LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. – The mother of 18 year old Victoria “Tori” Herr, who died on April 5, 2015 of complications with addiction withdrawal, is suing Lebanon County and the warden correctional officers, and medical staff at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility.
Herr, was committed to the Lebanon County Correctional Facility on March 27, 2015. According to the lawsuit filed in federal court, she told prison officials that she was addicted to heroin and that she expected to go through detoxification. Over the next four days showed obvious and alarming signs that her withdrawal was causing serious medical consequences. She vomited repeatedly and had uncontrolled diarrhea. Yet, the lawsuit claims, prison did nothing to provide needed treatment.
She collapsed and lost consciousness on March 31, 2015 and went into cardiac arrest. She was subsequently transported to Lehigh Valley Medical Center. She died five days later while in the hospital’s Intense Care Unit on Easter Sunday.
The lawsuit contends that in the days that followed, the correctional and medical staff engaged in efforts to conceal and cover up the wrong doing that lead to Herr’s death. Her death was ruled accidental, following an investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.
Not withstanding, the lawsuit contends that Herr’s Constitutional and Legally Protected Rights were violated. The suit asks for Compensatory and Punitive damages, plus payment of attorney fees and costs and a jury trial.
