GREEN HILL SCHOOL SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors Abused at Green Hill School

Green Hill School in Washington is a juvenile rehabilitation facility located in Chehalis, Washington. It provides schooling, therapy, and job training to young males who have been convicted by the state justice system for committing offenses.

However, for many years, Green Hill School has had a deep-seated culture of sexual abuse and cover-ups. Criminal charges and civil complaints reveal that guards and staff members frequently engaged in sexually inappropriate relationships with underage residents. Lawsuits claim that the school knew of rampant sexual abuse but failed to adequately supervise their staff and protect the children. 

If you or someone you love was sexually abused as a youth inmate in Green Hill School, Levy Konigsberg wants to help you seek justice even if the abuse occurred many years or even decades ago.

History of Sexual Abuse in Green Hill School

Green Hill School has a troubling history of abuse, which has been highlighted by major lawsuits, public settlements, and investigations. News reports and records show widespread sexual abuse  at the juvenile rehabilitation center. They also reveal that the school administration, including the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, and other responsible entities allowed a culture of secrecy and cover-ups. This lack of proper oversight lets sexual predators have unchecked, unsupervised access to vulnerable children at Green Hill for years. Some examples of sexual abuse include:

• In November 2025, it was reported that a lawsuit on behalf of 14 victims was filed against the State of Washington, alleging decades of sexual abuse and negligence at Maple Lane and Green Hill juvenile detention schools.  The lawsuit names the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, Green Hill and Maple Lane schools, and Dr. Isaac Pope who reportedly worked with the schools from 1982 to at least 2020.  The suit alleges that Dr. Pope sexually abused and raped hundreds of children behind closed doors when he was supposed to be caring for their health.  It was reported that claims have been filed against the State of Washington for over 200 victims of abuse at such schools.

• In September 2021, Washington state agreed to pay over $2 million to settle a lawsuit with 10 survivors of sexual abuse at Green Hill School in Chehalis. The survivors, who were between 14 and 18 years old at the time of the abuse, endured ongoing abuse from staff and guards who misused their authority over them.

Despite reporting the abuse, the survivors allegedly faced retaliation and had no way to escape or get help. This abuse spanned from the 1970s to the early 2000s. The lawsuit claimed that the School authorities and the state DSHS allowed a culture of abuse and cover-ups, leading to repeated mistreatment of many residents over the years.

• In a 2018 lawsuit, a former inmate at Green Hill School, identified as O-H, claimed he was sexually assaulted repeatedly by counselors Katherine Kimbrel and Erin Stiebritz from 2013 to 2015. He alleged that the state’s DSHS protected the abusers and that his attempts to report the abuse were obstructed by the school’s officials.  O-H claimed he also witnessed staff assaulting other residents.

Kimbrel, who allegedly groomed and abused O-H, faced multiple charges and pleaded not guilty. In November 2019, Kimbrel agreed to a plea deal for reduced charges. 

Stiebritz was previously convicted and received counseling and a two-week jail sentence for abusing another inmate. In March 2018, she was charged for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender.

• In June 2018, Samantha N. Washington, 31, a former Green Hill School employee, was sentenced for charges related to a sexually explicit phone conversation with an inmate in July 2017. 

• In 2016, a female counselor at Green Hill School was arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a male resident. Her charging records suggest that she might have been pregnant as a result of the relationship.

• In 2009, Deanna Witters, a 52-year-old former cook at the juvenile facility, admitted to a sexually inappropriate relationship with an inmate and pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree custodial sexual misconduct. During the investigation, Witters revealed widespread sexual misconduct at the facility, implicating at least five other employees.

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

Washington Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Under current Washington state law, survivors of sexual abuse have three years from the date of their abuse, or three years from the date they discover the connection between their injuries (which can include addiction, self-harm, and other mental health issues) and the abuse (or a defendant’s actions that led to the abuse), to file civil lawsuits.

In March 2024, the governor signed into law a bill (House Bill 1618) removing the statute of limitations for civil claims related to child sexual abuse. As a result, for any sexual abuse occurring on or after June 6, 2024, there is no deadline to file.

However, the new law is not retroactive, meaning that it does not apply to sexual abuse that occurred before June 6, 2024. Survivors of sexual abuse that occurred before this time still have three years from the date of their abuse, or three years from the date they discover the connection between their injuries and the abuse or actions that led to the abuse, to file civil lawsuits. 

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.