Lawsuits
The Troubled Teen Industry has been involved in countless lawsuits, frequently brought forth by survivors or their families. This section will summarize the parties involved, claims made, and outcomes for all the cases we can find.
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Lawsuit: Fuller vs. Hyde School 2025
Class Action Complaint for Child Labor Trafficking and Abuse Who’s Involved Case Details What’s the Case About? Jessica Fuller, a former student, alleges that Hyde School operated as a cult-like system of forced labor and psychological abuse disguised as “character education.” She claims students were emotionally and physically abused, denied medical care, and forced into…
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Lawsuit claims staff at former St. George youth center abused, impregnated teenage girls
Date: 06/10/2025 Facilities mentioned: Red Rock Canyon School Source: KUTV Author: Liv Kelleher Trigger warnings: sexual assault, pregnancy Summary: A civil lawsuit has been filed against the now-closed Red Rock Canyon School and its parent company, Sequel Youth and Family Services, by a former student identified as P.R. The lawsuit alleges that P.R. was sexually abused and impregnated by a…
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Parents sue Utah’s Discovery Ranch over teen’s death
Author: Jessica Schreifels Summary:The parents of 17-year-old Biruk Silvers have filed a lawsuit against Discovery Ranch Academy in Utah, alleging that negligence by staff led to their son’s death in November 2024. Biruk had shared suicidal thoughts with his psychiatrist and disclosed to a therapist that he had engaged in a dangerous behavior involving oxygen…
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Sweidy v. Spring Ridge Academy
Plaintiff: Kimberly Sweidy Defendant: Spring Ridge Academy Location: Arizona District Court Verdict: SRA ordered to pay $2.5 million in punitive damagesStatus: In Appeal Monitor the case here News: FOX 10 Phoenix – October 29, 2024Arizona Mirror – July 15, 2024
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Sherman, et al. v. Trinity Teen Solutions, Et al.
Plaintiffs: Carlie Sherman, Anna Gozun, Amanda Nash, Andrew Scavuzzo, and Ehan Jelinek Defendants: Trinity Teen Solutions, Triangle Cross Ranch, et al. Important Dates Complaint filed: 02/12/2021 Class action status approved: 10/31/2023 Trial Scheduled: 03/17/2025 Documents Click here to read the original complaint. Click here to read the class action status approval.
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Anonymous v. Hyde Connecticut
Plaintiff: Anonymous Defendant: Hyde School at South Woodstock Location: Putnam, CT Important Dates Date filed: 02/19/2021 Trial Scheduled: 05/27/2025 Documents Click here to read the original complaint.Click here to read the amended complaint. Monitor the case here.
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Anonymous v. Vista RTC
Plaintiffs: Anonymous survivors Defendant: Vista RTC Location: Utah Date filed: 03/23/2022 Documents: Click here to read the original complaint News: Salt Lake Tribune – March 23, 2024
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Whitcomb & Clifford v. Chrysalis, Embark Behavioral Health, et al.
Plaintiffs: Oliver Whitcomb and Amy Clifford on behalf of an anonymous survivor Defendants: Chrysalis Therapeutic Boarding School, Embark Behavioral Health, et al. Date filed: 04/25/2023 Location: US District Court for the District of Montana News: Monitor the case here.
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Richardson v. Elevations RTC
Plaintiff: Finn Richardson Defendant: Elevations RTC Date filed: 01/14/2024 Location: Utah 2nd District Court Status: Waiting for trial date News: Salt Lake Tribune – January 15, 2024 Documents: Click here to read the original complaint Click here to read the results of the pretrial hearing on August 5, 2024 Click here to learn more about…
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Shiver V. Southstone Behavioral Health, Acadia Healthcare
Plaintiff: Joshua Shiver Defendants: Southstone Behavioral Health, Acadia Healthcare Location: Halifax County Circuit Court Important Dates: Complaint filed: 06/14/2024 Hearing: 09/05/2024 Documents: Click here to read the original complaint. Click here to read the summons. Click here to read Joshua Shiver’s motion for default judgment.