This article discusses domestic violence. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
Former Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was found liable for two counts of battery in a civil trial following claims made by his estranged wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill.
Hill was not held liable for the remaining eight counts, which included battery, continuing domestic violence and assault.
The jury awarded Vaccaro $500,000 in compensatory damages, but did not award punitive damages to complete the trial that wrapped up on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 13 which was livestreamed on the trial's last day.
Of the two counts Hill was found
liable for, one was for an incident that occurred in January 2024 and the other took place on April 7, 2025.
While neither side appears to walk away as clear victors in the trial, Hill did appear to be relieved after the verdict was read. The 32-year-old embraced a member of his legal team and shook hands with multiple people before leaving the courtroom.
Hill took the witness stand on Oct. 8, when he denied that any argument had ever become physical.
"Not a chance," Hill said at toward the end of his testimony for the civil assault and battery trial in Florida. "That's my wife. This all comes down to people just want money. Once they don't get it, it's like, 'I'm gonna force you to give me that.' It hurts me so bad to sit here and say that."
The trial wrapped up at a time when Hill is pursuing a return to the NFL. The wide receiver remains a free agent as he rehabs from a significant season-ending knee injury that he suffered in Sept. 2025.
Hill was released by the Dolphins in February. On Oct. 5, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN's Adam Schefter that he planned to begin negotiations with multiple teams on a contract for his client.
The verdict could affect the NFL’s ongoing investigation into allegations Vaccaro made against Hill in divorce filings. The civil case found that Hill more likely than not committed battery on two occasions. However, the verdict does not automatically mean the NFL will discipline Hill. The league will conduct its own investigation and determine whether punishment is warranted under its Personal Conduct Policy.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyreek Hill found liable on two counts of battery, jury awards estranged wife $500K
