PALMETTO PEE DEE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors of Sexual Abuse at Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health in South Carolina

For years, Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health in South Carolina has faced allegations of lax protocols, insufficient staffing, misconduct, and heinous sexual and physical abuse perpetrated against residents at the facility. Survivors are coming forward to shed light on the distressing pattern of abuse alleged to have occurred at Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health before it closed down in 2019.

At Levy Konigsberg, we recognize the devastating impact of such alleged negligence and abuse. We are here to stand with survivors, demand justice, and create a safer future for others. Reach out to us today and let’s fight for justice together.

Sexual Abuse Allegations at Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health in South Carolina

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

• In August 2025, a lawsuit was filed alleging a former patient of Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health endured severe sexual and physical abuse at the facility.  The plaintiff alleges that he entered the facility in 2014 for trauma treatment when he was 15 years old.  According to the lawsuit, the teen endured physical and sexual abuse from at least six different residents, ranging from unwanted advances and touching to violent beating and rape.  Staff members also participated in the abuse, according to the lawsuit. Staff member Harry Austin allegedly would beat the plaintiff with a leather belt to discipline him, corner him in a closet before kicking and punching him, and put him in chokeholds and bend his wrists backward until he screamed.  Austin also allegedly brought alcoholic beverages for other teenagers in the unit. Another staff member allegedly recorded two residents as they threw the plaintiff to the floor, punched him in the face, placed him in a headlock and stomped on his head and face, according to the lawsuit. Further, the plaintiff alleges that no staff members intervened during the attack, and the attackers were never disciplined.  When the plaintiff told his mother about the abuse, he was allegedly told to keep his mouth shut and was further disciplined himself.

• In March 2019, it was reported that the Department of Health and Environmental Control was investigating Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health after several alleged policy violations. It was reported at the time that the facility was facing over 20 pages of violations that claim the center didn’t have enough staff, the facility physically restrained residents against policy and didn’t follow doctors’ orders or properly document administering drugs. 

• In October 2018, a staff member allegedly punched a child and put them in a headlock, while other children were bitten multiple times.

• In January 2017, state officials cited Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health for 19 violations, which included abuse, inadequate staffing, and failure to manage youths who assaulted one another over a dozen times in the previous year.

According to DHEC, there were 23 other children or teens in the same unit as the resident who was allegedly repeatedly attacked, and many had also been involved as the victim and attacker. Staff reported that some residents were out of control. The agency determined that the facility did not have enough staff to adequately supervise all residents based on their needs. DHEC pointed to specific dates and shifts in staff logs that showed insufficient staffing levels, including one instance where only two staff members were on duty.

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

South Carolina 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 South Carolina law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse typically may file a civil lawsuit up until age 27 or three years after the victim realizes that the abuse caused injury–whichever comes later. However, a proposed bill (S 0148) introduced in 2025 offers hope for change. This bill would provide better opportunities for victims to seek justice if passed. If passed, the bill would extend the statute of limitations for sexual abuse to age 59 or 8 years from discovery, whichever is later, and open a 1-year revival window to file civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse.

Levy Konigsberg's experienced attorneys can help evaluate claims under these laws, including those for abuse that occurred years or even decades ago, and explain your rights and options.

Levy Konigsberg is actively investigating allegations of sexual abuse at South Carolina 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.