Embattled Company to Close a Second Utah Treatment Center for Troubled Teens. Following a barrage of abuse scandals and media attention, including a 2020 investigation by APM Reports, the company has shut down close to half of its treatment centers and sold most of the rest to a new company called Vivant Behavioral Healthcare. Multiple lawsuits have been filed in Alabama, alleging rampant abuse in Sequel's . Legal action is being strategized by our attorneys for Horizon Therapeutics failure to properly warn patients of potential hearing loss side effects. Laurie didnt know it at the time, but her future husband, Tristan Broadrick, was also struggling in Sequel facilities in Alabama. One firm, Altamont Capital Partners, which has investments in health care companies, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and clothing brands like Billabong, purchased a majority stake in Sequel for an undisclosed amount in 2017. Sequel Youth & Family Services specializes in treating children with mental disorders, intellectual disabilities and trauma, which makes these findings disturbing. Clockwise from top, the latest operations to close: Mountain Home Academy in Idaho, Forest Ridge Youth Services in Iowa, Pompano Youth Treatment Center in Florida. What type of abuse qualifies for the Sequel lawsuit? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Michigans governor ordered state agencies in June to never do business with Sequel. Vivant hasnt bought all of Sequels remaining assets. Ohio announced recently that it was forcing the Sequel Pomegranate location to relinquish its license to operate the treatment facility. In 2017 Sequel operated 35 residential treatment centers in 16 states. Tommy James is an attorney representing a 16-year-old named Hunter who lived at a Sequel facility in Courtland for 10 months. Program, pp. We've recovered over $4 Billion in verdicts & settlements, 16 Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Diseases & Symptoms, Sequel Youth and Family Services Abuse Lawsuit. Fredericks went into cardiac arrest April 29. 2. majority stake in Sequel was bought by Altamont Capital, established Vivant Behavioral Healthcare in order to buy a majority of Sequel, article from APM Reports analyzing Riverside Academy in Kansas, closed because of reported abuse by staff, and improper restraints were highlighted in news reports surrounding the closure, 16 year-old resident named Cornelius Fredricks was killed at a Kalamazoo, Michigan facility run by Sequel, employee at a Sequel facility in Utah was arrested for sexual battery, highest rate of sex crimes reported in the state of Utah, estate of Cornelius Fredricks filed a $100 million lawsuit against Sequel. . Both Altamont and Sequel said the sale would help Sequel expand to serve more children. You can make money in this business if you control staffing, said Ripley, who at the time made $104,167 per month from Sequel as chairman, according to a financial disclosure. 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. Pros. Then children began to talk. 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.. Marshall also traded messages with Sequels marketing staff monitoring Gelsers social media activity when the lawmaker toured Sequel facilities that year. 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. Nobody joins our industry, you know, unless they're actually here for the kids, she said. Sequel disputes the findings and the facility remains open. 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 . To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. 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. 1:07. Sequel Youth & Family Services is now in the national spotlight after NBC Nightly News ran an investigative report on the company Wednesday night. By clicking ACCEPT ALL, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Sequel staff members shared the companys side of the issue and discussed how to deal with concerns among state lawmakers. 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. Courtland was one of the last facilities Tristan Broadrick lived in before he aged out of the foster care system. Since then, 17 of those centers . KRQE News 13 reached out may times to Sequel Youth and Family Services, which has seen similar closures and allegations in its other nationwide facilities recently. In a civil lawsuit filed Monday against Lakeside Academy and Sequel Youth and Family Services, the family said the teen screamed "I can't breathe" as staff members placed their weight on his chest for nearly 10 minutes. 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. 95. 'Treated like animals' Sequel Tuskegee is set back from the road on Highway 29, about 45 . Sequel settled a lawsuit from Fredricks family in December. Some girls tried to harm themselves just to get out of the facility, Laurie said, including herself. We're ready to be your ally. In Alabama Vivants application for a business registration was signed by Ripleys daughter, Christine Aron, who previously served as Sequels vice president of business development. Many of the children served by Sequel are victims with traumatic histories. 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. Based on 511 reviews. If you or a loved one was the victim of abuse at one of these facilities, contact TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation with a member of our team or use our chatbot below to receive a free instant online case evaluation today. They described physical abuse by staff, Johnson said, and being denied medical care. Sequel declined to make Ripley available for an interview, and instead set up an interview with Birmingham, who handles compliance. 2.9. Theyre worth nearly $13 million. 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. No information shared in consultations is shared unless first approved by our clients. 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. 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 hardest part of the job was working long hours. The statute of limitations for each state determines the amount of time that a victim has to file an abuse lawsuit. Three employees of the facility were charged criminally in . Before they got out, the two crossed paths at a psychiatric hospital, where they were sent after trying to harm themselves. Sequel is playing hide the ball, and theyre trying to avoid accountability and responsibility for [what they did] to these children and our clients, said Tommy James, an attorney in Birmingham, Alabama, who has three suits pending against Sequel facilities now controlled by Vivant. Edwardsville Daycare Injury & Abuse Cases, You were previously (or are currently) a U.S. military service member who used standard issue 3M Combat Arms earplugs; and, Physical abuse (including unnecessary restraint), Mingus Mountain Academy (Prescott Valley), Palm Beach Youth Academy (West Palm Beach), Pompano Youth Treatment Center (Pompano Beach), SequelCare of Florida (Pinellas Park, Port Richey, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, and Vero Beach), North Shore Pediatric Therapy (Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Lincolnwood, and Naperville), Woodward Community Based Services (Urbandale), SequelCare of Maine (Bangor, Rockland, Searsport, and Yarmouth), SequelCare of Oklahoma (Antlers, Broken Bow, Durant, Hugo, Poteau, and Tulsa), Pine Cone Therapies (Keller, Missouri City, and Southlake), Auldern Academy, Siler City, North Carolina (2009 2021), Clarinda Academy, Clarinda, Iowa (1999 2021), Kingston Academy, Kingston, Tennessee (2009 2019), Lakeside Academy, Kalamazoo, Michigan (2007 2020), Lexington Academy, Lexington, Indiana (1996 2017), Mount Pleasant Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (2016 2019), Normative Services Academy, Sheridan, Wyoming (2003 2021), Northern Illinois Academy, Aurora, Illinois (2021), Red Rock Canyon School, St. George, Utah (2016 2019), Riverside Academy, Wichita, Kansas (2011 2019), Rose Rock Academy, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (2011 2016), Sequel Pomegranate Health Systems, Columbus, Ohio (2016 2021), Sequel TSI Madison, Madison, Alabama (2009 2019), Sequel TSI North Carolina, Pittsboro, North Carolina (2009 2010), Sequel TSI of Kissimmee, Kissimmee, Florida (2009 2016), Sequel TSI Paint Rock Valley, Trenton, Alabama (2009 2011), Sequel TSI Sierra Vista, Hereford, Arizona (2009 2011), Starr Albion Prep, Albion, Michigan (2014 2020), Union Juvenile Residential Facility, Raiford, Florida (2009 2019), Other losses as a result of abuse in a Sequel facility, Sequel Youth Facility and Family Services, Staff members who held management positions and failed to report abuse, Overseeing government agencies or representatives. The level of abuse is staggering and very disturbing. 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. But some facilities might have new life under a different name and one of the original founders. Local investigators found that the facility failed to . You cut off the head. Yet, at these facilities, children have been sexually and physically assaulted by staff members. 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. They severely underpay their staff! The other residents in the unit were 18 and 19 years old. Work/Life Balance. 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 National Alliance Of Sexual Abuse Lawyers, Proud Members Of The Following Trusted Organizations. 1. There were feces on the floor, stuck inside the doorframe, stuck around the window.. 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 . 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?. But nobody came. The sheriffs frustrations are similar to those expressed by local law enforcement about Sequel treatment centers in Ohio and Wyoming. The company is more dysfunctional than the clients they try to serve. Published: May. 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. Sequel Confronts More Abuse Allegations amid Concerns about Its Finances. The series focused particular attention on the state of Florida, which has become emblematic of a nationwide trend in which growing numbers . To find out what the statute of limitations is in your state, contact TorHoerman Law for a free, no-obligation legal consultation today. He has a bulging, bloody laceration on his forehead. Our team of attorneys include: Continue reading to learn more about the Sequel Youth & Family Services investigation. University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business, according to Kansas City public radio station KCUR. You may be eligible to file a Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit if you or a loved one used chemical hair straighteners, hair relaxers, or other similar hair products, and subsequently were diagnosed with: Over one million people, who were present at Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) between 1953 and 1987, may have been exposed to toxic substances in the water. Information Request: Best Method to Contact You? Even if a facility is closed, victims can still take legal action against parties involved in the facilities. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Lawrence County Circuit Court claims Sequel TSI of Alabama has a history of staff physically abusing children at its facilities, encouraging fights among children and . You can also call us at (205) 843-5086 or fill out an online contact form to schedule a free consultation. The staff is kind, considerate, professional, and very experienced. If you have been abused at a Sequel Youth and Family Services facility, or a similar facility, contact our experienced team of attorneys today to learn more about your legal rights. A Profitable Death Trap: Sequel Youth Facilities Raked in Millions While Accused of Abusing Children. Ohio recently announced it was forcing Sequel Pomegranate to relinquish its license to operate its residential treatment facility. 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. Sequel Youth & Family Services provides a broad spectrum of treatment programs to people of all ages with behavioral, emotional, and physical challenges. The advocacy organizations monitors interviewed about 100 children, some as young as 12, and documented their findings in a report this summer. Sequel, she said, has also invested millions in improving care, staff training and oversight of its programs, doubling the size of its corporate compliance team. Hindman had founded the Jiffy Lube chain of auto service centers, and Ripley worked for him. She said she could not speak in detail about the companys finances, but argued that Altamonts support including nearly $40 million invested over the past three years has allowed Sequel to provide extra training for its employees, upgrade infrastructure and install additional security cameras at its facilities. He returned to youth treatment in 1999, taking over a former YSI treatment center in Iowa. SHERIDAN Normative Services Academy, Inc. will close its doors March 22 "after an evaluation of viability of the Normative Services program," according to a press release sent Wednesday morning by NSI Executive Director Clayton Carr. "My client lived a house of horrors," Tommy James said. You deserve to be heard and we believe you. 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. Toxic chemicals in Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF Firefighting Foam) have been linked to numerous types of cancer, including: AFFF Firefighting Foam lawsuits aim to hold manufacturers accountable for putting peoples health at risk. Contact us today to see if you qualify for the Paraquat Parkinsons Disease Lawsuit! 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