FOUR WINDS HOSPITAL SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors Sexually Abused at Four Winds Hospital

Four Winds Hospital is a group of psychiatric facilities with two New York locations – one in Katonah (Westchester County) and the other in Saratoga Springs.  Four Winds Hospital has faced serious issues concerning patient safety and sexual abuse. These allegations draw attention to serious failures within this privately-operated hospital corporation which allowed vulnerable patients to be abused within the confines of the hospital. The cases raise concerns about Four Winds’ effectiveness in taking precautionary measures for the safety of patients and ensuring that all their patients are protected from sexual abuse.

At Levy Konigsberg, we are committed to seeking justice for survivors of institutional abuse. Our attorneys work with survivors to hold these institutions accountable, ensuring that their experiences are met with dignity and that their voices are heard in a legal system designed to protect them.

History of Abuse at Four Winds Hospital

There have been numerous allegations of sexual abuse at Four Winds Hospital in New York: 

• In 2017, a mother filed a petition in court alleging that her daughter was repeatedly sexually abused by a male resident, during her stay at Four Winds in 2015. The appropriate authority was not informed and the abuse occurred within the confines of the Sunset House wing, where the girl was placed in the boys’ section. There were no locks on the bedroom doors of the area. The mother believes that this directly caused the abuse suffered by her daughter. Although the mother repeatedly sought hospital records to understand the nature and response to the abuse, the hospital withheld them, citing confidentiality.  In a letter to the mother, a Four Winds official acknowledged that a third-party report had been made to the New York State Justice Center, although this report was only submitted after the daughter had left the facility. The mother had no clear answers and claimed in court that the hospital was ordered to produce all evidence papers related to her child’s treatment and subsequent abuse.
• Only one day before this petition surfaced, another Four Winds employee, Dominic Sbordone, was detained and prosecuted as a result of serious sexual offenses regarding one of the patients. Sbordone was charged for sexual abuse involving a 19-year-old patient. This raised further doubts as to the ability of the hospital to adequately screen and supervise its staff members. The charges included a third-degree criminal sexual act and second-degree sexual abuse, leading to his arraignment without bail. The court imposed an order of protection, barring Sbordone from contacting the victim.

The allegations made against Four Winds have raised alarm as to the hospital’s internal policies for safety and conduct of its staff, sparking calls for stricter oversight and accountability measures. Families and advocates are demanding answers, seeking accountability and emphasizing the need for policies that prioritize patient well-being above all.

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

New York Residential Treatment Center Attorneys

A statute of limitations sets deadlines for victims to bring claims against their abuser or entities responsible for the abuse. New York has pioneered efforts to make it easier for sexual abuse survivors to seek justice and compensation.

In 2019, New York passed the Child Victims Act, expanding the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Under current law: (1) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at privately operated residential treatment centers who were born after February 14, 1998, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits; and (2) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at residential treatment centers operated by governmental entities, who were born after November 15, 1999, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits.