Miami Jury Finds Tyreek Hill Liable on Two of 10 Counts, Awards Estranged Wife $500,000

Since Tyreek Hill took the stand last week and acknowledged pushing his wife, the civil battery trial has gone to the jury. On Tuesday night, Oct. 13, it returned a split verdict.

The Miami-Dade jury found Hill liable for two counts of battery against Lakeeta Vaccaro and awarded her $500,000 in compensatory damages. It denied punitive damages. Jurors deliberated for nearly four hours.

What the jury decided

The two findings of liability cover an early January 2024 incident and one on April 7, 2025. The jury found Hill not liable on five other battery counts, one assault count, one count of intentional infliction of emotional distress and one count of continuing domestic violence. Vaccaro's lawyers had also agreed earlier Tuesday to the dismissal of another battery count. That makes two wins for Vaccaro out of 10 counts that went to the jury.

The panel had six jurors and two alternates, five men and three women, ages 29 to 57.

Vaccaro's lawyer, Paul Schwiep, asked jurors in closing arguments to award $8 million in compensatory damages to "restore her dignity." The jury awarded $500,000, far less than that request.

The two incidents

Vaccaro testified that the January 2024 incident began as an argument over a postnuptial agreement. She told jurors Hill pulled a necklace off her, put his hands around her neck, and grabbed and twisted her breasts. She said it terrified her.

She photographed marks on her chest. She texted her mother about the fight the next day, and the texts went into evidence. Hill filed for divorce that month, then withdrew the petition, and the couple tried couples therapy, according to testimony.

The April 2025 incident rests heavily on a nanny camera recording. Jurors heard Hill and Vaccaro yelling and cursing, and heard her plead with him to "stop." Hill is heard saying he was going to get his daughter and leave. Vaccaro's mother called Sunny Isles Beach police during the fight, and jurors heard parts of that 911 call.

Reporters were barred from broadcasting the nanny cam footage. Schwiep read from the transcript during closing, including a line he asked jurors to consider as a possible veiled threat: "We're gonna see when the crew come over here. We're gonna see what can happen."

Hill's defense

Hill's side argues the case was about money. Attorney Michael Gottlieb told jurors the suit was "all about money and divorce." He said the abuse allegations surfaced only after Vaccaro lost a claim for additional spousal support. "Her ambition to take his money wasn't met. So she files this action," Gottlieb said.

Hill testified that he verbally abused his wife and accused her of stealing his money, but said he did not physically hurt her.

The jury's rejection of eight of the 10 counts, including the continuing-domestic-violence and emotional-distress claims, is the core of Hill's argument that he came out ahead. Gottlieb called it "a defense verdict." His attorney Christi Bright said Hill was "very pleased that he was able to get his story out and to be able to tell the world what he's not been able to speak about."

Vaccaro's team also called it a win. Attorney Evan Marks said: "Tyreek Hill was found by a jury to have committed battery against his wife, and the jury awarded compensatory damages. Domestic violence is unacceptable. We are satisfied with the jury's verdict."

The NFL review

The verdict lands in the middle of a league review. Hill is under review of the NFL's personal conduct policy over Vaccaro's allegations, which first surfaced in a divorce filing. After the verdict, a league spokesperson said: "We have been monitoring developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy."

NBC Sports analyst Mike Florio wrote that a civil verdict does not automatically trigger discipline under the policy. The league still has to run its own investigation through the collectively bargained process. Florio added that the league could reach conclusions on the two incidents Hill lost and on the ones he won.

Heavy's Daniel Arwas projected a possible suspension of eight games or more, noting that domestic violence normally carries a six-game minimum. The NFL has announced no discipline and no timeline.

Civil juries decide by a preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt. Florio noted that Florida law requires clear and convincing evidence of intentional misconduct for punitive damages. He speculated the jury may have found battery under the lower standard but not the higher one. The jury has not explained its reasoning.

What comes next

Hill had planned to return to the NFL as early as next month and has been tied to rumors of a reunion with the Kansas City Chiefs. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told a local news station that Hill's playing situation is "fluid" and "a deal could happen any time."

Two battery findings and a $500,000 judgment, with the league's conduct review still open, are now part of what any interested team has to weigh. Florio wrote that the verdict could cause one or more potentially interested teams to refrain from pursuing him. The divorce case between Hill and Vaccaro is ongoing.