Woman blames parole officers for mother's death

CHARLESTON -- A West Virginia woman is suing over claims her mother died when parole officers refused to contact emergency medical services.

Fallon Ryan, as administratrix of the estate of Rebecca Foster and as successor plaintiff to Rebecca Foster, filed a lawsuit May 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court against the West Virginia Board of Parole, an agency of the executive branch of government of the state of West Virginia, through its chairman Dennis W. Foreman, and Dave Toler, in his capacity as a parole officer.

According to the complaint, Rebecca Foster attended a parole meeting at the Nicholas County Courthouse on May 7, 2012, and while waiting, she became seriously ill. The complaint states another parolee informed an officer that Foster needed immediate medical attention, and he replied she was merely faking the illness.

The lawsuit says after several more people reported the illness and it was apparent Foster was having difficulty breathing, 911 was called. According to the lawsuit, emergency services arrived too late to help Foster and she died that day.

Ryan is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

She is being represented in the case by attorney Henry E. Wood III of Wood Law Office L.C.

Kanawha Circuit Court Case No. 14-C-908