READING - The estate of an inmate who committed suicide in Lancaster County while suffering from withdrawal symptoms is suing over his death.
Lancaster County, along with several other defendants, is facing a lawsuit filed Jan. 31 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by Tamala Kathleen Dovel, the administrator of the estate of Paul William Reardon.
Dovel alleges that her son, Reardon, died while being held as a pretrial detainee in Lancaster County Prison due to inadequate medical care.
Reardon's intake form had "Yes" answers to being under the influence of drugs and a history of opiates/heroin abuse. It also noted Reardon was under the influence of heroin at the time and acting and talking strangely.
With 16 "Yes" answers on the form, Reardon should have been placed on suicide watch, the suit says. Reardon denied having suicidal thoughts and denied ever trying suicide previously.
And despite suffering a seizure while in custody, Reardon was never put on suicide watch, He hanged himself with a bed sheet on Feb. 1, 2022, and died four days later from his injuries.
The defendants include Lancaster County, Warden Paul Smeal, Correctional Officers John/Jane Doe #’s 1-10, Prime Care Medical Inc., Dr. William Cattell, Dr.’s John/Jane Doe #’s 1-5 and several medical providers from Primecare including Brittney Mastnjak, Lori Hehnly CRNP and Danessa Nogueras LPN.
Dovel's legal representation is provided by Alan E. Denenberg from Abramson & Denenberg P.C.