PHILADELPHIA - Six former residents of juvenile facilities say staff at the Devereux Foundation abused and allowed the abuse to continue.
A lawsuit was filed Dec. 27 against The Devereux Foundation, also known as Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, and QualityHealth Staffing, LLC in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs in the case are Jane Doe 8, Jaime Torres, Jacob Wright, Molly Brandon, John Doe 5 (a minor represented by his parent), and John Doe 6 (also a minor represented by his parent).
The court filing alleges that Devereux failed to provide a safe environment for children under their care and that staff members broke the trust of patients and families. It is claimed that Devereux did not take adequate steps to protect children from abuse.
All plaintiffs allege they were abused in Devereux facilities. Litigation has followed reporting on the issue from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"Plaintiffs bring this lawsuit to hold Devereux accountable for the harm it caused them and to prevent this devastating abuse from happening to any other child in Devereux’s care," the suit says.
The lawsuit includes several causes of action including violation of Title IX, negligence, negligent hiring and retention, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentations, violations of the California Unfair Competition Law by plaintiff Jane Doe 8 against Devereux and violations of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act.
The plaintiffs are represented by Joseph G. Sauder of the Berwyn firm Sauder Schelkopf, as well attorneys from Lieff Cabraser