Darjean Hospitalized After Testifying in Sanders Bankruptcy Trial

By David Thornton Columbus, OH · DENVER —

Published Updated 3 min read

John Darjean was taken to a hospital by ambulance after collapsing in court following his testimony on Sept. 3. The incident occurred during proceedings to determine if Sanders can discharge an $11.89 million judgment.

DENVER — John Darjean collapsed in court and was taken to the hospital by ambulance after completing his testimony in Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial on Thursday, Sept. 3. The 50-year-old former minor-league baseball player did not return to the proceedings after being transported for medical care.

Darjean testified for more than two hours before the incident occurred. He was released from the hospital later on Sept. 3.

The trial centers on whether Sanders can discharge an $11.89 million judgment owed to Darjean. Darjean argues the debt should remain because it stems from a "willful and malicious injury," which is an exception under bankruptcy law. Sanders contends he did not strike Darjean and was the victim of an attack during a 2015 school altercation.

Sanders' attorney Victor Vital suggested Darjean's health issues predated the 2015 incident, including a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease. The judge cut off questioning regarding the causation of Darjean's injuries because it is not at issue in the bankruptcy trial. Vital noted that police and medical reports from the time did not mention any alleged punches from Sanders.

Ruda Nash James, who worked as an administrator at the school on the day of the 2015 incident, testified that she saw Darjean choking Sanders. Darjean's attorney played a recorded phone call between Sanders' mother Pilar and James from the day of the incident. James confirmed her lodging and travel to testify were paid for by the law firm representing Sanders.

Darjean sued Sanders in 2016, accusing him of assault and permanent injury during an attempt to confiscate Sanders' phone at school. Darjean won an $11.89 million default judgment against Sanders in 2022 after Sanders did not appear for the trial.

Why It Matters

The bankruptcy court must determine if the $11.89 million judgment can be discharged or if it falls under the exception for willful and malicious injury. This decision hinges on the interpretation of the 2015 incident and the resulting legal findings. The Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas) issued an opinion in In Re Darjean v. The State of Texas on June 28, 2024, providing additional legal context to the long-standing dispute.

Timeline

The $11.89 million judgment stems from a 2015 incident at a school in Dallas involving Sanders and Darjean. Sanders was 15 years old at the time of the Sept. 17, 2015 incident. Darjean claimed Sanders swung a roundhouse elbow into his neck area.

Darjean was taken to a hospital by ambulance after the 2015 incident. Sanders walked away from the incident without apparent visible injuries except for marks on his arms and neck. Sanders testified he personally photographed the marks on his arms and neck on the day of the incident. Ruda Nash James worked as an administrator at the school on the day of the 2015 incident. The police report cited the incident as an assault with serious bodily injury with Sanders listed as the suspect.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates there is no record of an earlier incident involving Darjean collapsing in court or being hospitalized after testifying in Sanders' bankruptcy trial on Sept. 3, 2026. The State of Texas on June 28, 2024. Darjean testified that he started urinating on himself and felt dizzy and off-balance after Sanders hit him with a roundhouse left elbow to the neck area in 2015.

The 2015 incident led to a default judgment of $11.89 million against Sanders in 2022 after he failed to appear in court. Sanders testified that he saw a nurse after the 2015 incident who he believes took photos, but he does not possess those photos. Sanders signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025 as an undrafted free agent but was cut during the preseason.

How Sources Differ

Reports differ on specific details regarding Sanders. Sports.yahoo.com states that Sanders is seeking to discharge an $11.89 million judgment owed to Darjean in bankruptcy court. Newsdata reiterates that Darjean testified that he started urinating on himself and felt dizzy and off-balance after Sanders hit him with a roundhouse left elbow to the neck area in 2015.

fact_check Facts

John Darjean collapsed in court and was taken to the hospital by ambulance after completing his testimony in Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial on Thursday, Sept. 3.
John Darjean testified for more than two hours in the case against Shilo Sanders before collapsing.
John Darjean was released from the hospital later on Sept. 3.
John Darjean did not return to the trial after being taken to the hospital.
Shilo Sanders is seeking to discharge an $11.89 million judgment owed to John Darjean in bankruptcy court.
Judge Michael Romero released Deion Sanders from the requirement to testify on Friday, one day after the Colorado football coach opened the season at Georgia Tech.
Michael Romero, Judge
"He is released," Romero said Thursday about Deion Sanders.
Judge Romero deemed Deion Sanders' testimony unnecessary after Day 4 of the trial.
Sanders' attorney Victor Vital suggested Darjean's health issues predated the 2015 incident, including a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease.
The judge cut off questioning regarding the causation of Darjean's injuries because it is not at issue in the bankruptcy trial.
Ruda Nash James testified that she saw Darjean choking Sanders.
Darjean's attorney played a recorded phone call between Sanders' mother Pilar and James from the day of the incident.
Darjean's attorneys presented police and medical reports from the 2015 incident at the trial.
The police report cited the incident as an assault with serious bodily injury with Shilo Sanders listed as the suspect.
John Darjean claimed Sanders swung a roundhouse elbow into his neck area.
Victor Vital noted the police and medical reports did not mention any alleged punches from Shilo Sanders.
John Darjean has testified that he sustained three strikes from Sanders: an elbow and two punches near the face.
Shilo Sanders testified he does not recall if he ever filed a police report or sought medical help after the incident.
Shilo Sanders testified that Darjean attacked him, choked him, caused him to black out, hit his head, and tore skin off his arm.
Shilo Sanders, Defendant
Shilo Sanders testified he "did nothing" to Darjean.
John Darjean testified he was taken to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery four days after the incident.

menu_bookBackground & Context

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report.

The $11.89 million judgment stems from a 2015 incident at a school in Dallas involving Shilo Sanders and John Darjean.
John Darjean is 50 years old.
John Darjean sued Shilo Sanders in 2016, accusing him of assault and permanent injury during an attempt to confiscate Sanders' phone at school on Sept. 17, 2015.
Shilo Sanders was 15 years old at the time of the Sept. 17, 2015 incident.
John Darjean claims the attack aggravated a previous spinal injury and worsened health challenges including incontinence, nerve damage, additional spinal surgeries, and ongoing pain.
John Darjean is a former minor-league baseball player.
John Darjean won an $11.89 million default judgment against Shilo Sanders in 2022 after Sanders did not appear for the trial.
Public records do not reveal the outcome of the police report because Shilo Sanders was a minor at the time.
Court records show Shilo Sanders was taken to a juvenile facility the day after the incident following a separate incident at the school.
No police report was filed against John Darjean.
Shilo Sanders' testimony contradicted the testimony of several other witnesses and the findings of the Texas state court in 2022.
On Sept. 21, 2015, an ambulance arrived at Darjean's residence and found him lying on his dining room floor in distress.
John Darjean argues Shilo Sanders should not be allowed to discharge the debt because it stems from a "willful and malicious injury," an exception under bankruptcy law.
Shilo Sanders says he did not strike Darjean and was the victim of Darjean's attack.
There is no record of an earlier incident involving John Darjean collapsing in court or being hospitalized after testifying in Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial on Sept. 3, 2026.
The Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas) issued an opinion in In Re John Darjean v. the State of Texas on June 28, 2024.
Shilo Sanders was taken to a juvenile facility the day after the 2015 incident following a separate incident at the school, according to court records.
The 2015 incident led to a default judgment of $11.89 million against Shilo Sanders in 2022 after he failed to appear in court.
Shilo Sanders signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025 as an undrafted free agent but was cut during the preseason.

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