WILLIAMSPORT - A federal wrongful death lawsuit says staff at Lycoming County's prison allowed a man's diabetic condition to worsen until he died in custody.
A lawsuit was filed Dec. 29 against Lycoming County, its prison, and several of its officials for allegedly denying medical care to an inmate, resulting in his death. The plaintiff, Marvin Lee Turner, is suing individually and as the administrator of the estate of the deceased, Chaz Donya Turner.
The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The defendants include Lycoming County, Lycoming County Prison, Lycoming County Prison Board, Warden Brad A. Shoemaker, Deputy Warden Ryan C. Barnes, Deputy Warden Christopher J. Ebner, 10 unnamed corrections officers (John Does), Correctional Health Services, an unnamed medical director (John Doe), 10 unnamed doctors (John Does), 10 unnamed nurses or physician assistants (Jane Does), and 10 additional unnamed individuals (John Does).
The complaint alleges that Chaz Donya Turner died due to intentional denial and delay of medical care while he was incarcerated at Lycoming County Prison. Despite multiple pleas for medical attention, symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, urinary frequency, abdominal pain, generalized weakness and uncontrolled vomiting were evident but disregarded.
By the time Mr. Turner was finally allowed treatment at a hospital his condition had deteriorated to a terminal stage. The lawsuit claims this constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and violates Mr. Turner's Eighth Amendment rights.
Marvin Lee Turner is represented by attorneys from Wapner Newman Brecher & Miller.