Lawsuit in death tossed

Court dismisses case filed by widow of social worker killed in triple slaying in North Augusta DSS office

Web posted December 11, 1998

By Chasiti Kirkland
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- A lawsuit filed against the South Carolina and Aiken County departments of Social Services by the widow of a slain social worker has been dismissed.

Margaret Riddle, wife of the late Jimmy Riddle, claimed in a suit filed in May that the agencies failed to protect her husband from an irate gunman, who killed three people in the North Augusta DSS office two years ago.

The order to dismiss was filed earlier this week at the Aiken County Court of Common Pleas after all the parties agreed to drop the dispute.

The case was dismissed ``with prejudice,'' which means it can't be filed again.

The suspect in the case is David Mark Hill, then 36, who police say sprayed the North Augusta satellite office with bullets Sept. 16, 1996, killing three caseworkers. The 51-year-old Mr. Riddle was shot in the head.

Also shot were Josie Curry, 35, and Michael Gregory, 30.

Prosecutors say Mr. Hill walked into the office and demanded his family's caseworkers. They allege he shot three social workers because he was upset about his then-4-year-old paraplegic daughter's being put into foster care. He has been charged with murder, but has yet to stand trial.

Mrs. Riddle's lawsuit contended that Mr. Hill went to the Aiken DSS office demanding to see his children's caseworker, and someone -- she didn't know who -- told the shooter where he could find Mr. Riddle.

According to Mrs. Riddle, Mr. Hill told the Aiken DSS staff that he intended to kill the social worker, but they did nothing to stop him.

Mr. Riddle was in charge of foster care placement for Mr. Hill's children.

Mrs. Riddle's attorney, Anderson Griffith, did not immediately return telephone calls left at his office and home about the agreement to drop the lawsuit.

Earlier, the defendants' attorney, Richard B. Ness, argued that Mrs. Riddle was suing the wrong entity because there is no such thing as the Aiken County DSS -- it's an arm of the state's Department of Social Services.

He also claimed that it was the actions of Mr. Hill that caused the damages, not DSS.

A similar lawsuit, filed by Wanda Gamache, who worked in the North Augusta DSS office when the shootings occurred, was dropped earlier.

Ms. Gamache blamed DSS for not warning her that her life was in jeopardy.

Second Circuit Solicitor Barbara Morgan has filed an intent to seek the death penalty against Mr. Hill if he is convicted.

He faces three counts of murder, three counts of possessing a firearm during commission of a violent crime, assault with intent to kill, kidnapping, first-degree burglary and illegally carrying a pistol.

Chasiti Kirkland can be reached at (803) 279-6895 or scbureau@augustachronicle.com.