Parker Waichman Represents Family of a Veteran Who Died in a Long Island Jail

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., April 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by medical abuse and neglect, comments on a lawsuit brought by the family of deceased Marine Sergeant Bartholomew Ryan, a decorated military combat veteran who ended his life in the Nassau County Jail in 2012. Nick Warywoda of Parker Waichman represents the family; the case is being heard in the U.S. District Court in Central Islip. Allegations include that Sergeant Ryan did not receive appropriate care, although a screen revealed he was a suicide risk, Mr. Warywoda said at trial against the Nassau County Jail and its medical provider, Armor Correctional Health Services. The civil case began on April 3, 2016, according to a Newsday report. (http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/civil-lawsuit-in-nassau-jail-death-kicks-off-in-central-islip-1.13355133)

Marine Sergeant Ryan—32 at his death—suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and drug addiction following his Iraq War tour. His family alleges wrongful death, that the county and Armor acted with negligence, and that Armor subjected Sergeant Ryan to "cruel and unusual" treatment due to a policy in which inmates with referrals for "urgent" treatment may wait 24 hours for care, wrote Newsday. Mr. Warywoda said it took 18 hours after his admission for a psychiatrist to see him, the jail physician's only diagnosis was opiate dependency, and the Sergeant was not provided medication for mental health issues. He died six hours later.

Sergeant Ryan was arrested over driving under the influence of drugs. The drug abuse began following prescription painkiller due to a service injury. He suffered from bipolar disorder and depression. His family said he returned from eight months of combat a different person following his 2003-2007 military service. "Mentally, he changed, due to what he experienced and saw," Mr. Warywoda said. "If they had just listened to that form that deemed him a suicide risk, we wouldn't be here today," Nicholas Warywoda added.

This federal civil claim is the first of four to reach trial after lawsuits brought against the same defendants following other inmate deaths. According to Newsday, the State Commission of Correction found Armor's treatment deficient in at least five Nassau inmate deaths.

"The firm is saddened by this unnecessary death and is satisfied to see the lawsuit brought on behalf of this decorated Marine is progressing," said Keith Gitman, Managing Attorney at Parker Waichman. "No one should be treated in this manner, but that Sergeant Ryan fought for our country to return home to this treatment is unacceptable."

Parker Waichman is offers free legal consultations to victims of medical abuse and negligence.  Please contact the firm by visiting its website at yourlawyer.com or calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636). (http://www.yourlawyer.com/)

SOURCE Parker Waichman LLP