A Dallas County jury on March 26, 2026, concluded a five-year legal pursuit by delivering a historic $1.1 billion civil judgment against Charles Edwin Brooks Jr., a convicted felon. This verdict stands as the single largest award ever recorded in the United States for a case tied to child assault. Brooks, who is already serving a 40-year prison sentence, now faces a financial reckoning that far surpasses any comparable award in American legal history.
Brooks, identified as the great-grandson of Percy Turner, one of the original investors in Humble Oil, which later became ExxonMobil, was found liable for the devastating injuries he inflicted upon his then 2-year-old stepson, Blake Sampson. Despite his family's considerable wealth, Brooks reportedly held no job and drew income from a trust fund.
The civil judgment follows Brooks' guilty plea in August 2023 to first-degree felony injury to a child, for which he was incarcerated. The Dallas County’s 134th District Court jury determined that Brooks owed Blake Sampson $291 million in compensatory damages. Additionally, the jury awarded $810 million in punitive damages, to be split among Blake and his parents, Madison Ball and Stephen Sampson.
The compensatory damages were meticulously broken down to address Blake's extensive and long-term needs. These included $65 million for future medical expenses, $50 million for future mental anguish, another $50 million for future loss of enjoyment of life, and $30 million for future physical pain and suffering, among other categories recognizing the profound impact of his injuries.
The night that irrevocably altered Blake's life occurred on April 22, 2021. Brooks, who was married to Blake's mother, Madison Ball, at the time, was entrusted with caring for the toddler while Ball was at work. That evening, Brooks contacted Ball to report that her son was unresponsive. Initial reports from KRLD indicated that Brooks had told Ball he needed to visit his grandfather at a Dallas hospital and had taken Blake with him. However, subsequent investigations revealed that Brooks never took the child to any hospital.
Throughout the unfolding crisis, Brooks offered a series of inconsistent and shifting explanations for Blake's critical condition. He variously claimed the toddler had tumbled off a kitchen table, fallen down a staircase, or sustained injuries in a car accident. Ball, observing her son over a video call, noted he was barely breathing. When she urgently pressed Brooks to call for emergency medical help, he refused. Instead, he reportedly told her that the child had already been placed in an ice bath and would simply "sleep it off."
As Ball insisted on calling an ambulance, Brooks escalated his threats, warning that he would "snap her neck" and kill her if she proceeded to call for help. Despite the severe intimidation, Ball made the call. Paramedics arrived at the scene to find Blake suffering from a severe brain bleed, widespread bruising, and adult bite marks on his legs. He was immediately rushed to Medical City Dallas Hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma, on a ventilator, with a drain inserted into his brain.
The injuries Blake sustained were catastrophic, including damage to his medulla, cortex, and brain stem. These severe traumas have resulted in chronic respiratory failure, a seizure disorder, and hemorrhaging in both retinas. Now seven years old, Blake requires 24-hour medical care, relies on a tracheostomy tube and a breathing machine, and is confined to a wheelchair, unable to walk.
Following his initial arrest in connection with the incident, Brooks posted bond and was released from jail. However, according to The Texas Lawbook, he later cut off his ankle monitor and fled. Authorities initiated a manhunt, eventually tracking him to a sports bar in South Texas, where he was apprehended and taken back into custody.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, representing Blake Sampson and his parents, spoke after the verdict, emphasizing its significance. "We claim to value children in our society. This Texas jury stepped up and showed that," Buzbee stated. He expressed hope that the substantial verdict would ensure Blake receives all necessary care, making his life "as good as it can be made under the circumstances." CBS News quoted Buzbee issuing a stern warning: "Children are a precious gift from God our Father. Don’t mess with Texas children. Period." The civil judgment underscores the legal system's capacity to deliver justice and provide for victims even after criminal convictions have been secured.
