CHARLESTON — A woman is suing the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources after she claims it failed to provide services for minors.
In 2018, an abuse and neglect petition was filed that said D.F. and M.M. were sexually abused by J.F., their step-parent, and throughout the case, S.F. retained physical custody of the children, while DHHR retained legal custody, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
S.F. claims both children suffered severe psychological trauma and needed psychological care and she asked several times for DHHR to provide care, but it declined to provide mental health treatment. After nearly a year, D.F. was hospitalized and diagnosed with suicidal ideations, anxiety, aggression and sexual inappropriateness.
M.M. has not received any treatment. S.F. claims DHHR is negligent and has caused harm to the children.
S.F. is seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is represented by Faun S. Cushman of Pritt & Spano.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia at Charleston case number: 2:21-cv-00014
