China court rejects lawsuit filed by blind activist's brother

Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is escorted by House Speake John Boehner of Ohio, for a bipartisan event with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other members of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012. (AP / J. Scott Applewhite)

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The Associated Press
Published Friday, November 2, 2012 7:02AM EDT

BEIJING -- The brother of blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng says a court has rejected a lawsuit he filed against local officials for raiding his house after Chen's dramatic escape from brutal house arrest.

Chen Guangcheng's daring escape in April from his well-guarded rural village triggered a police search in which officials charged into his brother's house looking for him. Chen Guangcheng later sneaked into a U.S. embassy, setting off a diplomatic tussle before he was allowed to go to New York.

His brother, Chen Guangfu, said Friday that the Yinan County court notified him that it had decided not to accept a lawsuit he submitted last month demanding local police and government officials provide a legal basis for storming his house.

Court officials could not immediately be reached.