Miami jury finds Tyreek Hill civilly liable on two battery counts, awards $500,000 to estranged wife

A Miami jury found former NFL receiver Tyreek Hill liable on two counts of battery in a civil case brought by his estranged wife, Lakeeta “Keeta” Vaccaro, and awarded her $500,000 in damages.

The verdict, reported Tuesday in Miami, was mixed. Jurors found Hill not liable on eight other claims Vaccaro had brought. The case was a civil tort lawsuit, not a criminal prosecution, and the finding of liability does not amount to a criminal conviction. Civil cases also use a lower standard of proof than criminal cases.

The case was litigated in Miami-Dade Circuit Court as part of proceedings connected to the couple’s divorce. Vaccaro’s court filings alleged multiple incidents of assault and battery during the pair’s roughly 18-month marriage. The jury found in her favor on two battery counts only.

The outcome carries significance beyond the divorce case because Hill is a high-profile football player. He is currently a free agent after being released by the Miami Dolphins on Feb. 16, 2026. Hill previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dolphins. The NFL has been reviewing the allegations separately under its Personal Conduct Policy, a league process that is independent of the civil case.

During the trial, Hill testified and acknowledged verbally abusing Vaccaro while denying many of the physical-abuse allegations. According to Court TV’s trial coverage on Oct. 9, Hill told jurors: “I already admitted to verbally abusing my wife, and I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry; like every day, I’m sorry for that.”

The verdict narrows, but does not erase, the broader dispute laid out in Vaccaro’s lawsuit. Rather than accepting all of her claims, the jury split the case, finding Hill responsible on two battery counts and rejecting the remaining eight. That distinction is important legally and factually: the panel did not endorse every allegation presented at trial.

For readers outside the legal system, the bottom line is straightforward. A civil jury concluded Hill was financially liable to Vaccaro on two claims and ordered him to pay damages. That is different from a criminal court finding someone guilty of a crime, which did not happen here.

The next procedural step would typically be for the court to enter judgment on the verdict, after which the case could be appealed.