Today the Sequel brand has been removed from almost all its former treatment centers web sites. The lawsuit alleges staff sat on his chest as he screamed . Tristan, now 18, was placed into foster care on his 12th birthday and bounced between group homes until 2018, when he landed at Tuskegee, an intensive psychiatric treatment facility. 1 (July 2, 2020) (hereinafter "ADAP"). Even if a facility is closed, victims can still take legal action against parties involved in the facilities. No information shared in consultations is shared unless first approved by our clients. Our team of attorneys include: Continue reading to learn more about the Sequel Youth & Family Services investigation. Story continues. 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. 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.. The latest Sequel treatment centers to close are in Idaho, Florida, and Iowa, all of which had been under government scrutiny in recent years. Learn more about hospital sexual abuse lawsuits from our team of attorneys. More than 40 States Have Sent Their Most Vulnerable Kids to Facilities Run by a for-Profit Company Named Sequel. "These are places that are supposed to provide a safe, homelike, therapeutic environment, Johnson said. Sequel Youth and Family Services, which operates numerous youth treatment and residential facilities in several states. They also found the facility in disrepair, documenting missing sink handles, showers that had no hot water, moldy food, chairs with arms ripped off and nails exposed from torn upholstery on several couches. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The series focused particular attention on the state of Florida, which has become emblematic of a nationwide trend in which growing numbers . Sequel Youth and Family Services is a private for-profit operator of behavioral healthcare facilities for children and youth in the United States. A majority stake in Sequel was bought by Altamont Capital, a private equity firm located in California, in 2017. 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. (Sequel said the free trips are not standard practice.). Sequel Youth & Family Services specializes in treating children with mental disorders, intellectual disabilities and trauma, which makes . University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business, according to Kansas City public radio station KCUR. A 16 year-old resident named Cornelius Fredricks was killed at a Kalamazoo, Michigan facility run by Sequel. Responsible for providing leadership to the program. I was extremely impressed with their professionalism and ability to react quickly. I dont want any other kid to have to go through that, Tristan said. In the past three weeks, Sequel announced plans to shutter Clarinda Academy in Clarinda . 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?. A woman who answered the phone at Capital Academy and asked not to be identified said it was not part of Vivant. Falcon Ridge Academy, where these crimes occurred, is meant to house teenage girls with behavioral issues usually resulting from trauma. Since Fredericks' death, Michigan's Department of Health and Human . 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. What we do is we strive every day to provide the best care we can for kids in these facilities, Birmingham said. Violence, Often Instigated by Staff, Has Become Common at Red Rock Canyon School in St. George for Troubled Children. Everything you need to know about the Disney California Cookware / 16 hours ago You cut off the head. TorHoerman Law is an extraordinary law firm a firm that truly makes the clients best interests the primary concern. But some of Sequels operations are continuing under new ownership. Sequel subsequently closed the facility. Vivant hasnt bought all of Sequels remaining assets. John Jay Ripley, one of Sequels founders, established Vivant Behavioral Healthcare in order to buy a majority of Sequel and eventually rebrand the company. 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. He returned to youth treatment in 1999, taking over a former YSI treatment center in Iowa. Tommy James is an attorney representing a 16-year-old named Hunter who lived at a Sequel facility in Courtland for 10 months. Glenda Marshall, a program coordinator for Oregons state child welfare agency, wrote in a 2016 email to Shoemaker that the state had been struggling to find placements for foster youth. Government regulators and the media took notice. How long do I have to file a Sequel abuse lawsuit? He was forced to go to the bathroom on his own breakfast tray, he said. The operation housed a significant number of children from Oregon, which stopped sending them to Sequel treatment centers in 2020. A National Alliance Of Sexual Abuse Lawyers, Proud Members Of The Following Trusted Organizations. She said that most allegations made by children, staff and advocates end up being unsubstantiated, but that the company has zero tolerance for abuse and immediately reports allegations of wrongdoing to state oversight agencies. 2-3, and app. Youth Counselor Supervisor (Former Employee) - Courtland, AL - August 17, 2022. Birmingham said Sequels marketing agents play a key role in receiving feedback from state officials and in helping the facilitys staffers get what they need to care for their residents. Do I qualify for the Sequel abuse lawsuit? 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. A residential school operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services is set to permanently shutdown its operations. We've recovered over $4 Billion in verdicts & settlements, 16 Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Diseases & Symptoms, Sequel Youth and Family Services Abuse Lawsuit. What type of abuse qualifies for the Sequel lawsuit? After her mother received a terminal cancer diagnosis, she became depressed and defiant, and struggled with suicidal thoughts. Without our team, we wouldnt be able to provide our clients with anything close to the level of service they receive when they work with us. Today, youth counselors at Sequel facilities start off making $12 to $15 per hour, depending on the location. Sequel Tuskegee is a mental health treatment facility in Macon County where boys ages 12 to 18 receive therapeutic intervention after being adjudicated by the court. Contact the Elmiron Lawyers from TorHoerman Law. The company told investors it was well positioned to serve as industry consolidator, thanks in part to its clean regulatory and litigation history.. In Alabama alone, Sequel received nearly $25 million in Medicaid payments from 2018 to this August. The agency declined to explain what action it took in response to the email. A walkway to enter the school at the Courtland facility. 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. Ripley started in the juvenile corrections business in the early 1990s, when he helped start Youth Services International with his boss and mentor James Hindman. He mentioned how "you can make money in this . 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. Lawsuit: Teen screamed 'I can't breathe' during restraint WEST . No information will be shared unless you, as a client, first approve. Last year Sequel officials defended their treatment programs, stating through a crisis management firm that the company had increased staff training and oversight and was working on "phasing out the practice of physically restraining . Three employees of the facility were charged criminally in . A Profitable Death Trap: Sequel Youth Facilities Raked in Millions While Accused of Abusing Children. An employee at a Sequel facility in Utah was arrested for sexual battery and showing pornography to minors. 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.. Since then, 17 of those centers have closed. A 16-year-old, Cornelius Frederick, died this year after several staff members restrained him at a Sequel facility in Michigan, prompting disability rights proponents, legislators and child advocacy groups in at least six states to question whether the company focuses more on profit than rehabilitating the children in its care. Records show that the problems at Sequel facilities go beyond Alabama. In 2017 Sequel operated 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. They are supported by a dedicated team of staff that are as equally friendly and helpful. The closure was voluntary, but it came at the end of a difficult period for the program. The treatment centers were run by Sequel Youth & Family Services, a "for-profit, $500-million company backed by Bay Area investors." . That national corporation also owns Woodward Academy and Forest Ridge Youth Services in . 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. A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against a Kalamazoo youth home after a 16-year-old boy was restrained and later died earlier this year. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In February 2019, Courtland employees called Patricia to tell her that Hunter had tried to hang himself, she said. An Altamont press release said Ripley would "remain involved with the business as chairman of the board through its next phases of growth." Here's everything you need to know about "The Grinch" sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. 2.6. "At Sequel Youth & Family Services, we have dedicated our careers to helping this nation's most vulnerable youth. But rather than get better, Laurie said, girls at Owens Cross Roads seemed to get worse. Many of the children served by Sequel are victims with traumatic histories. You can also call us at (205) 843-5086 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free consultation. Sequel settled a lawsuit from Fredrick's family in December. Hunter is now receiving psychiatric treatment at a hospital, she said. Begin Your Path To Healing & Justice. 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. All of my questions were answered quickly and in a way I could understand. Sequel was established to operate Clarinda Academy in Iowa, but soon expanded to operate dozens of youth residential treatment facilities around the country. In September 2019, Sondra Landers, director of the departments office in Lawrence County, where Courtland is, sent an alarming email to several top agency staff members. According to Hunters adoptive mother, Patricia, the facility was supposed to get Hunter back on track with school, provide intensive therapy and immerse him in a Positive Peer Culture that teaches residents to support one another. 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. Steve and the entire staff were friendly and professional. The attorneys at THL were extremely helpful with the legal aspects of setting up my small business. Oregon state Senator Sara Gelser has spent years demanding accountability for Sequel, and she is continuing the crusade against Vivant. In a public letter, the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program wrote that it has grave concerns about the immediate safety and welfare of the nearly 100 children, aged 12 to 18, currently in facilities run by Sequel TSI of Alabama, a Huntsville-based provider. Falcon Ridge Academy had the highest rate of sex crimes reported in the state of Utah. The lawsuit alleges: Tevin did not receive the necessary mental health treatment he needed but was instead physically abused and emotionally traumatized at Sequel Tuskegee. To find out what the statute of limitations is in your state, contact TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation legal consultation today. Sequel Youth and Family Services Lawsuit: Reports of Abuse, Independent Fundamental Baptist Resources, Disclaimer / Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy, 24/7 support with a caring legal staff dedicated to protecting your confidentiality, employees or "whistleblowers" of the facilities, Multiple children report being slammed to the ground and held facedown, One boy described his head being caught on a nail in the wall during a violent restraint, Reports of being called names, threatened, and comments such as "you gonna go to jail", Report of being in solitary confinement for 72 hours, with no access to a bathroom, Report of lack of access to medical treatment, dental treatment or eye care, Report of lack of access to clean drinking water, Lack of education, school work and career training, Filthy conditions and hazardous living conditions, Residents in inappropriate restraints without justification, and even the death of one resident at a Michigan facility. At Kingston Academy in Tennessee, state inspectors found mold infestations, overflowing toilets and children sleeping on mattresses on the floor. . Rappleyeis a reporter with the Investigative Unit at NBC News, with a focus on criminal justice, social issues and the environment. Sequel, a company with locations in 20 states that turned a $25 million profit in 2016, markets itself as a national leader in providing specialized care for at-risk youth. Last August, Sequels Pompano Youth Treatment Center failed a state inspection that found a range of deficiencies at the 24-bed Florida treatment center. Mr. Roussos brings nearly two decades of experience building and leading healthcare organizations with vibrant service-oriented . Sequel Youth & Family Services has also faced criticisms. Overall rating. Sequel operates youth psychiatric care facilities in 19 states, including several facilities in Alabama. Sequel formerly ran the following facilities: Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Sequel Youth and Family Services, alleging abuse of all sorts and negligent behavior of staff and management. 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.. 2, 2022 at 8:08 PM PDT. Illuminating Journalism from American Public Media. 2020 AbuseGuardian.com. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Sequel Youth and Family Services, alleging abuse of all sorts and negligent behavior of staff and management. Get a free online case evaluation and find out if you qualify for compensation instanly. That's not what we saw.". TorHoerman Law was responsible for handling a medical case for our family. What Caused Camp Lejeune Water Contamination? In response to questions about allegations of abuse and negligence at Sequel facilities, Altamont said in a statement: We conducted significant due diligence prior to our initial investment and are confident that Sequel Youth and Family Services is one of the best operators in the industry. On multiple occasions later in 2019, when Oregon state Sen. Sara Gelser emailed state officials demanding information about oversight of Sequel programs, government agents promptly forwarded the messages to Sequel employees for help responding. Thank you for everything. Can I represent a loved one or family member in a Sequel abuse lawsuit? They come out worse than they were when they went in, said Patricia, whose last name is being withheld to protect her sons privacy. Our firm is about people. 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. Yet, at these facilities, children have been sexually and physically assaulted by staff members. The company has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding and tens of millions more from private equity firms to expand to new locations, while deploying a sophisticated marketing strategy to convince state officials to send more children, despite government inspections flagging violations at Sequel locations in at least nine states, the records show. Multiple lawsuits have been filed in Alabama, alleging rampant abuse in Sequels Courtland and Tuskegee facilities. Posted at 1:38 PM, Jun 21, 2020 and last updated 2020 . 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. 1. In the two years since the incident, Sequel shut down 11 of those centers, which followed six closures in 2019. Since 2016, the company has secured contracts worth more than $68 million from the states Department of Human Resources. In an article from APM Reports analyzing Riverside Academy in Kansas, a former Sequel operation, it was found that: In the four years before it closed, the facility had been cited 38 times by Kansas officials for problems including excessive force by staff, poor supervision, under-qualified medical personnel, neglect and bullying by residents, according to state licensing records.. Sequel declined to make any of its leaders available for interviews. It was valued by investors at more than $400 million. Embattled Company to Close a Second Utah Treatment Center for Troubled Teens. He named his new business Sequel because it was his second foray into the industry. 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. Sequel staff members shared the companys side of the issue and discussed how to deal with concerns among state lawmakers. 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. Sequel Youth and Family Services received nearly $9 million in reimbursement payments from the state of Michigan in 2019, according to the state. He has a bulging, bloody laceration on his forehead. Jay Ripley speaks at the Merrick School of Business in Baltimore in 2015. Those contracts, which Ivey signed, allow Sequel to continue to run Courtland through September 2022. Patricia took photos during a visit showing Hunter, a thin, slight child, sitting on a couch at the facility in a Spider-Man T-shirt. 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. They still struggle with anxieties, nightmares and the feeling that theyre behind their peers. An SEC filing that year pegged Sequels value at an estimated $421 million. 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. Earlier that year, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare wrote a scathing report accusing the treatment center of significant failure in staff oversight and training resulting in over 100 incidents of aberrant sexual behavior by five children over at least three months, and possibly as far back as seven months.. 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