Man says he was injured at North Central jail

CHARLESTON – A man is suing over claims he was injured while an inmate in a West Virginia jail.

Matthew Martin filed a lawsuit Sept. 19 in Kanawha Circuit Court against the West Virginia Division of Corrections; James Rubenstein, commissioner; George Trent, administrator of the North Central Regional Jail; the North Central Regional Jail; the West Virginia Regional Jail & Correctional Authority; Jane Doe, employee of the North Central Regional Jail; and John Doe, employee of the North Central Regional Jail, citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Martin was attacked by another inmate in September 2013 while incarcerated at the North Central Regional Jail, and left unconscious for several hours.

The complaint states that after Martin received treatment for extensive injuries at multiple hospitals, his jaw was wired shut and he was ordered by physicians to adhere to a liquid diet, which the jail assured would be followed.

Martin says the orders were not followed, he was fed milk for several weeks and lost 30 pounds, rendering him weak and ill, and the jail didn't even have a blender to feed him, despite his mother offering to purchase one for the jail.

The defendants are accused of negligence and recklessness in failing to protect Martin from violence at the hands of other prisoners, failing to provide treatment after he suffered harm and failing to provide him with proper feeding in light of his medical condition.

Martin seeks injunctive relief prohibiting retaliation for filing this action, judgment that policies be adopted to prevent other inmates from suffering these harms, compensatory and punitive damages, out-of-pocket losses, interest and attorney fees.

He is represented by attorney D. Adrian Hoosier II of The Hoosier Law Firm in Logan. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. "Duke" Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-1727