A Texas jury has leveled a historic $1.1 billion judgment against Charles Brooks Jr., an heir to a massive oil fortune, for the catastrophic assault of his four-year-old stepson. The verdict, delivered Monday, is believed to be the largest award for a single child abuse victim in United States history.
The legal fallout follows the 2021 assault that left the child, now seven, with permanent, life-altering injuries. According to Dallas County court records, the jury awarded $290.9 million in compensatory damages to cover the victim’s lifelong medical requirements. An additional $810 million in punitive damages was leveled against Brooks, intended to penalize the severity of his actions.
Brooks is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2023 to “injury to a child.”
The incident occurred while Brooks was babysitting the child of his then-wife, Madison Ball. Evidence presented by The Buzbee Law Firm detailed a harrowing timeline:
- Brooks contacted Ball to report the child was “unresponsive.”
- Despite Ball’s pleas to contact emergency services, Brooks refused to call 911.
- Ball initiated the emergency call herself.
First responders arrived to find the child severely beaten and covered in bite marks. The physical trauma resulted in permanent brain damage; the child is now confined to a wheelchair and requires 24-hour specialized care.
The scale of the judgment reflects Brooks’ significant financial standing. He is the great-grandson of Percy Turner, an original investor in Humble Oil—the entity that eventually became ExxonMobil.
“This Texas jury stepped up and showed that we value children in our society,” lead attorney Tony Buzbee stated following the verdict. “I hope that through this verdict this precious child gets all the care he will need.”
This report is based on Dallas County judicial records and official statements from the legal counsel representing the plaintiffs. The $1.1 billion figure represents the total civil liability, distinct from the 40-year criminal sentence Brooks began serving last year. Court documents confirm the victim’s current status as requiring permanent medical intervention.
