West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

Mentally disabled Sherry Coffman was under the care of the state Department of Health and Human Resources. In December 2004, Coffman took her five year old son Jonathan to her unheated home in Charleston. He died from hypothermia. The boy's uncle filed charges against the agency alleging negligence and claiming officials were aware Sherry's heat had been turned off, but failed to check on it when she was released from the hospital. The agency has awarded the family an $850,000 settlement. (Oct-20-05) [UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL]

Legal Help

If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no obligation, please click the link below to submit your complaint.