An entire industry has developed around providing residential services, treatment, and rehabilitation to troubled teens. Tragically, it has become clear that many of these facilities have engaged in the systematic abuse of the minors who lived there.
The attorneys at Phillips Law Group are pursuing Georgia youth residential treatment center sexual abuse lawsuits to claim financial compensation for the survivors. If you experienced sexual abuse at one of these facilities, contact Phillips Law Group to learn more.
Private companies own or operate most of the facilities providing residential treatment to children and teens in the state. Two of the largest, Universal Health Services (UHS) and Acadia Healthcare, have long histories of former residents alleging sexual abuse and other mistreatment at the hands of staff members and other residents.
Facilities that UHS, Acadia Healthcare, and other companies own and operate continue to face charges of abuse. Complaints have been raised against numerous facilities in the state, including:
Abuse may have occurred at additional facilities. The companies operating these facilities are accused of inadequate staff screening and training, poor supervision, and ineffective complaint resolution procedures. With the help of former residents in Georgia, Phillips Law Group’s attorneys are collecting evidence showing these residential facilities failed to protect the young people in their care from sexual abuse, even as they collected huge fees from the state.
Anyone who was sexually abused while a resident of a youth treatment facility in Georgia may be able to join the lawsuits. The abuser may have been a staff member or another resident. It does not matter if the abuser has since died, and a survivor can pursue a lawsuit even if they are unsure of the abuser’s full name.
The Official Code of Georgia § 9-3-33.1 sets the deadlines for bringing lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse. If the incident occurred before July 1, 2015, a survivor must file a lawsuit before their 23rd birthday. If the abuse happened after July 1, 2015, a survivor must still file by their 23rd birthday in most cases, but the discovery rule may extend the time limit.
Complex trauma can cause issues related to memory and self-awareness. Many childhood sexual abuse survivors repress or trivialize their memories of the abuse. A survivor might remember the incident as if it happened to someone else, or they may not connect it to problems they have in their adult lives.
In these cases, a survivor can file a lawsuit up to two years after discovering the abuse or recognizing its impact. An attorney must demonstrate to the court that the survivor could not have filed a lawsuit before their 23rd birthday because they had not processed their experience or recognized the harm it caused.
Survivors can claim expenses for mental health treatment and any physical conditions that they can trace to the abuse. Additionally, they can claim lost wages if the impact of childhood sexual abuse affected their educational or professional success. Survivors are also entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering.
Childhood sexual abuse can have a profound impact on your life. By joining the Georgia youth residential treatment center sexual abuse lawsuits, you can seek compensation for the harm you suffered. Contact Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
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