The legal battle between John Darjean and Shilo Sanders continues to unfold, with Darjean, the former security guard owed nearly $12 million by Deion Sanders’ son, speaking out about his unwavering pursuit of justice. Despite Shilo Sanders’ attempt to discharge the debt through bankruptcy, John Darjean remains resolute in his fight for what he believes he is rightfully owed. This case, stemming from a 2015 incident, has drawn attention not only for the substantial sum involved but also for the prominent role of Coach Deion Sanders, Shilo’s father, in the unfolding narrative.
In a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports, John Darjean, 48, opened up about the ongoing legal proceedings and his determination to hold Shilo Sanders accountable. “I’m not gonna stop until the truth gets out and until I win my $12 million,” Darjean stated, highlighting his commitment to seeing the case through despite the challenges. The heart of the matter dates back to an incident nearly a decade ago when Shilo Sanders, then 15, allegedly assaulted Darjean at school. According to Darjean, the confrontation occurred when he attempted to confiscate Shilo’s phone, a violation of school policy. Darjean claims Shilo Sanders struck him forcefully near the neck with his elbow, resulting in lasting injuries, nerve damage, and incontinence.
Following the incident, John Darjean pursued legal action in Dallas civil court and secured a default judgment of $11.89 million against Shilo Sanders. This is the debt that Sanders is now attempting to evade through bankruptcy, seeking a “fresh start” as his legal team argues. However, Darjean is actively contesting this discharge, fueled by a desire to collect the substantial sum awarded to him by the court. “They’re trying to make it go away, Deion and Shilo, but I’m going to keep fighting and I won’t ever stop fighting,” Darjean asserted, underscoring the protracted and contentious nature of this legal saga.
John Darjean’s Account of Events and Deion Sanders’ Shifting Stance
John Darjean’s narrative is further complicated by the evolving position of Deion Sanders, Shilo’s father and the current football coach at the University of Colorado. Initially, Darjean points out, Deion Sanders appeared to support Darjean’s version of events. However, this stance shifted dramatically when, in 2016, Deion Sanders publicly labeled Darjean a “grifter” in a TMZ interview, vehemently denying his son’s wrongdoing. This public reversal, Darjean believes, occurred just days before he filed his lawsuit.
Despite Deion Sanders’ public defense of his son, John Darjean emphasizes that multiple official investigations, including probes by the police, workers’ compensation authorities, and the Dallas civil court, have substantiated his account. Now, Darjean hopes that the bankruptcy court will also rule in his favor. The crux of Darjean’s argument in the bankruptcy proceedings rests on the legal principle that debts arising from “willful and malicious” injury are not dischargeable. Darjean’s legal team contends that the Texas court’s default judgment already established that Shilo Sanders inflicted such injury. In response, Shilo Sanders’ lawyers have attempted to attribute Darjean’s injuries to pre-existing health conditions, a claim Darjean vehemently denies.
“They don’t want the truth to come out, and they’re trying to spin it that I was already injured and he didn’t really do this,” Darjean explained. “It’s a lie. Not one person came and testified on Deion Sanders’ and Shilo Sanders’ behalf. Not one person. And so now they’re trying to get it thrown out in bankruptcy, and I don’t believe that’s gonna happen.” This statement underscores Darjean’s frustration with what he perceives as attempts to distort the facts and evade accountability.
Deion Sanders’ Involvement: Investigative Report, Video Footage, and Context of the Incident
John Darjean highlights three key aspects of Deion Sanders’ involvement in the case, which he believes are crucial to understanding the full picture: an investigative report, the handling of security video footage, and the circumstances leading up to the incident itself.
According to court records, Deion Sanders initially corroborated Darjean’s version of events in an interview with a Texas state child protective services (CPS) investigator 12 days after the incident. The investigator, Jordan Ham, stated in his report that Deion Sanders, accompanied by an attorney, acknowledged that Darjean “handled the situation appropriately” after Shilo was “disruptive” at school. The report further noted, “Mr. Sanders stated that Shilo reportedly struck Mr. Darjean in the chest; and began resisting away from Mr. Darjean. Mr. Sanders stated that Mr. Darjean was required to restrain Shilo.” Ham reaffirmed this account under oath in a 2017 deposition. However, Deion Sanders later shifted his narrative, claiming Darjean was the aggressor who used excessive force against Shilo. Darjean sees this initial corroboration followed by a reversal as significant, stating, “Deion was adamant I didn’t do anything wrong. But then he changed his story.” Deion Sanders, in a subsequent deposition, claimed his initial understanding was based on secondhand information, as he was not present during the incident.
John Darjean, the plaintiff in the Shilo Sanders case, is determined to recover the million debt despite bankruptcy proceedings.
The issue of security video footage also plays a crucial role in John Darjean’s narrative. Deion Sanders admitted in a deposition to obtaining security footage of the incident through an unofficial channel after his formal request to the school was unmet. Sanders described it as, “Someone slipped and gave it − not slipped, but they manipulated and gave us the video. That’s how we got our hands on the video. It’s not like the school provided the video for us.” John Darjean interprets this as evidence that Deion Sanders “stole” video footage, potentially footage that could have validated Darjean’s version of events. In 2016, TMZ released video footage of the incident, promoted by Sanders as proof of Darjean’s aggression. However, this footage was partial and, according to Darjean, did not depict the entire sequence of events, particularly the alleged assault. Furthermore, Darjean claims that other security camera footage involving Shilo Sanders was “mistakenly erased” by a school computer technician while attempting to save it. The content of this erased footage remains unclear.
Adding further context, John Darjean states that on the day of the incident, Deion Sanders contacted him and requested that he confiscate Shilo’s phone to prevent communication with his ex-wife, Shilo’s mother, amidst a contentious custody battle. Darjean suggests that Shilo, already under emotional stress from the family situation, “snapped” when Darjean attempted to take his phone, which was prohibited during school hours. “I did this because it was my job, and I was within my rights to do it,” Darjean explained, emphasizing that he was acting in accordance with his professional responsibilities and school regulations.
The Default Judgment and Darjean’s Injuries
John Darjean initiated the lawsuit in 2016, initially naming Shilo Sanders, Deion Sanders, and Pilar Sanders (Shilo’s mother) as defendants, alleging parental negligence. However, Deion and Pilar Sanders were dismissed from the case by early 2019, leaving Shilo as the sole defendant when he went to college in 2019. When the case proceeded to trial in March 2022, Shilo Sanders failed to appear, resulting in a default judgment of $11.89 million against him. Despite receiving trial notices at his email and former address, Shilo Sanders was absent and unrepresented at the trial. John Darjean notes that Shilo Sanders had been legally represented in the case for years prior and had given a deposition in 2018, implying that his absence at trial was not due to lack of awareness of the proceedings. Darjean recounts the surreal moment at trial: “Shilo Sanders!? Shilo Sanders!?” the bailiff called out in the courtroom hallway, met with silence.
Following the trial, the court issued findings of fact, stating, “On September 17, 2015, Shilo Sanders did in fact cause physical harm and injuries to John Darjean by assaulting him.” This legal determination is central to Darjean’s challenge to the bankruptcy discharge.
Addressing claims about pre-existing injuries, John Darjean acknowledges a past baseball career, including a minor neck injury from running into an outfield wall and a spinal surgery in 2014. However, he asserts that he was fully recovered from the surgery before the incident with Shilo Sanders. Darjean contends that Shilo’s elbow strike severely aggravated his pre-existing condition, escalating a single-level spinal fusion into a more extensive five-level fusion. He describes enduring partial paralysis and incontinence since the incident and subsequent surgery. “He hit me so hard they had to remove the one-level neck fusion and change it out with a five-level neck fusion,” Darjean stated. “That’s what they’re trying to pretend, that I was already messed up. I wasn’t taking any medication. I wasn’t doing any of that. I didn’t have any issues. … After my surgery (in 2014), I was fine.”
Not About Wealth: John Darjean’s Pursuit of Justice
Dismissing suggestions that his pursuit of the lawsuit is motivated by Deion Sanders’ wealth, John Darjean emphasizes that his primary motivation is accountability for the assault and the resulting injuries. The $11.89 million judgment includes $2 million for future lost earning capacity and $3 million for future physical impairment, reflecting the long-term impact of his injuries. “I would go after anyone that assaulted me; I don’t care who it was,” Darjean declared. He highlights that he still requires another surgery, suffers from significant nerve damage, and receives modest monthly disability payments. “So it doesn’t matter if it’s Deion Sanders or not,” he concludes. “I would sue anybody. That’s my answer.” John Darjean’s unwavering pursuit of the $12 million debt underscores a narrative of seeking justice and accountability, irrespective of the defendant’s fame or fortune. The legal battle continues as Darjean challenges Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy, determined to have his day in court and secure the compensation he believes he is owed.
