If you do not feel comfortable discussing your situation with a member of our team, you can use our chatbot below to receive a free, instant online case evaluation. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Pros. And when we identify circumstances in which we are not providing care to the par that we expect it to be provided, we intervene with it. We are passionate about what we do and delight in providing the individuals we are privileged to serve and instill permanent, positive change and propel them toward their best and full potential. Today, youth counselors at Sequel facilities start off making $12 to $15 per hour, depending on the location. 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. C-Suite Team Hired to Accelerate Growth of Industry Leading Behavioral Health Company. Sequel to Close New Mexico Youth Facility amid More Abuse Allegations. The statute of limitations for each state determines the amount of time that a victim has to file an abuse lawsuit. 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. 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 . In response to a list of questions laying out the findings of the APM Reports investigation, the company issued a lengthy written statement. 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. Today, Sequel has all but vanished. In the past three weeks, Sequel announced plans to shutter Clarinda Academy in Clarinda . These children are re-traumatized daily by continuous abuse and neglect.). Sequel employees have also faced criminal charges for abuse. Use the CB Insights Platform to explore Sequel Youth and Family Services's full profile. We both were at our very bottom, Tristan said. Hindman had founded the Jiffy Lube chain of auto service centers, and Ripley worked for him. To learn more about how our law firm helps the injured, check out our Frequently Asked Questions Page. 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. A nonprofit organization in Kansas will take over a Sequel treatment center there, according to Kansas City public radio station KCUR. 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.. Lawsuit: Teen screamed 'I can't breathe' during restraint WEST . Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the facility. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals . And we either make drastic improvements at the facility, or we may choose not to operate that facility anymore.. 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. California, Maryland, Oregon and Washington have also stopped placing children in programs run by the company. Her family couldnt afford private care options that cost up to $4,000 a month, but social workers determined Lauries needs were so great that she qualified for state care. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) The family of a Black teenager who was restrained at a western Michigan youth center and died two days later of cardiac arrest has settled a second wrongful death lawsuit in the case. On January 26, 2022, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Tevin Pike against Sequel TSI of Alabama, Sequel TSI of Tuskegee, and Sequel Youth & Family Services LLC (Sequel), alleging that Pike was a former 15-year-old resident at an Alabama treatment facility for children run by Sequel TIS of Tuskegee, a residential psychiatric facility, for about two months in 2018, during which Pike was allegedly choked, beaten, punched, slapped and slammed to the ground by employees and other residents. TorHoerman Law is a personal injury law firm comprised of individuals who are dedicated to getting justice for those wrongfully injured by the tortious acts of others. It is owned and operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services and receives funding from the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the . Government regulators and the media took notice. 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. The lawsuit states the boy "had a propensity to engage in . Embattled Company to Close a Second Utah Treatment Center for Troubled Teens. Oregon state Senator Sara Gelser has spent years demanding accountability for Sequel, and she is continuing the crusade against Vivant. Published: May. He was forced to go to the bathroom on his own breakfast tray, he said. 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. She said she regularly witnessed staff members putting girls into violent restraints, to the point where they struggled to breathe, allegations also documented by the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and in NBC News interviews with other former residents. Very nice people! A National Alliance Of Sexual Abuse Lawyers, Proud Members Of The Following Trusted Organizations. A 14-year-old boy with a bloody gash just beneath his hairline told her that staff members had shoved him headfirst into a wall, Johnson said. The first morning he woke up in the room, Tristan said, he waved his arms at the camera, pounded on the door and shouted for the staff to let him out to use the bathroom. The latest Sequel treatment centers to close are in Idaho, Florida, and Iowa, all of which had been under government scrutiny in recent years. They are supported by a dedicated team of staff that are as equally friendly and helpful. The firm went above and beyond. In 2017, when a private equity firm bought a controlling stake in Sequel Youth & Family Services, it had 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. The agency declined to explain what action it took in response to the email. They helped me when I needed expert legal representation! Plus, you will join a work environment where collaboration and support come naturally. In a court filing last week in Alabama, it argued that the lawsuit should be moved out of state court because the Ripley family is based in Virginia and an intricate series of business entities that comprise and control Vivant are incorporated in Virginia and Delaware. 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. There is poor supervision, staff bullying and intimidation of the children. 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. 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. They also did a nice job keeping us updated with the case throughout the process. Here's everything you need to know about "The Grinch" sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. The report included photographic proof of the Dickensian conditions that the states most vulnerable children were forced to live in: broken doors, missing floor tiles, blood smeared on the walls and thin mattresses laid on top of concrete platforms. Sparkman, the Alabama Department of Human Resources spokesman, said the agency could not comment on individual cases. 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.. This rating has decreased by -5% over the last 12 months. 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. 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. Sexual abuse has also been reported in Sequel facilities and is just as unreported and undocumented as physical abuse. Alabama cannot wait for the death of a child before severing ties with Sequel, the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program told state agencies in its July report, which called on the state to end its contracts with Sequel and revoke the companys licenses. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The facility, which Sequel operated under a contract with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, shut down the following month. 1:07. 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. Sequel Youth and Family Services received nearly $9 million in reimbursement payments from the state of Michigan in 2019, according to the state. An SEC filing that year pegged Sequels value at an estimated $421 million. Can I represent a loved one or family member in a Sequel abuse lawsuit? 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 . The treatment centers were run by Sequel Youth & Family Services, a "for-profit, $500-million company backed by Bay Area investors." . Birmingham said that seclusion which the company refers to as controlled observation and physical restraints are supposed to be last resorts and are not meant to be punitive. But the marketing push could not overcome concerns several states had after Cornelius Fredericks death this year. Based on 511 reviews. What type of abuse qualifies for the Sequel lawsuit? 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. A wonderful and professional legal team. Sequel declined to make Ripley available for an interview, and instead set up an interview with Birmingham, who handles compliance. In Alabama alone, Sequel received nearly $25 million in Medicaid payments from 2018 to this August. In wooing states, Sequel has an advantage: It offers to take children with the most severe challenges, who are hardest to place. Some girls tried to harm themselves just to get out of the facility, Laurie said, including herself. 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.. The advocacy organizations monitors interviewed about 100 children, some as young as 12, and documented their findings in a report this summer. 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 . Falcon Ridge Academy, where these crimes occurred, is meant to house teenage girls with behavioral issues usually resulting from trauma. Dont' waste time, contact our law offices today. How can the same people continue to be trusted with what they say are the most vulnerable kids that we have? Most notably, the estate of Cornelius Fredricks filed a $100 million lawsuit against Sequel for his death. They still struggle with anxieties, nightmares and the feeling that theyre behind their peers. Sequel staff members shared the companys side of the issue and discussed how to deal with concerns among state lawmakers. In June, Sequel announced it was shutting down its 60-bed treatment center in Mountain Home, Idaho, a city of 16,000 people located about 40 miles southeast of Boise. (866) 577-2786. Many of the children served by Sequel are victims with traumatic histories. Many states have reportedly revoked contracts with Sequel (but not Alabama). Thank you for everything. If you or a loved one suffered from abuse at a Sequel facility, camp, boarding school, or treatment center, consider contacting TorHoerman Law for legal help. A typical day consisted of supervising juvenile males aged 13-18, during their daily activities including school, groups, meal times, hygiene, etc. When Tristan was 16, he tried to run away, and when he was caught, he said, Sequel employees put him in solitary confinement as a punishment. TorHoerman Law is an extraordinary law firm a firm that truly makes the clients best interests the primary concern. Work/Life Balance. On January 26, 2022, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Tevin Pike against Sequel TSI of Alabama, Sequel TSI of Tuskegee, and Sequel Youth & Family Services LLC ("Sequel"), alleging that Pike was a former 15-year-old resident at an Alabama treatment facility for children run by Sequel TIS of Tuskegee, a residential psychiatric facility, for about two months in 2018, during which Pike was . My client lived in a house of horrors. After Cornelius death, Sequel was forced to shut down facilities in 18 states and earmarked for further criminal investigations and civil lawsuits. The lawsuit alleges that Pike was placed in isolation as punishment, sometimes for days, during which he had no access to food and water and was forced to urinate in the corner of the segregation room. Last year, Tennessee, which had paid Sequel up to $608 a day per child, suspended admissions to Kingston and the states Medicaid agency terminated its contract with Sequel. "My client lived a house of horrors," Tommy James said. In February 2019, Courtland employees called Patricia to tell her that Hunter had tried to hang himself, she said. 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 . But some of Sequels operations are continuing under new ownership. Anytime that our clients are not getting the highest quality care that they deserve is an opportunity for improvement.. Their team of personal injury lawyers are experienced, personable, and well versed in a range of litigation areas. Responsible for the recommendation of all admissions, transfers, and discharges of . Laurie didnt know it at the time, but her future husband, Tristan Broadrick, was also struggling in Sequel facilities in Alabama. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Most of the former Sequel treatment centers that remain open are now controlled by Vivant Behavioral Healthcare, which was founded in 2021 by Jay Ripley, one of three people who founded Sequel in 1999. For more information about potential legal action, you can contact an experienced Sequel abuse lawyer at TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation. 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. Three employees of the facility were charged criminally in . At TorHoerman Law, we believe that if we continue to focus on the people that we represent, and continue to be true to the people that we are justice will always be served. Those close relationships come in handy when the company faces scrutiny. The company later said in an email that in cases where a child's safety is threatened, "we take all necessary actions from employee termination, to policy and process changes, to staff-wide retraining to ensure we live up to our high standards of care for the youth we serve.". Contact us today to see if you qualify for the Paraquat Parkinsons Disease Lawsuit! You may be eligible to file a Tepezza Lawsuit if you or a loved one took Tepezza and subsequently suffered permanent hearing loss or tinnitus. Sequel Confronts More Abuse Allegations amid Concerns about Its Finances. Before they got out, the two crossed paths at a psychiatric hospital, where they were sent after trying to harm themselves. Sequel was established to operate Clarinda Academy in Iowa, but soon expanded to operate dozens of youth residential treatment facilities around the country. Below are some of the allegations from victims, staff, and advocates which were shared during the NBC investigation and a report filed by the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program of what was seen at just one Alabama location: Parents and adoptive parents have stated, "they come out worse than they were when they went in.". Children also reported being slapped and choked by staff members. For more of NBC News' in-depth reporting, download the NBC News app. I guess we just lifted each other up.. 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. On top of those attacks, the suit states, a staff member once restrained Hunter so violently that his head hit a concrete wall and reopened an existing cut, requiring stitches. 2.6. Sequel was founded as a company in 1999. Look no further, call now! 102. 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. Time, contact our law offices today alone, Sequel received nearly $ 25 million in payments... Many states have reportedly revoked contracts with Sequel ( but not Alabama ) side of the facility, said... 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