Shilo Sanders has had an eventful year—and not necessarily for reasons related to the football field. After being waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent, the 25-year-old former Colorado standout has entered a period of uncertainty as he explores his next potential spotlight opportunity beyond football.
That spotlight now includes new legal trouble. According to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, November 17, and obtained by USA Today, Sanders is being sued by Barnes & Thornburg LLP for more than $164,000 in allegedly unpaid legal fees.
The firm says the outstanding amount covers services provided between May 1 and August 26, 2024, related to Sanders’ ongoing personal injury and bankruptcy matters.
In a declaration filed in federal court, an employee for the firm stated, “Mr. Sanders, however, failed to pay the amounts reflected in the invoices presented to him, and has not tendered payment in response to Plaintiff’s efforts to obtain payment on the outstanding Invoices.”
The filing lists the total owed at $164,285.55, including $10,967.91 in interest for work already completed.
The lawsuit is separate from Sanders’ pending bankruptcy case, but Barnes & Thornburg says its work was directly tied to both his personal injury litigation and the bankruptcy proceedings.
According to the complaint, Sanders was notified in August 2024 that the attorney managing his matters, Dallas lawyer Victor Vital, was leaving the firm for Haynes Boone.
Sanders allegedly terminated Barnes & Thornburg’s representation, moved with the attorney, and remained responsible for the existing balance. Vital did not respond to requests for comment.
Sanders’ bankruptcy filing traces back to a years-long legal battle stemming from a 2016 personal injury lawsuit. Former school security guard John Darjean accused Sanders of causing permanent injuries during a 2015 incident when Sanders was 15.
Sanders claimed self-defense, but after he failed to appear for trial in 2022, the court entered a default judgment of more than $11 million against him.
When Darjean moved to collect, Sanders filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2023 to discharge the judgment.
Darjean is fighting that discharge, and the court-appointed trustee recently accused Sanders of violating bankruptcy rules by making unauthorized transfers totaling roughly $250,000.