Dallas ISD Not Liable in Death of Assaulted Special-Ed Teaching Assistant

U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Ruling: An ISD has legal immunity from being sued by the children of a teaching assistant who reportedly died from injuries sustained from being physically assaulted in her classroom by a special-ed student.

• Sims, et al., v. Dallas ISD, No. 24-10189 ($), May 16, 2025. Ordered “published.”

Background

A $20 million lawsuit filed by the two sons of Sharla Sims claimed that Dallas ISD was negligently responsible for the death of their mother due to injuries she sustained when she was violently, and unexpectedly, attacked by a 17-year-old special-ed student at DISD’s Spruce High School.