Nassau County, jail medical provider on trial in wrongful death suit

Jurors heard opening statements Thursday in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a decorated Marine and war veteran who committed suicide at the Nassau County Jail four years ago. Bartholomew Ryan's

News 12 Staff

Nov 11, 2016, 5:36 AM

Updated 2,884 days ago

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Jurors heard opening statements Thursday in a wrongful death lawsuit involving a decorated Marine and war veteran who committed suicide at the Nassau County Jail four years ago.
Bartholomew Ryan's family is suing Nassau County and Armor, the medical provider for inmates at the jail.
Ryan was found hanging by a bed sheet in his cell at the Nassau County Jail.
Thomas Ryan says his brother was diagnosed with PTSD after returning home from a tour in Iraq and struggled with drug use.
"We tried to get him into treatment programs multiple timeS with the VA. Every time, they turned us away saying they didn't have enough room," says Thomas Ryan.
Ryan was arrested in February 2012 for DWI. He was found dead one day after his arrest.
Retired corrections officer Michael Archer testified on Thursday to screening the 32-year-old when he was first taken to jail. Attorney Nicholas Warywoda says Archer properly listed Ryan as a suicide risk, but failed to properly supervise him.
"Correction Officer Archer got it right...but when Armor got involved, everything got screwed up and Bart, unfortunately, chose to take his own life," says Warywoda.
According to the state Commission on Corrections, Armor provided "inadequate care" to five inmates, including Ryan, who died at Nassau County Jail. The state attorney general has also filed a lawsuit against the medical provider.
Attorneys for Armor and Nassau County did not have any comment for News 12 Long Island.
The trial is set to resume Monday.