Shilo Sanders’ $11.89 million bankruptcy trial takes shocking turn as John Darjean collapses after hours of testimony

John Darjean, the former school security guard seeking to keep an $11.89 million judgment against Shilo Sanders, collapsed in a Denver courtroom on Thursday, September 3, after more than two hours of testimony. Darjean was taken to a hospital by ambulance and was released later that day, according to USA TODAY Sports. He did not return to court. The incident happened on Day 4 of Sanders’ bankruptcy trial, which is focused on whether the debt can be wiped out under Chapter 7 bankruptcy.Shilo Sanders bankruptcy trial focuses on the 2015 school incidentThe case goes back to September 17, 2015, when Sanders was 15 and attending Focus Learning Academy in Dallas, Texas. Darjean was working as a school security guard and became involved after Sanders was removed from class for breaking school rules.Darjean has said Deion Sanders asked him to take Shilo’s phone. According to Darjean, Shilo became angry when he approached him and hit him with an elbow around the neck and chest area before punching him near the face. Darjean has said the incident caused serious damage to his neck and led to years of medical problems.Shilo Sanders has given a very different version. He has denied attacking Darjean and said he was trying to get away after Darjean grabbed and choked him. Sanders has said he blacked out during the struggle and had marks on his arms and neck afterward. He has continued to argue that he was defending himself.Police records from 2015 described the incident as an assault involving serious bodily injury, with Sanders listed as the suspect. Several school witnesses have also given accounts that support Darjean’s version. At the same time, Sanders’ side has presented testimony supporting his claim that Darjean was the aggressor.The dispute later moved to Texas state court. Darjean sued Sanders in 2016, and the case eventually went to trial in 2022. Sanders did not appear at that trial after dismissing his lawyers. A Dallas County judge then awarded Darjean $11,890,937.Shilo Sanders fights to erase the $11.89 million judgmentAfter Darjean began trying to collect the money, Shilo Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Colorado in October 2023. The current case is not about deciding the original amount of the judgment. The bankruptcy court has already ruled that the Texas judgment establishes the cause of the injuries and the damages.Instead, Judge Michael E. Romero must decide whether Sanders’ actions were a “willful and malicious injury” under federal bankruptcy law. If the judge finds that they were, the $11.89 million debt cannot be discharged. If Sanders’ self-defense argument succeeds on the remaining issues, the debt could be wiped out through bankruptcy.The trial has included testimony from Darjean, Sanders and other witnesses, along with police and medical records from 2015. A witness for Sanders was also questioned about a recorded call in which her earlier account appeared to differ from her testimony in court.Deion Sanders had been expected to remain available for possible testimony, but Judge Romero released him from that requirement after deciding his testimony was not needed.The trial was scheduled to run through Friday, September 4. After the evidence is completed, Judge Romero will make the decision later in a written ruling.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.