A Plano teen who suffered a brain injury at birth has made national headlines after police arrest a teenager in connection to a cyberbullying case against the girl.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Shea Shawhan’s story has been featured on various news channels and outlets after news came out that she was being bullied online because of her disabilities.
Police would not release information about the alleged juvenile bully, saying the youth was a Plano Independent School District student and that he or she is facing harassment charges, a class B misdemeanor.
According to the Morning News, the bully reportedly sent texts to Shawhan that included messages such as “kill urself”, while telling the girl to have one of her “seizures and die”. The bully also made references to rape, calling Shawhan a slut and making fun of her for having special needs.
Shawhan, 18, suffered a frontal lobe brain injury from complications suffered at birth that causes her developmental delays and frequent seizures. The Plano community has rallied around Shawhan, and her mother has created a non-profit titled “I’m With Shea” in an effort to combat bullying. The Dallas Maverick’s Drumline led support to the organization, wearing “I’m With Shea” shirts at a recent NBA game.
Was Your Son or Daughter Injured At Birth?
We applaud efforts to raise awareness against bullying. Unfortunately, many Americans have suffered developmental disabilities because of birth injuries. These injuries include cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia (Erb’s palsy/brachial plexus injuries), and brain injuries, which are often caused by physician error, malpractice or negligence.
In birth injury cases, it is very important for parents to contact a birth trauma attorney as soon as possible, as claims must be filed within a certain amount of time following the alleged accident. Birth injuries often require extensive therapy and rehabilitation, as well as long-term healthcare—the last thing a parent needs is for a claim to expire against a negligent party due to a statute on time that has been passed since an injury occurred.
If you live in Central Texas and have a baby that was diagnosed with a birth injury, contact our experienced birth injury attorneys today at 1(800) 460-0606 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Birth Injury Attorneys
Did You Know? According to the CDC, birth defects affect approximately one in 33 newborns.
