Former inmate files suit over injuries

CHARLESTON -- A former inmate has filed suit over injuries he allegedly sustained while incarcerated.

Donald Grimmett filed suit June 19 in Kanawha Circuit Court against the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority, Correctional Officer Hess and Correctional Officer Mellinger.

According to the complaint, on Oct. 23, during his incarceration at Southwestern Regional Jail in Holden in Logan County, Grimmett was approached by another inmate who had been harassing the plaintiff for cigarettes and was violently attacked to the point where he lost consciousness and had to be taken to Logan Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Following the incident, Grimmett was supposed to return to Logan for further treatment, but the jail never made any followup appointments, the suit states. It wasn't until his release several weeks later that Grimmett was able to receive further treatment for his injuries, but by that time the jail and attending correctional officers denied the incident had taken place during Grimmett's incarceration to avoid financially responsibility for the plaintiff's medical costs, according to the suit.

Grimmett is seeking damages in excess of jurisdictional limits.

He is represented by Charleston attorneys Matthew S. Criswell and Mark L. French of Criswell French PLLC. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib.

Kanawha Circuit Court Case No. 14-C-1106