KENTUCKY YOUTH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting For Survivors Sexually Abused at Kentucky Youth Residential Treatment Centers

Kentucky’s youth residential treatment centers have been mired in controversy and legal battles in recent years, with several facilities facing accusations of abuse and negligence. Among the most disturbing cases is the death of 7-year-old Ja’Ceon Terry at the Brooklawn facility, where he suffocated after being restrained by staff. The incident, which led to a wrongful death lawsuit, drew attention to the troubling practices at these centers, including public shaming, verbal abuse, and improper treatment of children. 

If you or someone you love was a resident of  any Kentucky youth residential treatment center and experienced sexual abuse, Levy Konigsberg can help you in your fight for justice. We can help you find out what your compensation options are, and get you everything you deserve. 

History of Sexual Abuse at Kentucky Youth Residential Treatment Centers

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, which operates several such facilities in Kentucky. The report revealed systemic sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, unsafe conditions, inhumane confinement practices, and neglect throughout these facilities.

The increasing number of lawsuits and investigations around Kentucky youth residential treatment centers—many detailing abuse dating back several years—has sparked controversy around centers. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of systemic neglect that continues to affect Kentucky’s vulnerable youth.

Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:

Bellewood & Brooklawn

• In June 2023, Uspiritus-Brooklawn and the estate of 7-year-old Ja’Ceon Terry reached a private settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit. 

This lawsuit stemmed from an incident that occurred on July 17, 2022, when two employees placed Ja’Ceon in a physical restraint for five to six minutes. During this time, he suffered multiple injuries, including respiratory failure due to suffocation, and tragically died later that day at the hospital. 

The Jefferson County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide.

The investigation revealed that Ja’Ceon was subjected to public shaming, verbal abuse, and was left alone in his room for nearly six hours before the incident. 

A former employee, Richardson, stated in her court-filed affidavit that she had complained on many occasions about the mistreatment of youth at the facility. She described seeing staff members commit horrific acts, such as “dragging a naked juvenile across the floor” and “waterboarding a juvenile with a cooler full of water.” 

• In November 2022, a civil lawsuit was filed by a Georgetown woman, Autumn Janeway, alleging that her 11-year-old son was the victim of both physical and emotional abuse at Bellewood and Brooklawn.

Janeway found red, circular marks and bruises on her son’s neck during a surprise visit to the facility.

She claimed the facility failed to tell her anything about an investigation into her son’s treatment and accused it of improperly hiring, training, and supervising staff.

Rivendell Behavioral Health Hospital

• In 2015, a woman filed a lawsuit against Rivendell Behavioral Health Hospital and Stephen Carter, a nurse at the facility, after Carter engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with her when she was a patient at the facility in 2014.  In a subsequent agreement, the victim chose not to pursue claims against Carter in exchange for a judgment against him. Carter was later convicted and incarcerated.

• In 2011, Fantom Shakeria Smith, a former therapist at Rivendell Behavioral Health Hospital, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child for kissing a 15-year old patient being treated at the facility.

Home of the Innocents

• In November 2023, a disturbing incident came to light. Allegedly, a staff member found a 12-year-old boy standing over a 10-year-old girl’s bed. After minutes of being undetected in the girl’s room, the boy was found by staff during a routine check. 

The staff sent the boy back to his room, believing no harm was done. But the girl reported that the boy entered her room while she was sleeping and touched her inappropriately. A state investigator’s report found that facility staff had refused to believe the girl.

• In October 2022, a report indicated that a staff member at Home of the Innocents had touched a 9-year-old boy inappropriately. 

When the Division of Regulated Child Care initiated a state investigation to assess whether the facility had violated policies, it was discovered that the staff member accused of abuse had already resigned. Just two days later, he requested to be added to the boy’s approved contact list. His request was approved by the facility, allowing him to call, visit, and even take the boy to his private residence.

Investigating Sexual Abuse at Kentucky Youth Residential Treatment Centers

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating abuse allegations at Kentucky residential treatment facilities, including:

• Bellewood & Brooklawn
• Rivendell Behavioral Health Hospital
• Home of the Innocents
• Cumberland Hall Hospital
• The Brook Hospital
• The Ridge Behavioral Health System
• Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System

If you or someone you know experienced abuse at these or similar institutions, contact our experienced attorneys today.

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

Kentucky 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 Kentucky law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse born after March 23, 2002 typically have until age 28 to file civil lawsuits against entities that allowed the abuse to happen.

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at any Kentucky youth residential treatment center.

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.