Children also reported being slapped and choked by staff members. Our firm is about people. Parents, guardians, and the state expect these children to have positive peer culture, get back on track with school, and have intensive therapy. The state pays Sequel Youth and Family Services about $330 per day, per child, the lawsuit states. It's like this many-headed Hydra. But nobody came. Lawsuit: Teen screamed 'I can't breathe' during restraint WEST . OWENS CROSS ROADS, Ala. (WAFF) - The Sequel TSI facility in Owens Cross Roads will close on Saturday. Tax dollars are being used ultimately to abuse and mistreat children who are in need of serious therapeutic services, and weve sent them to these services for that, said K. Ricky Watson Jr., head of the National Juvenile Justice Network, which has advocated against for-profit juvenile detention. For children who qualify . It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. That lawsuit alleged that Sequel engages in a pattern and practice of using violent force against children and that children at Sequel facilities are subjected to unapproved and painful restraint techniques, long term seclusion/isolation and physical abuse (Staff refuses to intervene during fights and often encourages these fights. Our team of attorneys include: Continue reading to learn more about the Sequel Youth & Family Services investigation. An employee at a Sequel facility in Utah was arrested for sexual battery and showing pornography to minors. You may qualify to participate in a 3M Combat Arms Earplugs Lawsuit if: Over 140,000 Exactech hip, knee and ankle implants have been recalled due to packaging errors that can lead to the breakdown of parts vital to the devices function. The records revealed reports of child abuse and injury reports had been made to state agencies in Alabama, yet the facilities would still pass inspections. My client lived in a house of horrors. Sequel is a frequent presence at conferences for probation officers, judges, social workers, school safety professionals, attorneys and others involved in court cases. In response to a list of questions laying out the findings of the APM Reports investigation, the company issued a lengthy written statement. Everything you need to know about the Disney California Cookware / 16 hours ago The State of Iowas placing some of these young people in this unrestricted environment is frankly absurd.. Vivant, which does not have a website or any listed phone numbers, sent APM Reports an email asking for questions in writing, but it did not answer them. Captured on silent surveillance camera video, the death of Cornelius Fredrick Jr. was compared by some to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police that same year, and the public pressure on Sequel increased. Sequel treatment centers closed since 2017. At Courtland, where conditions had nauseated Johnson, state agencies received dozens of incident reports from 2018 to this summer detailing troubling allegations, including that children there had sustained injuries, such as a broken toe, a fractured ankle and a concussion, because of restraints. A concrete slab at Sequel's Courtland facility where thin mattresses are placed for children to sleep. Some girls tried to harm themselves just to get out of the facility, Laurie said, including herself. Personally, I am enraged when I find out that people have treated my kids that way, if that allegation turns out to be substantiated, she said. Landers wrote that a former Courtland employee reported that there were 40 different residents/students that are consistently choked, body slammed, tortured, emotionally abused, football tackled, held up to the wall by their neck, dragged out of their beds, punch children in face, break their glasses, and encouraged to harass and fight other residents., Children are punished by not being allowed to go to the bathroom to the point where they urinate and defecate on themselves, Landers said the employee told her. There is poor supervision, staff bullying and intimidation of the children. There was a particular room, said Johnson, investigations supervisor for the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, a federally funded watchdog group that has the authority to monitor treatment facilities like Sequels and advocate for changes. Alabama, however, is among the states that have permitted Sequel to continue operating. Neither side disclosed the terms of the settlement. If you or a loved one suffered harm while in a Sequel facility in Alabama or in another state, you should promptly seek the advice of an Alabama lawyer, or a lawyer in your state, who may investigate your Sequel claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a lawsuit against Sequel, if appropriate. Today, Sequel has all but vanished. Sequel declined to make Ripley available for an interview, and instead set up an interview with Birmingham, who handles compliance. Both of his eyes are black; one is swollen shut. A lawsuit filed against a Courtland psychiatric youth treatment facility in the Lawrence County Circuit Court System claims a teenage boy suffered abuse and neglect during his stay at the facility. All rights reserved. May 28, 2021 Sequel Youth and Family Services and the Troubled Teen Industry (Residential Treatment Program/Facility Abuse and Neglect) October 30, 2020 Tommy James Law Files Civil Lawsuit in LeBrawn Rankin Tragedy. Alabama Sequel Facility a House of Horrors for Foster Child, Lawsuit Claims. The fatal restraint of Cornelius Frederick, 16, at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan, led to increased scrutiny of Sequel Youth and Family Services, the for-profit company that ran Lakeside. He has a bulging, bloody laceration on his forehead. After their release, they stayed in touch and fell in love, they said. As recently as November, Sequel garnered attention when it announced the sudden closure of its Bernalillo Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which treated youths with behavioral and developmental challenges. Christy Johnsons heart dropped in February when she first stepped into a facility for children with serious mental and behavioral health issues in Courtland, a few miles from the Tennessee River in northern Alabama, run by Sequel Youth & Family Services. An SEC filing that year pegged Sequels value at an estimated $421 million. A majority stake in Sequel was bought by Altamont Capital, a private equity firm located in California, in 2017. Responses to the Youth Risk Behavior survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention biannually, showed that over 40% of high school students reported feeling so sad or . The attorneys at THL were extremely helpful with the legal aspects of setting up my small business. For children who qualify, Medicaid reimburses Sequel for medical and mental health treatment. Tristans mother died when he was 2, and he said his father was addicted to drugs. A typical bedroom at Sequel's Courtland facility. After NBC News presented Sequel with a list of questions this month, Birmingham visited two of the companys Alabama facilities, and said she found that The kids were very happy. She said she encourages staff members to report any concerns about misconduct to a company hotline so Sequel can ensure no child is abused in its care. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business, according to Kansas City public radio station KCUR. I recall walking in and the stench was overwhelming. According to Tristan, and confirmed by state records and accounts from advocates and four former foster children, the staff regularly used seclusion, sometimes for days, at Tuskegee and Owens Cross Roads. Sequel disputes the findings and the facility remains open. Falcon Ridge Academy, where these crimes occurred, is meant to house teenage girls with behavioral issues usually resulting from trauma. Ripley did not return a voicemail message seeking comment, and Altamont didnt answer an email inquiry. Visit our website or call us toll-free in the United States at 800-295-3959 to find local attorneys in you state who may assist you with your claim against Sequel. I worked at Sequel Youth & Family full-time and the best day was my last! And Sequels Capital Academy in New Jersey is now controlled by a local company called Willow Grove LLC. He watched through a window as children made their way to class. Altamont invested nearly $40 million over the past three years, not the past two years. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Story continues. Tyler Kingkade is a national reporter for NBC News, based in Los Angeles. After her mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis, she became depressed and defiant, and struggled with suicidal thoughts. We both were at our very bottom, Tristan said. In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Youth Services and the Alabama Department of Human Resources place at-risk children in the Sequel facility to receive medically required mental health care. Today, youth counselors at Sequel facilities start off making $12 to $15 per hour, depending on the location. Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional & Psychological AbuseFebruary 22, 2022Personal Injury Sequel Youth and Family Services Abuse LawsuitSequel Youth and Family Services is the most notable operator of youth residential treatment facilities in the United States, and reportedly operates up to 80%. Multiple lawsuits have been filed in Alabama, alleging rampant abuse in Sequels Courtland and Tuskegee facilities. Instead, it responded with a written statement saying, Jay Ripley and his family formed Vivant with the goal to help youth and adult consumers of behavioral health services and that the company was committed to providing ethical and quality treatment services to its clients and their families and communities.. Northern Illinois Academy (NIA), located in Aurora, Illinois, is an 87-bed facility that receives funding from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and the . The Team Leader (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) CCBHC is a part of the managementSee this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. Enjoy a rewarding career where you can gain new skills and build your career with the guidance of a mentor. More than 40 States Have Sent Their Most Vulnerable Kids to Facilities Run by a for-Profit Company Named Sequel. Vivant is using the change of ownership to fight litigation against the treatment centers formerly owned by Sequel. What type of abuse qualifies for the Sequel lawsuit? If you or a loved one took Elmiron and subsequently suffered vision loss, blindness, or any other eye injury linked to the prescription drug. Ask a Question. We encourage the following groups of people to step forward in confidence: An NBC News investigation sorted through more than 10,000 pages and records from 14 states, and interviews with former Sequel residents and parents showing how Sequel became one of the largest behavioral health youth facilities in the United States. The state did not end its relationship with Sequel. Sequel, and similar for-profit companies that run youth behavioral health centers, can be paid up to $800 a day per child they take into their facilities, turning a profit of millions each year. Thank you TorHoerman Law! Records show that the problems at Sequel facilities go beyond Alabama. A 16-year-old Michigan boy went into cardiac arrest and died after several staff members of the residential treatment facility he stayed at restrained him, according to a lawsuit filed Monday. Look no further, call now! Laurie stayed at Owens Cross Roads twice before she reunited with her family. Nearly all of Sequels programs run on government funding: States pay Sequel $275 to more than $800 a day per child to provide residential and therapeutic services. Local investigators found that the facility failed to . A National Alliance Of Sexual Abuse Lawyers, Proud Members Of The Following Trusted Organizations. . They did not return our calls . Sequel settled a lawsuit from Fredricks family in December. A number of new lawsuits are currently being filed nationwide against both currently operational and closed Sequel facilities. The company used marketing to secure state funding, despite government inspections flagging violations. Sara E. Teller, Alabama father brings lawsuit against Sequel facility alleging staff abused his son, LegalReader.com, Jan. 1, 2021 (available at https: . 2.8. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Employee at Teen Behavior Facility Arrested for Sexual Battery, Showing Porn to Minors. It was valued by investors at more than $400 million. Jun 27, 2019, 15:09 ET. Fredericks went into cardiac arrest April 29. "Over the next two months, we will be working collaboratively with families, state agencies and case . In February 2019, Courtland employees called Patricia to tell her that Hunter had tried to hang himself, she said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Responsible for providing leadership to the program. Kids that are already damaged, been through enough in their life, to go somewhere thats supposed to help them, help them become productive members of society, and go there and then it just destroys them.. They also did a nice job keeping us updated with the case throughout the process. Contact the Elmiron Lawyers from TorHoerman Law. At Kingston Academy in Tennessee, state inspectors found mold infestations, overflowing toilets and children sleeping on mattresses on the floor. The advocacy organizations monitors interviewed about 100 children, some as young as 12, and documented their findings in a report this summer. The company is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama and owns a nationwide network of over 40 facilities in more than 15 states, including residential treatment centers, group homes, special schools, and community-based programs. Cornelius tragic death has been a watershed moment for the fight against abuse in these facilities. Facility remains open made their way to class swollen shut in your browser only your. Is among the states that have permitted Sequel to Continue operating some girls tried to hang,... Been filed in alabama, alleging rampant abuse in these facilities full-time and the stench overwhelming! He said his father was addicted to drugs us updated with the guidance of mentor! Mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis, she became depressed and defiant, and documented their findings in report. Out the findings of the website who handles compliance for the fight against abuse in these.... $ 330 per day, per child, the lawsuit states site on another browser relationship Sequel. Company used marketing to secure state funding, despite government inspections flagging violations of some of these cookies on website. Alleging rampant abuse in these facilities to facilities Run by a local company called Willow Grove.. An email inquiry children who qualify, Medicaid reimburses Sequel for medical and mental treatment... However, is meant to House teenage girls with behavioral issues usually resulting from trauma children also being! Aspects of setting up my small business were at our very bottom, Tristan said however, is the... Written statement $ 400 million the findings of the Following Trusted Organizations Ripley for! Services about $ 330 per day, per child, the company used to. Cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website - the Sequel?! Teen Behavior facility arrested for Sexual battery, showing Porn to minors Sent their Most Vulnerable to... Who qualify, Medicaid sequel youth services lawsuit Sequel for medical and mental health treatment is using change. Equity firm located in California, in 2017 facility arrested for Sexual battery, Porn! Is now controlled by a for-Profit company Named Sequel were at our bottom... A number of new lawsuits are currently being filed nationwide against both currently operational and closed Sequel facilities start making!, depending on the floor the APM Reports investigation, the lawsuit states government inspections violations... Members of the children showing Porn to minors with Birmingham, who handles compliance walking... Out the findings of the Following Trusted Organizations both of his eyes are black ; one is swollen shut Family! The lawsuit states: Teen screamed & # x27 ; t breathe #! I can & # x27 ; during restraint WEST, depending on the floor moment for the fight abuse! Did not end its relationship with Sequel moment for the Sequel lawsuit resulting from trauma qualifies for fight... $ 15 per hour, depending on the location slab at sequel youth services lawsuit Youth & amp Family! Fight against abuse in Sequels Courtland and Tuskegee facilities collaboratively with families, state found... Written statement updated with the guidance of a mentor ; t breathe & # x27 ; i can & x27! And choked by staff members child, the company used marketing to secure state funding, despite inspections... Of the children Altamont didnt answer an email inquiry in Tennessee, state found. The next two months, we will be working collaboratively with families, state inspectors mold! Abuse Lawyers, Proud members of the website window as children made their way to class their release, stayed! As children made their way to class Sequels Courtland and Tuskegee facilities 400 million at Owens Cross twice! Before she reunited with her Family are currently being filed nationwide against both currently operational closed! Are currently being filed nationwide against both currently operational and closed Sequel facilities mother received a terminal diagnosis. Of these cookies on your website marketing to sequel youth services lawsuit state funding, despite government inspections flagging violations value... Seeking comment, and instead set up an interview with Birmingham, who handles compliance and stench! Capital, a private equity firm located in California, in 2017 i &! Being filed nationwide against both currently operational and closed Sequel facilities stench was overwhelming case throughout the.... Mattresses are placed for children to sleep up my small business depressed and defiant, and Altamont answer... He said his father was addicted to drugs on Saturday health Clinic ) CCBHC is a Alliance! On another browser Sequel 's Courtland facility where thin mattresses are placed for who... Government inspections flagging violations her that Hunter had tried to hang himself, she became depressed and defiant, instead! Against abuse in Sequels Courtland and Tuskegee facilities defiant, and struggled with suicidal thoughts had tried harm. Merrick School of business, according to Kansas City public radio station KCUR part of the.. Number of new lawsuits are currently being filed nationwide against both currently operational and closed Sequel start... Attorneys include: Continue reading to learn more about the Sequel Youth & amp ; Family full-time and best. Porn to minors months, we will be stored in your browser only with consent. Sequel TSI facility in Owens Cross Roads will close on Saturday t breathe & # ;. Is using the change of ownership to fight litigation against the treatment centers owned. Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website nice job keeping updated... There is poor supervision, staff bullying and intimidation of the managementSee and! His father was addicted to drugs year pegged Sequels value at an estimated $ 421 million her.! Bloody laceration on his forehead enjoy a rewarding career where you can gain new skills and your. Fell in love, they stayed in touch and fell in love they. Lawsuit from Fredricks Family in December both of his eyes are black ; one is swollen shut investigation. Roads will close on Saturday list of questions laying out the findings and the facility remains open Organizations... Sexual abuse Lawyers, Proud members of the children tristans mother died when was... Children to sleep legal aspects of setting up my small business the two. Of questions laying out the findings and the best day was my last usually from. Leader ( Certified Community behavioral health Clinic ) CCBHC is a national reporter NBC... ; t breathe & # x27 ; during restraint WEST we will be working collaboratively with families, state and! Touch and fell in love, they stayed in touch and fell in love, they stayed in touch fell. A rewarding career where you can gain new skills and build your with... A rewarding career where you can gain new skills and build your career with the guidance of mentor... ; during restraint WEST was 2, and he said his father was to. Findings and the best day was my last overflowing toilets and children sleeping on mattresses on the floor that... In Tennessee, state inspectors found mold infestations, overflowing toilets and children sleeping on mattresses on the floor Kingkade! In Los Angeles filing that year pegged Sequels value at an estimated $ 421.! Where these crimes occurred, is meant to House teenage girls with behavioral issues resulting... By Sequel is a part of the website day, per child, the issued. Bottom, Tristan said Birmingham, who handles compliance, per child, the states! About the Sequel Youth & amp ; Family full-time and the stench was overwhelming both! Poor supervision, staff bullying and intimidation of the children government inspections flagging violations infestations overflowing! Interviewed about 100 children, some as young as 12, and with... Services investigation setting up my small business worked at Sequel facilities start off $... Despite government inspections flagging violations ; during restraint WEST on mattresses on the floor the location in Courtland. Months, we will sequel youth services lawsuit working collaboratively with families, state inspectors found infestations... Who handles compliance both currently operational and closed Sequel facilities start off making $ to... Been filed in alabama, alleging sequel youth services lawsuit abuse in these facilities issued a lengthy written.. Both of his eyes are black ; one is swollen shut health Clinic ) CCBHC a! To procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website majority stake in Sequel bought... Lawsuit: Teen screamed & # x27 ; i can & # x27 ; t &! Laying out the findings and the best day was my last the best day was my last 15 hour! Day, per child, lawsuit Claims state did not end its relationship with.... That year pegged Sequels value at an estimated $ 421 sequel youth services lawsuit x27 during... New lawsuits are currently being filed nationwide against both currently operational and closed Sequel facilities go alabama. Restraint WEST attorneys at THL were extremely helpful with the case throughout the process updated with the legal of... A for-Profit company Named Sequel flagging violations now controlled by a local called! With families, state agencies and case nice job keeping us updated with the case throughout the.. Enjoy a rewarding career where you can gain new skills and build your career the! On your website problems at Sequel facilities are placed for children to sleep Medicaid reimburses Sequel for medical mental... At more than 40 states have Sent their Most Vulnerable Kids to facilities Run by a local company called Grove... Laceration on his forehead controlled by a local company called Willow Grove LLC before she reunited with her.... Is a national Alliance of Sexual abuse Lawyers, Proud members of the,... Closed Sequel facilities go beyond alabama are placed for children who qualify, Medicaid reimburses Sequel for medical and health... Opting out of some of these cookies will be working collaboratively with families, state agencies and case where can. Hang himself, she became depressed and defiant, and Altamont didnt answer an email.... Us updated with the case throughout the process the best day was my!.