CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County woman says that Rite-Aid Corporation caused her family member's wrongful death by refusing to give her her medication.
Ike Cremeans, Gabe Walsh and John Doe were also named as defendants in the suit.
Sonya Renea Richardson suffered from a variety of ailments, including diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, restless leg syndrome and bronchitis, according to a complaint filed May 26 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Janet McKinney claims on May 15, 2013, Richardson was due to have her prescriptions filled by Rite-Aid and, on June 1, 2013, she went to the pharmacy and was informed that her prescriptions had already been picked up by another party, even though she had not authorized anyone to pick up her prescriptions.
Richardson requested that the pharmacy provide her with her prescriptions and Rite-Aid refused, according to the suit.
McKinney claims Richardson stressed the importance of continuing her regimen of medications and the dangers of stopping her medications, but Rite-Aid refused.
Richardson also requested that the pharmacist supply her with a few days' supply until the issue with the unauthorized prescriptions was resolved, but Rite-Aid also refused that, according to the suit.
McKinney claims Richardson left Rite-Aid without her medication and on June 4, 2013, the Charleston Police Department was called by Richardson to investigate the unauthorized pickup of her prescription medication.
It was discovered by Officer Timothy Jarrett II that Richardson's prescriptions were picked up by two individuals with the help of a third individual who was a Rite-Aid employee, according to the suit.
McKinney claims Richardson continued to be without her medication during the investigation and, upon discovering the unauthorized pick up, Rite-Aid did not attempt to provide or replace Richardson's medication.
On June 13, 2013, Richardson was admitted to Charleston Area Medical Center, where she became comatose, never regained consciousness and died approximately two months later, according to the suit.
McKinney claims the defendants are responsible for Richardson's wrongful death.
The defendants were also negligent and intentionally inflicted emotional distress on Richardson, according to the suit.
McKiney is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by Brian R. Blickenstaff of Turner & Johns PLLC.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-1032
