CHARLESTON — An inmate is suing the West Virginia corrections department, alleging violation of human rights.
John Lee McFarland filed a complaint Jan. 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court against the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Aramark Food Service Corp. and George Stoneking, alleging violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, as a result of the defendants' retaliatory conduct, McFarland's ability to obtain work release was adversely affected as well as the denial and/or restriction of outside counseling. The plaintiff also says he suffered emotional and mental distress. ]
The plaintiff, a former inmate at Ohio County Correctional Center, alleges the defendants failed and refused to take corrective actions to stop or investigate his complaint of sexual harassment and retaliated against him by reporting the plaintiff's allegations to other inmates and by making false write-ups.
McFarland seeks trial by jury, compensatory and punitive damages, court costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and all other just and proper relief. He is represented by attorney Paul M. Stroebel of Stroebel & Johnson PLLC in Charleston.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 17-c-95