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%. But nobody came. We have been lucky to have Sequel programs available to serve our kids, Marshall wrote. Hunter is now receiving psychiatric treatment at a hospital, she said. Fredericks went into cardiac arrest April 29. To learn more about how our law firm helps the injured, check out our Frequently Asked Questions Page. Jay Ripley speaks at the Merrick School of Business in Baltimore in 2015. These residents were allowed to attack Tevin nightly. Do I qualify for the Sequel abuse lawsuit? A lawsuit was filed Wednesday against Sequel Youth and Family Services, LLC in Macon County, Alabama Circuit Court, asserting claims of severe abuse and neglect of a 15-year-old boy at Sequel's . Violence, Often Instigated by Staff, Has Become Common at Red Rock Canyon School in St. George for Troubled Children. Physical abuse at these facilities often includes: Northern Illinois Academy in Des Plaines, operated by Sequel, was closed because of reported abuse by staff, and improper restraints were highlighted in news reports surrounding the closure. The facility, which Sequel operated under a contract with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, shut down the following month. The company dreamed of dominating Americas $220 billion behavioral health care industry. The lawsuit alleges staff sat on his chest as he screamed . 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. 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. This rating has decreased by -5% over the last 12 months. Contact the Elmiron Lawyers from TorHoerman Law. By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. With the goal of continuous improvement and our support, the company has consistently invested in quality and safety initiatives and in its staff to raise the bar and drive positive outcomes for thousands of individuals trusted to its care.. 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. For 72 hours, staff members left him in a small room outfitted with a thin mattress and a camera on the ceiling, he said. But despite those efforts, in 2020, a 16-year-old boy died after staff at Sequels Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan, held him on the floor for 12 minutes. John Jay Ripley, one of Sequels founders, established Vivant Behavioral Healthcare in order to buy a majority of Sequel and eventually rebrand the company. Published: May. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Despite that, the facilities passed regular inspections and public dollars continued to flow. Nearly all of Sequel's programs run on government funding: States pay Sequel $275 to more than $800 a day per child to provide residential and therapeutic services. I was banging and kicking on the door, trying to get someones attention, he said. Our experienced team of child sexual abuse lawyers represents victims across a number of different case types, including in cases similar to the Sequel Youth & Family Services lawsuit. Legal action is being strategized by our attorneys for Horizon Therapeutics failure to properly warn patients of potential hearing loss side effects. The lawsuit states the boy "had a propensity to engage in . Can I represent a loved one or family member in a Sequel abuse lawsuit? IE 11 is not supported. Pros. She was taken to a psychiatric hospital, where, she said, you get emotional help that you would actually need, rather than just four walls and people screaming at you and a very hostile environment.. That national corporation also owns Woodward Academy and Forest Ridge Youth Services in . 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. The Alabama Department of Human . 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. No parent would ever want their child to spend even one hour in a Sequel facility.. Based on 511 reviews. Tevin and the other children were physically, verbally and emotionally abused., Pikes attorney stated at the time the complaint was filed: A culture of violence and abuse pervades throughout Sequel facilities across the country. For children who qualify, Medicaid reimburses Sequel for medical and mental health treatment. An NBC News investigation sorted through tens of thousands of documents and found dozens of reports of sexual and physical abuse. After helping launch YSI, Ripley became the chief executive of Precision Tune Auto Care. What Caused Camp Lejeune Water Contamination? Sequel's facility in Owens Cross Roads, Ala. Tristan Broadrick says he was kept for 72 hours a room similar to this "seclusion room" at Sequel's Tuskegee facility as punishment for running away. Kay Ivey, a Republican. Both before and after Cornelius Fredricks death, Sequel closed a number of their operations for a variety of reasons, ranging from understaffing and financial troubles to abuse allegations and criminal charges. Sequel Youth and Family Services, the company that runs Lakeside (and is also a named defendant in the lawsuit), operates at least 55 other facilities from Arizona to Maine. After their release, they stayed in touch and fell in love, they said. The name isn't the problem. Forms of abuse that qualify for the Sequel lawsuit are: If you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to abuse at a Sequel facility, or you represent the estate of a victim, or you are the legal guardian of an underaged victim, you may be able to represent the victim in a lawsuit. . The advocacy organizations monitors interviewed about 100 children, some as young as 12, and documented their findings in a report this summer. Run by Sequel Youth & Family Services a for-profit, $450 million company backed by Bay Area investors Lakeside had promised to put the boys "on a pathway to lead healthy and successful . 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. The same facility will reopen under a new name with new services while an attorney prepares to file another lawsuit against the facility. Two years later, Marshall sent cookies to other Sequel employees as a gift, emails show. State Pulling All Students in Its Care from Northern Illinois Academy Following Reports of Abuse, 16 Diseases & Symptoms Of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination, Baby Formula NEC Lawsuit Payout & Settlements, Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Settlement Amounts, Hair Straightener Endometrial Cancer Lawsuit, Hair Straightening Cancer Lawsuit Settlement Amounts, Projected Paraquat Lawsuit Settlement Amounts. A National Alliance Of Sexual Abuse Lawyers, Proud Members Of The Following Trusted Organizations. 2.9. Responsibilities of Executive Director: Manages 5 - 10 subordinate supervisors who supervise a total of 50 - 55 employees. Tommy James, an attorney representing the boy identified only as Hunter C., said his client lived at Sequel TSI of Courtland in 2018 and 2019, where . California, Maryland, Oregon and Washington have also stopped placing children in programs run by the company. Kate Snow is a national correspondent for NBC News. To find out what the statute of limitations is in your state, contact TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation legal consultation today. 137. They come out worse than they were when they went in, said Patricia, whose last name is being withheld to protect her sons privacy. (866) 577-2786. In recent years, lawyers and child advocates have surfaced allegations of abuse of children . 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. A nonprofit organization in Kansas will take over a Sequel treatment center there, according to Kansas City public radio station KCUR. I dont want any other kid to have to go through that, Tristan said. 1. 2.8. 2.8 out of 5 stars for Work/Life Balance. HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequel Youth and Family Services today announced that Chris W. Roussos has been appointed the Company's Chief Executive Officer. Ripley started Sequel in 1999 with Adam Shapiro, a lawyer, initially just to run Clarinda Academy, a youth facility in Iowa where Shapiro had been executive director. "At Sequel Youth & Family Services, we have dedicated our careers to helping this nation's most vulnerable youth. Sequel shut down treatment centers where alleged abuse surfaced. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Ripley said that in 2015 Sequel Youth and Family Services revenue was more than $200 million and that its profits were between $30 to $32 million. Local investigators found that the facility failed to . Red Rock Canyon School, another Sequel-ran facility, closed in 2019 after reports of abuse surfaced and a riot among residents ensued, resulting in area SWAT teams responding. 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Michigans governor ordered state agencies in June to never do business with Sequel. Ripley sold a majority stake in Sequel to private equity firm Altamont Capital Partners in 2017, shortly after his bid to take the company public fizzled due to insufficient investment. You may qualify to take legal action, to seek compensation for the damages that you incurred from the abuse in a Sequel facility, if you or a loved one suffered: This applies to, both, currently operational facilities and closed facilities. Use the CB Insights Platform to explore Sequel Youth and Family Services's full profile. C-Suite Team Hired to Accelerate Growth of Industry Leading Behavioral Health Company. He watched through a window as children made their way to class. You can still file a Sequel abuse lawsuit against facilities that are closed. TorHoerman Law was responsible for handling a medical case for our family. Illuminating Journalism from American Public Media. Though their marketing and public statements espouse an aura of care and reverence for the well-being and progression of the residents they house, their company has been named in lawsuits that allege rampant physical, sexual, and mental/verbal abuse. Ohio recently revoked the license of a Sequel psychiatric facility in Columbus over multiple instances of violence. It also ran outpatient programs in a handful of others. 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. KALAMAZOO, Mich. The family attorney for Cornelius Fredericks's estate fought to enter new evidence in the on-going civil lawsuit against Lakeside Academy and Sequel Youth Family Services, but . There is poor supervision, staff bullying and intimidation of the children. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the timeframe of Altamonts recent investments in Sequel. 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. 95. Inspectors said the facility didnt meet state standards related to programming, education, supervision, and mental health treatment. Contact us today to see if you qualify for the Paraquat Parkinsons Disease Lawsuit! The Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawsuit can apply to you, a family member, or a loved one who lived at Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) and suffered health effects from the decades of water contamination that occurred. A woman who answered the phone at Capital Academy and asked not to be identified said it was not part of Vivant. A majority stake in Sequel was bought by Altamont Capital, a private equity firm located in California, in 2017. 3. Work/Life Balance. 102. When you think about the amount of money that these facilities and Sequel are receiving, he said, it makes you wonder: Where exactly is that money going?. The latest Sequel treatment centers to close are in Idaho, Florida, and Iowa, all of which had been under government scrutiny in recent years. If you are representing a victim who is under the age of 18 and falls under your legal care, you may qualify to file a lawsuit. OWENS CROSS ROADS, Ala. (WAFF) - The Sequel TSI facility in Owens Cross Roads will close on Saturday. Video Shows Fatal Restraint of Cornelius Frederick, 16, in Michigan Foster Facility. Investigation reveals appalling conditions at for-profit Alabama youth home, Michigan facility 'lost all control' of children before staff fatally restrained teen, police say, 'They told me it was going to be a good place': Allegations of abuse at home for at-risk kids, Loosening the grip of restraint: Investigating allegations of abuse at youth homes. They still struggle with anxieties, nightmares and the feeling that theyre behind their peers. 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. I worked at Sequel Youth & Family full-time and the best day was my last! Mr. Roussos brings nearly two decades of experience building and leading healthcare organizations with vibrant service-oriented . Sequel staff members shared the companys side of the issue and discussed how to deal with concerns among state lawmakers. 4. He was forced to go to the bathroom on his own breakfast tray, he said. 5. The family of Cornelius Fredericks, a 16-year-old boy in foster care who died after being improperly restrained by youth facility staff, filed a lawsuit . He was physically restrained by workers putting their full body weight on his torso, leading to a cardiac arrest and his death two days later. The lawsuit, filed by the parent of a child, identified as Hunter C., placed at Sequel's Courtland facility in north Alabama in early 2018 at age 14, claims he suffered long-term abuse at the . Sequel operates youth psychiatric care facilities in 19 states, including several facilities in Alabama. The company used marketing to secure state funding, despite government inspections flagging violations. The treatment centers were run by Sequel Youth & Family Services, a "for-profit, $500-million company backed by Bay Area investors." . At Kingston Academy in Tennessee, state inspectors found mold infestations, overflowing toilets and children sleeping on mattresses on the floor. An NBC News investigation based on more than 10,000 pages of records from 14 states and interviews with former Sequel residents, their parents and attorneys, probation officers and watchdog groups reveals how Sequel became one of the biggest behavioral health youth facility operators in the country. Children also reported being slapped and choked by staff members. Today, Sequel has all but vanished. Vivant is using the change of ownership to fight litigation against the treatment centers formerly owned by Sequel. In Iowa, licensing inspectors found on multiple visits over the past two years that the Woodward Academy staff had put residents in inappropriate restraints without justification. Oregon state Senator Sara Gelser has spent years demanding accountability for Sequel, and she is continuing the crusade against Vivant. However, advocacy groups say that Sequels track record should be a red flag to states that send Sequel their most troubled children along with millions in taxpayer dollars. An employee at a Sequel facility in Utah was arrested for sexual battery and showing pornography to minors. Sequel markets itself as a national leader in providing specialized care for at-risk youth. KALAMAZOO, MI -- A federal lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of Cornelius Fredricks, the 16-year-old who died after being restrained at a Kalamazoo youth facility, seeks more than $50 million. Both Altamont and Sequel said the sale would help Sequel expand to serve more children. My client lived in a house of horrors. In 2017 Sequel operated 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. 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 . 1 (July 2, 2020) (hereinafter "ADAP"). Today, youth counselors at Sequel facilities start off making $12 to $15 per hour, depending on the location. (Sequel said the free trips are not standard practice.). Last August, Sequels Pompano Youth Treatment Center failed a state inspection that found a range of deficiencies at the 24-bed Florida treatment center. Sequel marketing agents contacted state officials in Oregon before and after a story aired on NBCs Nightly News last year detailing allegations of sexual and physical abuse at Clarinda Academy. A residential school operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services is set to permanently shutdown its operations. If you or a loved one took Elmiron and subsequently suffered vision loss, blindness, or any other eye injury linked to the prescription drug. Sequel Youth and Family Services is the most notable operator of youth residential treatment facilities in the United States, and reportedly operates up to 80% of these establishments. What we do is we strive every day to provide the best care we can for kids in these facilities, Birmingham said. ( Sequel said the sale would help Sequel expand to serve our kids, wrote! State funding, despite government inspections flagging violations and Washington have also stopped placing children programs... 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