DETROIT – A new lawsuit alleges a 17-year-old girl admitted to the Detroit Behavioral Institute for treatment was instead repeatedly sexually abused by a staff member, including while being physically restrained.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Jane Doe in the Circuit Court of Wayne County by Gould Grieco & Hensley PLLC.
It alleges DBI’s corporate owner, Acadia Healthcare, ignored and covered up evidence of the abuse, allowing a culture of exploitation to persist for years.
What the lawsuit claims
According to the complaint, the abuse occurred while Doe — then 17 — was a resident of DBI in or around 2015. The lawsuit alleges she was sexually abused by a staff member more than once, including when she was physically restrained. The abuse continued even after her discharge from the facility.
“She was just a child. She was supposed to be getting help. Instead, the worst thing we could imagine happened to her — and she wasn’t the only one,” said GGH Founding Partner Martin D. Gould. “That’s what makes this so disturbing.”
The lawsuit also describes instances where Doe witnessed other minors being abused, alleging an environment where staff engaged in inappropriate relationships with residents and misconduct went unchecked.
Part of a larger pattern
In 2025, GGH filed a separate complaint in the same court on behalf of three additional survivors, who came forward with similar claims of sexual abuse at DBI.
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“When you see repeated complaints, several investigations, and ultimately a shutdown, it points to something bigger,” said GGH Senior Attorney Nicholas Wainwright. “Those warning signs were there. It was chosen not to be addressed.”
The State of Michigan shut down the facility in 2022 following multiple investigations into resident safety.
Corporate model under scrutiny
The lawsuit alleges Acadia Healthcare — one of the nation’s largest behavioral health providers —ignored and concealed the broader pattern of abuse, failed to properly train and supervise staff, and did not implement basic safeguards to protect vulnerable children.
The complaint asserts 12 counts — including negligence, premises liability, and civil conspiracy — and seeks damages for the harm the plaintiff suffered.
Local 4 reached out to Acadia Healthcare multiple times and did not receive a response. In a previous statement, the company said it takes the allegations seriously but called the picture being painted of its facilities inaccurate.