A prominent law firm has filed a lawsuit against Shilo Sanders, alleging he owes $164,285.55, plus interest, for legal work performed in 2024. The complaint, filed Nov. 17 in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas, claims Sanders failed to pay for services tied to a personal injury case and his bankruptcy proceedings.
According to the lawsuit, Barnes & Thornburg LLP “delivered the legal services and incurred the costs reflected in the Invoices between May 1, 2024 and August 26, 2024, based on the Agreement.” (The firm further states, “Mr. Sanders, however, failed to pay the amounts reflected in the invoices … and has not tendered payment … The total of the invoices that Mr. Sanders currently owes Plaintiff is $164,285.55, including $10,967.91 in interest.”
Breakdown of the Dispute
The legal work in question is tied to an earlier personal injury lawsuit against Sanders, which ultimately led him to file for bankruptcy in October 2023. According to court records, the firm was representing him in both the injury litigation and his Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.
The lawsuit also notes that in August 2024, Sanders was informed that his lead attorney, Victor Vital, would be leaving Barnes & Thornburg to join another firm, Haynes Boone.The complaint alleges that after this move, Sanders terminated Barnes & Thornburg’s representation and followed Vital to his new firm — but the debt to his former lawyers remained.
This legal action marks yet another chapter in Sanders’ ongoing financial and legal struggles. The underlying personal injury case dates back to an incident in 2015, when a former school security guard accused him of assault. In 2022, a Texas court entered a default judgment against him, reportedly awarding nearly $11.9 million in damages.
Sanders later filed for bankruptcy in an effort to discharge that judgment. But the current lawsuit by Barnes & Thornburg is separate from his bankruptcy case, according to court filings.
Attempts to reach Sanders for comment have reportedly gone unanswered. His bankruptcy and legal woes come as he remains a free agent following a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who waived him in August 2025.
Legal experts note that a lawsuit by a former attorney can complicate a high-profile bankruptcy case. If a court rules against Sanders, it could add a significant financial burden to other unpaid obligations.