DHHR Faces Possible Lawsuit

{Charleston, West Virginia}...The state Department of Health and Human Resources might get sued by its two top lawyers and a third senior DHHR staffer who have been on paid leave since mid-July. The group includes deputy secretary for legal affairs Susan Perry, general counsel Jennifer Taylor and assistant secretary John Law. Department acting Secretary Rocco Fucillo placed them on paid leave for reasons he has not explained. Friday, Parkersburg employment lawyer Walt Auvil, a lawyer for Perry and Taylor, sent Fucillo a "litigation hold request" to ask DHHR to preserve documents including Taylor and Perry's personnel records and any emails Fucillo exchanged with anyone about Law, Perry or Taylor. The department is conducting an internal investigation with the assistance of Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants' office. Perry told Governor Earl Ray Tomblin's chief of staff about potential issues with a marketing contract worth at least $473,000 that was awarded to Fahlgren Mortine for one year of marketing and advertising work. To pick Ohio-based Fahlgren, the state passed over three lower bidders.