Jury selection got underway Wednesday in a Broward County civil case that turns a backyard practice session into a courtroom showdown, as social media influencer Sophie Hall claims former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill fractured her right leg during football drills at his home. Nearly 100 potential jurors were brought into the Fort Lauderdale courthouse while the judge and lawyers began the slow work of finding a panel to weigh two very different stories about what happened. Hall says the injury sent her into surgery and still has her in weekly physical therapy.
Jury Selection Begins In Fort Lauderdale
According to WPLG Local 10, close to 100 prospective jurors filled the courtroom Wednesday as both sides began questioning them. Hill appeared with his legal team on one side of the room, with Hall and her attorneys seated opposite. Jury selection is expected to continue until an acceptable panel is seated, at which point the trial itself will begin.
What The Complaint Alleges
The civil complaint, filed in Broward circuit court, says Hall first met Hill after signing up her son for his football camp and later joined offensive-line drills at Hill’s Miami-area home. In the court filing, her attorneys write that “the crushing force was so great that she sustained a right leg fracture, necessitating surgery with metal hardware implantation,” and say she still attends weekly physical therapy sessions. The lawsuit brings claims of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence, and it seeks damages in excess of $50,000. The court complaint lays out the alleged timeline and includes photos cited by Hall’s lawyers.
Hill’s Team Pushes Back
Hill’s attorneys have denied any wrongdoing and, in court filings and in statements reported by ESPN, suggested Hall took on the risk herself by joining intense drills. The defense has floated an alternate explanation that she may have been hurt after tripping over a dog during a play and has characterized the lawsuit as a bid for publicity. Hill’s lawyers have also pointed to a pending homeowners insurance claim that could address medical expenses, according to reporting on the case.
What Happens Next
With jury selection underway, the schedule for opening statements and testimony depends on how quickly both sides can agree on an impartial panel. WPLG Local 10 reported on the initial stages of the process. Administrative details such as juror summonses and service are handled by the Broward County Clerk’s jury office at the Fort Lauderdale courthouse. The case sits on the Broward circuit court docket and will move into full trial mode once jurors are sworn in.
Legal Note
This case is a civil lawsuit, not a criminal prosecution, and it alleges assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. The complaint seeks damages above the $50,000 threshold required for circuit-court jurisdiction. Under the court papers and contemporary reporting, the dispute will be decided under the civil standard of proof, which is a preponderance of the evidence, rather than the criminal standard of beyond a reasonable doubt. Contemporary news accounts indicate there have been no criminal charges filed in connection with this incident to date.
Background
The lawsuit and its allegations first surfaced publicly in early 2024 and have circulated widely since. Hoodline previously covered the filing when it hit the court docket; that coverage when the complaint was first filed summarized the allegations and surrounding context. Hill, who was released by the Miami Dolphins earlier this year, remains a defendant as the civil case moves forward.
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