Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy case has reached another important stage after a federal judge issued several pretrial rulings that will determine what evidence can be presented during trial.
The decisions came ahead of the scheduled Aug. 31 bankruptcy trial, where the court will decide whether Shilo Sanders can discharge an $11.89 million judgment tied to a 2015 school incident.
The rulings were summarized by the bankruptcy court after a sealed hearing held in Denver on July 14.
Shilo Sanders Bankruptcy Trial Moves Closer
Shilo Sanders, the middle son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders and older brother of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2023. Court records show that nearly all of his reported debt is linked to a judgment awarded to former school security guard John Darjean.
The dispute dates back to September 2015, when Darjean accused Sanders of assaulting him while attempting to confiscate Sanders’ phone at school. Darjean claimed he suffered permanent injuries.
Sanders argued he acted in self-defense. However, he did not appear at the 2022 civil trial, leading to an $11.89 million default judgment in Darjean’s favor.
Now, the bankruptcy court must determine whether that debt resulted from a “willful and malicious injury” or whether Sanders’ self-defense claim should allow the debt to be discharged.
Judge Michael Romero issued mixed rulings on several evidence requests before trial.
The judge partly granted and partly denied Sanders’ motion challenging potential expert testimony from Darjean’s side. According to the court, expert testimony may be allowed “on the issue of whether reasonable force was used in rebuttal to (Sanders’) self-defense arguments.”
The judge also granted Sanders’ request to limit evidence related to his stay at the Letot juvenile detention facility in Texas, although one exception remains. Records containing “party admissions” may still be admitted into evidence if they meet legal standards.
In another decision, the court declined, for now, to restrict evidence involving Sanders’ disciplinary history or certain state agency records. The judge also denied Sanders’ request to narrow the trial’s timeframe.
Those rulings were issued “without prejudice,” leaving open the possibility of future changes.
“The Court will address specific objections relating to the evidence addressed in these Motions after the parties have completed designations of deposition testimony or at trial,” Romero wrote in the order.
The outcome of the Aug. 31 trial will determine whether Sanders remains responsible for the $11.89 million judgment. If the court finds the debt resulted from a willful and malicious injury, it cannot be discharged through bankruptcy.
If the court instead accepts the self-defense argument or determines the conduct was not willful and malicious, Sanders could be allowed to eliminate the debt through the bankruptcy process.
Separately, Sanders also faces another lawsuit from a law firm that alleges he owes approximately $170,000 in unpaid legal fees.
The upcoming Aug. 31 bankruptcy trial is expected to answer the central question in Shilo Sanders’ case. With the judge’s pretrial rulings now in place, both sides will move forward under clearer guidelines as the court determines whether the $11.89 million debt can be discharged through bankruptcy.
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