Three former inmates sue jail authority, officer for sexual misconduct

CHARLESTON -- Three former Southwestern Regional Jail inmates are suing the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority after they claim they were sexually assaulted, harassed and abused while incarcerated.

C.O. Curry, a correctional officer at the jail, and an unknown person were also named as defendants in the suit.

Tabitha Meade, Joanne Cline and Keisha Cull claim the state jail authority did not sufficiently protect them from harm by Curry and John Doe, according to three complaints filed Feb. 23 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

The former inmates claim the state jail authority owed a duty to them to a duty to properly hire, train, retain and supervise its correctional officers as well as see that inmates were not subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault or other conduct, but failed to do so.

As a result of the defendants' conduct, Meade, Cline and Cull suffered anxiety; humiliation; annoyance and inconvenience; invasion of privacy; emotional distress; pain and suffering; mental anguish; loss of the ability to enjoy life; future medical and pharmaceutical expenses; and other damages, according to the suits.

Meade, Cline and Cull are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Kerry A. Nessel and Timothy P. Rosinsky.

Meade's case as been assigned to Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib Jr. Cline's case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Carrie Webster. Cull's case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers: 11-C-295, 11-C-296, 11-C-297