean in 2015 has conflicting accounts from both parties. Video evidence shows the early stages of the altercation, where Darjean attempts to grab Sanders, leading to a scuffle. Darjean claims he was attacked by Sanders, while Sanders alleges that Darjean was overly physical with him. Deion Sanders and Darjean had prior acquaintance before the incident, with Darjean coaching youth baseball and Deion serving as the head football coach at Triple A Academy.
Darjean has accused Sanders of not being transparent about his assets derived from name, image, and likeness deals. Sanders, who has been involved in high-profile NIL agreements, has been part of commercial projects and appearances, including fashion shows and TV shows. His bankruptcy filing in Colorado reveals his income and liabilities, mainly the court judgment from 2022. Darjean alleges that Sanders may have hidden assets in his LLCs, which Sanders’ lawyers dispute.
Sanders has filed a motion for summary judgment, seeking to prevent Darjean from collecting on the judgment in Texas. The judge has sealed the motion, along with other documents related to the case. Darjean’s lawyer has requested an extension for the response deadline. The legal saga surrounding Shilo Sanders’ alleged assault case continues, with ongoing disputes over assets, liabilities, and the interpretation of events leading up to the altercation between Sanders and Darjean.
