Douglas Blaney had a criminal record, but his daughter says he didn’t deserve to die.
Blaney, 42, died of a heart attack Jan. 7, 2023 while incarcerated at the Chemung County Jail on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. A report issued last year by a state watchdog agency indicated lax medical care while he was in custody likely contributed to his death.
Now LaTasha Blaney, of Elmira, Blaney’s only child, is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Chemung County, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, Chemung County Jail and 10 corrections officers.
“The evidence suggests that Mr. Blaney’s medical needs were ignored and his suffering was disregarded by those entrusted with his care,” said New York City attorney Mark Shirian, who filed a notice of claim on LaTasha Blaney’s behalf. “This lawsuit seeks justice for Mr. Blaney and shines a light on the systemic negligence that has too often led to devastating consequences for incarcerated individuals and their families.”
What happened to Douglas Blaney?
Blaney was committed to the Chemung County Jail on May 31, 2022 on multiple charges, including second-degree menacing, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and a violation of parole. Charges of second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon were later added.
Blaney was on parole at the time for previous convictions in Chemung and Schuyler counties for burglary, attempted burglary and criminal sale of a controlled substance.
On Jan. 4, 2023, Blaney suffered an acute myocardial infarction with cardiac arrest while in custody at the jail. He died three days later at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira.
Doug Blaney, of Elmira, shares a moment with his daughter LaTasha in this undated photo. LaTasha Blaney is filing a lawsuit against Chemung County after her father died while in custody at the county jail.
In April 2024, the state Commission on Correction issued a report concluding insufficient medical care prior to the heart attack might have been a contributing factor.
“Although Blaney’s heart attack and cardiac arrest may not have been completely preventable, there were identified lapses and deficiencies in the healthcare that he received prior to his terminal event,” the report stated.
A copy of the report was forwarded to Chemung County Sheriff Bill Schrom, who said at the time his office “continuously refine our processes to uphold the highest standards of care and safety.”
That wasn’t good enough for LaTasha Blaney, who said her father’s death came as a shock. She was already considering legal action before learning of the commission report, which she said gave her an extra nudge.
“My first reaction was, how did that happen? He was young and healthy. How and when did this occur?” she said. “I had to find out about it through social media. I never really received any answers.”
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What the unlawful death lawsuit alleges, and what it seeks
The notice of claim filed in state Supreme Court alleges Blaney’s death was brought on by “negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention; intentional infliction of emotional distress; negligence; and gross negligence” on the part of the defendants.
While the report from the Commission on Correction made many of those same accusations, Shirian said he plans to independently verify those findings to prove his case.
Among the charges the lawsuit makes against the jail supervisors and staff:
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Lack of hypertension (high blood pressure) screening protocols.
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Failure to conduct a timely health assessment.
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Inconsistent documentation of vital signs.
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Lack of hypertension and cardiovascular screening protocols.
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Inadequate investigation and communication.
“Mr. Blaney’s untimely death, caused by a fatal heart attack while in custody at the Chemung County Jail, underscores systemic lapses in the provision of medical care and the failure to meet basic standards of human dignity,” Shirian said.
The legal action seeks a total of $17 million in damages for loss of support, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering, along with alleged violation of Blaney’s constitutional rights.
Daniel Pautz, an Elmira attorney and member of the Syracuse-based law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King, is representing the county in the lawsuit. Pautz said his firm does not comment on ongoing cases.
READ THE FULL NOTICE OF CLAIM HERE:
LaTasha Blaney, who was appointed administrator of her father’s estate in November, said the lawsuit isn’t about the money as much as it is about holding people accountable.
That’s what Shirian hopes to achieve.
“No one, regardless of their circumstances, should be subjected to neglect that leads to a preventable death,” he said. “We are committed to pursuing accountability and ensuring that no other family endures the pain and loss that the Blaney family has suffered.”
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Elmira woman filing lawsuit against Chemung County over father’s death