State v. Dickerson

In 1938 Walter P. Dickerson, a non compos mentis, with the consent of the Legislature, brought this suit by next friend against the State of Texas. He alleged, in substance, that in 1919, while on active duty as a member of the National Guard, his superior officer negligently required him to lift a sack of patotoes, and that as a result he suffered a hernia. He alleged that as a consequence he suffered great mental and physical pain and was totally disabled for a period of one year thereafter and partially disabled for two years, and then became totally disabled again and so remained…