Man sues seven correctional officers over alleged assault

HUNTINGTON - A man is suing seven correctional officers after he was severely beaten while he was incarcerated at the Western Regional Jail.

The West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority and John Doe were also named as defendants in the suit.

While Tristan Wood was incarcerated at the Western Regional Jail, he was severely beaten and physically abused and assaulted by C.O. Harshbarger, C.O. Raines, C.O. McComas, C.O. Ryder, C.O. Franklin, C.O. Williams and C.O. Farrell, according to a complaint filed May 31 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Wood claims Doe and the jail authority knew or should have known that placement in Western Regional Jail with the physically abusive defendants exposed him to a substantial risk of injury.

The defendants failed to comply with standards required of correctional officers or any other position with the jail authority, according to the suit.

Wood claims the defendants deprived him of his rights, privileges and immunities protected under the U.S. Constitution and the West Virginia Constitution.

As a result of the physical abuse Wood endured during his incarceration, he incurred no less than $30,000 in medical expenses and he sustained life-altering injuries, according to the suit.

Wood is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Kerry A. Nessel of the Nessel Law Firm.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 13-C-371