Hawaii's Supreme Court has ordered the state to pay the full damages to an intellectually disabled woman abused for years at a Honolulu high school, ending a 15-year fight that cost taxpayers far more than an early settlement would have.

• An intellectually disabled girl with the thinking ability of a five-year-old was placed in regular classes at McKinley High School and sexually abused by at least a dozen boys over three years.
• School staff knew about her disability and saw repeated warning signs but did not act, the court found.
• The state fought the case for 15 years, blaming the girl and her mother and forcing her to testify under oath while she clutched a stuffed animal for comfort.
• The state now owes the full $14 million plus 10% interest, after a lower court had tried to shift a third of the blame to the boys.
• The woman, now 32, will need specialized care for the rest of her life.

Outlook: The attorney general is reviewing what the ruling means, and it sets a precedent that could expose the state to more claims from families of abused students.