Judge Says State School Lawsuit Can Continue

A woman can proceed with her lawsuit against the state of Texas after her mentally disabled son was paralyzed during a beating in a state facility.

State Rep. Lon Burnam says a judge in Denton on Thursday denied the state's attempt to dismiss Farhat Chishty's lawsuit.

Burnam sponsored the House bill in 2009 allowing a lawsuit over her adult son's beating. The bill then became law.

Haseeb Chishty needs expensive care since he almost died in the 2002 attack, and his mom sued.

But Texas government entities are all but immune from lawsuits, unless plaintiffs have special legislation to proceed.

The former care worker who beat Haseeb Chishty was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The facility initially tried to cover up how he was so severely injured.