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Yet another for-profit youth treatment center in Alabama is the subject of a lawsuit alleging horrifying abuses and staff indifference.
The lawsuit, filed in Macon County Circuit Court on Tuesday, alleged a 17-year-old identified only as “M.C.” was brutalized physically and emotionally for several months while at Brighter Path Tuskegee, and that instead of intervening, staff at the facility encouraged fights among the residents and spent time gambling with them.
The lawsuit names the facility, its executive director Theresa Mitchell and unnamed defendants. It was filed by the Tommy James Law Firm and Walter McGowan of the firm Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray, Gray & Nathanson. James and his law firm have filed multiple lawsuits against several for-profit youth treatment centers in Alabama, exposing harrowing abuses and troubling staff indifference and complicity.
Tuesday’s filing alleges that M.C. was assaulted on three separate occasions while at the facility, not including other, more minor incidents, and suffered injuries that were left untreated by the staff. Also, it alleges that the staff at Brighter Path refused to intervene and were absent for a near-30 minute brawl in a dorm area.
The lawsuit also alleges that the staff gambled with the underage residents in dice and card games.
“This lawsuit underscores the urgent need for reform,” James said. “The pattern of abuse in these facilities is deeply troubling, and it’s time for real change. The safety and well-being of our children should be the top priority, not profits.”
