WERE YOU SEXUALLY ABUSED IN AN ARIZONA YOUTH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER?
You May Be Entitled To Substantial Compensation
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ARIZONA YOUTH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS
Fighting for Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Arizona Residential Treatment Facilities
Youth residential treatment facilities provide mental and behavioral healthcare for vulnerable teens and children. However, many Arizona centers face lawsuits for gross negligence, abuse, and mistreatment of their residents.
An increasing number of former patients at Arizona youth residential treatment centers are speaking out, sharing their experiences of sexual abuse by staff members and accusing facility operators of failing to protect them.
If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse in any Arizona youth residential treatment center, contact our experienced attorneys at Levy Konigsberg for help. We can assist you in getting justice and compensation.
Were you sexually abused?
History of Sexual Abuse in Arizona Youth Residential Treatment Centers
Arizona has a troubling history of physical and sexual abuse in youth residential treatment centers, documented through legal cases, criminal charges, and investigations by federal agencies and youth advocates. These incidents uncover a widespread abuse problem in these facilities, exposing failures by authorities and private contractors to thoroughly investigate claims, report abusive staff, and protect the minors in their care.
In June 2024, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee released a sweeping report detailing abuse at residential treatment facilities operated by major healthcare companies, including Universal Health Services, Acadia Healthcare, Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, and Vivant Behavioral Healthcare (formerly Sequel Youth and Family Services), all of which operate or operated such facilities in Arizona. The report revealed systemic sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, unsafe conditions, inhumane confinement practices, and neglect throughout these facilities.
Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:
Casa Grande Academy
In May 2024, Casa Grande Academy faced a lawsuit for allowing their former employee, Daisa Sigarroba, 28, to engage in an inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy in their care. Sigarroba admitted to having sex and doing drugs with the minor during the entire time she worked at Casa Grande Academy.
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
Rodrigo Omar Flores, 23, was taken into custody on May 7, 2019, after he was accused of sexually abusing three patients at the Devereux Behavioral Health residential treatment center in Phoenix. A 14-year-old girl alleged that Flores had touched her inappropriately four times in her room and the laundry room. Two more teenagers made similar accusations against Flores.
Overall, investigators received reports of 12 instances of sexual abuse between October 2018 to March 2019 involving Flores. He was charged with several counts of sexual abuse, aggravated assault, and having sex with a underaged individuals.
According to a 2013 press report, ADHS was notified of 31 peer-on-peer sexual cases at Devereux over the previous three years. Records from ADHS show that among Arizona’s 11 Level 1 Residential Treatment Institutes, Devereux was responsible for 84% of all peer-to-peer sex allegations. At least 20 incidents were recorded by the newspaper in which children at Devereux claimed that other residents inappropriately groped or sexually abused them. Devereux was identified by the article to have received the most reports of physical abuse by personnel — about 83% of claims reported to ADHS.
Mingus Mountain Academy
Kayla, 15, was among the youths transferred from California to for-profit treatment facilities in other states. In 2020, youth who had been sent by the State of California to for-profit treatment facilities in other states spoke to the press about their experiences. One 15-year-old girl recounted how she experienced severe mistreatment at Mingus Mountain Academy in Arizona, where staff used excessive force and abusive language, causing significant harm to residents.
The all-girls residential treatment center Mingus Mountain Estate Residential Center in Prescott Valley, near Phoenix, reported four cases of staff sexual abuse in 2016. However, none of these incidents were reported to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) as required by law.
According to a newspaper, a member of staff of Mingus Mountain Academy in May 2012 admitted to having a relationship with a resident. He was placed on administrative leave when the police were called, and he subsequently resigned. The article also reported that a resident complained on January 21, 2012, that a male staff member had made advances toward her. After the Sheriff’s Office declared the accusation to be unfounded, the employee was permitted to return to Mingus Mountain. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, however, was unable to locate any documentation of the employee’s investigation.
The newspaper also mentioned the police record of a 28-year-old male employee dismissed in November 2010 after it was alleged that he had sex with a 17-year-old female patient..
Oasis Behavioral Health Hospital
On February 4, 2019, the Capitol Forum revealed it had reviewed 373 pages of documents detailing numerous investigations into Acadia’s Oasis Behavioral Health from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). From January 2014 to September 2018, the facility faced countless investigations due to alarming reports of poor care and hazardous conditions. Complaints ranged from physical and sexual assaults to document forgery, staffing shortages, runaway patients, and a lack of measures to prevent injuries and suicide attempts.
Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital
In 2019, Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital in Tucson faced issues due to poor staffing as confirmed by whistleblowers and internal documents. On one occasion, a supervisor’s ignorance of emergency exits led to three teens escaping, resulting in fines.
A November 2019 news report revealed that Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital had the most citations among Arizona’s 17 psychiatric hospitals inspected by ADHS. Records showed issues, such as an unlicensed nurse, a technician assaulting a child patient, and a nurse accused of being drunk at work.
Investigating Sexual Abuse at Arizona Residential Treatment Facilities
Levy Konigsberg is currently examining reports from past and present youth inmates who experienced sexual abuse by staff at residential treatment facilities throughout Arizona. This investigation covers facilities, whether still operating or closed, with a known history or allegations of sexual abuse and related complaints, including:
- Copper Springs
- Avery’s House
- Brighter Heights
- Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health Arizona
- Embark Behavioral Health
- Horizon Recovery
- Meadows Adolescent Center
- Mingus Mountain Academy
- Nexus Teen Academy
- Oasis Behavioral Health Hospital
- Palo Verde Behavioral Health
- Quail Run Behavioral Health
- Red Hawk Academy
- Sequelcare
- Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital
- Traditions
- Via Linda Behavioral Health
- Zenith Academy
- Zenith Behavioral Health
We specialize in sexual abuse lawsuits against powerful institutions. These include government entities (such as prisons, schools, and juvenile detention / juvenile treatment centers), technology companies, and clergy.
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Who Can You Sue in a Sex Abuse Civil Case?
In a sex abuse civil case, the parties you might sue can vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse and the relationships involved.
Some potential parties that could be sued in a sex abuse civil case include:
- Individual Perpetrator: The alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit. This is often the person who directly committed the abusive acts.
- Institutions and Organizations: If the abuse occurred within an institution or organization, such as a school, church, sports club, or workplace, and they failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the abuse, they might also be held liable.
- Employers: If the perpetrator was an employee of an organization or institution, the employer might be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employee if the abuse occurred within the scope of their employment.
- Property Owners: If the abuse occurred on a property owned by someone else, and the property owner failed to provide adequate security or take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse, they might be considered liable.
- Government Entities: In some cases, government entities might be involved, especially if the abuse occurred within a state institution or facility. Suing a government entity might involve specific procedures and limitations.
Sex abuse cases can be legally complex, so it's highly advisable to consult with experienced legal professionals who specialize in this area to understand your options and pursue the appropriate legal action. Levy Konigsberg, along with our team of sexual abuse lawyers, is available to provide assistance for your sexual abuse case.
Do I Have a Case?
You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:
- You were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other youth residential treatment or juvenile detention center staff member.
- The abuse occurred at any youth residential treatment or juvenile detention facility.
Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold youth residential treatment facilities, juvenile detention centers, private healthcare companies, and other facility operators accountable for their failures to stop abusive staff members and protect young residents.
As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:
- Your abuser is no longer alive.
- Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.
Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims
In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:
- Past medical and mental health expenses
- Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and psychological harm
- Lost income
- Other economic and non-economic damages
Arizona Sexual Abuse Attorneys
The statute of limitations is a law that limits the amount of time you have to start a legal case after something wrong or illegal has happened. Under current law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Arizona have until age 30 to file civil lawsuits.
Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at Arizona youth residential treatment facilities.
We are committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and seeking justice for survivors of sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers and youth residential treatment facilities. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing legal representation and support to survivors, and we are actively investigating allegations of abuse. We are working tirelessly to ensure that survivors have access to justice and that future generations of young people are safe from harm within these institutions.
Trust Levy Konigsberg's Legal Team for Proven Results in Sexual Abuse and Negligence Cases
Levy Konigsberg LLP, a nationally recognized law firm, has built a legacy over three decades, recovering over $3 billion in sexual abuse compensation for clients. Led by award-winning sexual abuse lawyers, we specialize in representing survivors in sexual abuse across the country, taking on powerful institutions. Our top-rated trial practice handles all types of sexual abuse or negligence cases, showcasing numerous testimonials and successful case results.