Holding institutions accountable for negligence and systemic abuse across New Jersey.
Hampton Behavioral Health Center is a private psychiatric hospital located in Westampton, New Jersey. As a prominent facility in the region, it provides a wide array of inpatient and outpatient services, specializing in behavioral health and chemical dependency treatment. The center serves a diverse patient population, including children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and seniors who are often in need of acute psychiatric stabilization and compassionate care.
The facility is owned and operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), one of the nation’s largest providers of hospital and healthcare services. While Hampton Behavioral Health Center’s stated mission is to provide high-quality care to vulnerable individuals, it has recently come under intense scrutiny. As a licensed psychiatric institution, it is subject to state and federal regulations, yet reports suggest a troubling history of regulatory failures and lapses in patient safety that have left many residents at risk. Our attorneys also represent survivors at Hampton Behavioral Health Center.
Hampton Behavioral Health Center and its parent company, Universal Health Services (UHS), are currently facing severe allegations of systemic sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. These claims describe a harrowing environment where patient safety was frequently compromised. Specific allegations involve staff members engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with patients, often through predatory “grooming” techniques or by exploiting the power active under the guise of medical treatment.
The reports are not isolated incidents but part of a broader investigation into UHS facilities. Survivors have detailed the use of excessive physical restraint and seclusion as tools of intimidation rather than medical necessity. A landmark 2024 report by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, titled “Warehouses of Neglect,” described these conditions as endemic to the operating model of such residential treatment centers, where profit margins often took precedence over the well-being of residents.
The victims of abuse at Hampton Behavioral Health Center were primarily vulnerable patients seeking help for mental health challenges or substance abuse. Many of these survivors were children and adolescents enrolled in residential treatment programs. These young residents often arrived at the facility with existing trauma, making them particularly susceptible to exploitation by staff members who were supposed to protect them. Our attorneys also represent cases involving Heritage Oaks.
Demographics of the victims include both male and female patients of various ages. Many of these individuals are now adults who are finally finding the courage to come forward due to changes in New Jersey law. The institutional setting often enabled abuse by isolating victims from their families and creating a culture where reports of misconduct were ignored or suppressed by management.
Numerous civil lawsuits have been filed against Hampton Behavioral Health Center and UHS, with plaintiffs seeking damages for medical expenses, lifelong emotional anguish, and profound pain and suffering. These legal proceedings aim to hold the institution accountable for its failure to maintain a safe environment and for its negligence in hiring and supervising staff.
Settlement and Verdict Examples:
In addition to private lawsuits, regulatory actions are mounting. The two-year U.S. Senate investigation has paved the way for potential Department of Justice assessments regarding civil rights violations under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). Related institutional abuse cases include those involving abuse at The Horsham Clinic.
Liability in these cases extends beyond the individual perpetrators to the organizations that allowed the abuse to occur. Under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability, Hampton Behavioral Health Center and its parent company, Universal Health Services (UHS), can be held responsible for the actions of their employees committed during the course of their employment. Claims of negligent supervision and negligent hiring target the facility’s failure to properly vet staff or respond to known red flags.
Investigations have implicated various employees, including guards, counselors, nurses, and medical staff. In broader UHS-related litigation, individuals such as Dr. Daniel Davidow and psychotherapist Herschel “Mickey” Harden have been named in connection with sexual crimes. Government oversight agencies may also face scrutiny for failing to enforce mandatory standards of care at facilities receiving public funding through Medicaid.
Potential plaintiffs include any individual who was a patient or resident at Hampton Behavioral Health Center and experienced sexual or physical abuse. Eligibility extends to those who were minors at the time of the abuse, as well as adult patients who were victimized due to a lack of institutional supervision. Survivors can file a claim even if their abuser was never criminally charged or is no longer living. Hampton Behavioral Health is one of several psychiatric facilities where our attorneys have documented a pattern of inadequate patient protection and staff misconduct.
The active investigations cover abuse occurring over several decades, with a specific focus on the 1990s through the present day. Families of deceased survivors may also be eligible to file a claim on behalf of their loved one’s estate.
Survivors of institutional abuse may have grounds to pursue civil damages for the harm they endured. These awards can help cover the cost of ongoing treatment and acknowledge the lasting impact of the abuse.
In New Jersey, the Child Victims Act (NJ Stat. § 2A:14-2a) provides significant protections for survivors. If you were abused as a minor, you can file a civil claim until you reach age 55, or within seven years of realizing that the abuse caused you harm. For those abused as adults (18 or older), the statute of limitations is generally seven years from the date of the incident or the date the injury was reasonably discovered. Phillips Law Group’s sexual abuse legal team practice is dedicated to holding institutions accountable.
It is crucial to understand that these deadlines are complex and can vary based on the specifics of your case. New Jersey’s laws are designed to provide survivors with ample time to seek justice, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. You should not assume it is too late to file a claim without consulting an experienced attorney.
National and Institutional Statistics:
Survivors have several legal pathways to pursue justice and accountability:
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