Chicago Timberline Knolls Lawsuit Attorney
PRACTICE AREAS
The Chicago Timberline Knolls lawsuit attorneys at Curcio & Casciato are committed to ensuring vulnerable populations have experienced legal counsel when pursuing civil lawsuits against alleged perpetrators. Those who suffered from unwanted sexual encounters or were sexually assaulted by staff members at major healthcare companies have the right to compensation. Even if the alleged perpetrator hasn’t been charged with sexually abusing patients, if you or a loved one were residents and a Timberline Knolls staff member subjected you to sexual acts or if you suffered because Timberline Knolls failed to protect you or provide adequate treatment, our personal injury law firm in Chicago, IL, can hold the Timberline staff, the facility itself, or the parent company responsible for Timberline Knolls failure in upholding it’s legal duty.
Our Chicago Timberline Knolls sexual assault lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so victims don’t pay unless we win the case. Call 312-321-1111 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
Why Is Timberline Knolls Closing?
The Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, located in Lemont, Illinois, is closing after widespread sexual abuse allegations surfaced. The company is closing after Timberline Knolls staff members were charged with sexually abusing women who were undergoing treatment, as well as several lawsuits claiming the same. While there have been widespread alleged assaults, Timberline Knolls’ failures repeatedly to protect women and adolescent girls seeking treatment for mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, or eating disorders, are raising concerns for other patients who had previously gone to the mental health center for undergoing treatment.
Meyers & Flowers and Clark Frost Zucchi filed a lawsuit that accused a staff member of repeatedly raping a Jane Doe (24-year old patient). The lawsuit accused staff members of failing to take reasonable action to protect the victim. Furthermore, the Timberline Knolls lawsuit alleges that once Timberline staff discovered this, a staff member work Jane Doe up and falsely accused her of having a “secret affair” with the same employee who repeatedly raped Doe.
In fear, Jane Doe left the residential treatment center after less than two weeks. Meyers & Flowers said that Jane Doe is worse now than before seeking treatment, that the alleged assault has left her mental health damaged.
The residential treatment center allowed harm to continue instead of providing a safe environment. This leads to trauma, suicidal thoughts, and mental health needs that require residential treatment, which went unchecked.
After widespread allegations of sexual misconduct, allegations of other failures to provide adequate care in the residential treatment center surfaced. After public outrage, Acadia Healthcare, the parent company, announced the facility would close.
Even if your abuser hasn’t yet faced criminal charges, a skilled Timberline Knolls sexual assault lawyer at our firm can help victims understand their legal rights, represent their voice, and seek liability for the facility’s failures.
What is the Timberline Knolls Scandal?
The Timberline Knolls scandal involves more than one residential treatment center. The parent company, Acadia Healthcare operates facilities across the nation, many of which have public allegations against them for fraud, negligence, unsafe conditions, starvation, assaults, wrongful death, and vulnerable patients being sexually assaulted and raped repeatedly in Acadia’s mental health facilities.
Former patients, employees, families, and even state investigations have described numerous cases of healthcare negligence. This spans from inadequate staffing, failure to discharge correctly, prolonged residential treatment stays without medical necessity, and failure to follow required processes for those seeking treatment.
Acadia’s mental health treatment centers are the target of many civil lawsuits for allowing Timberline Knolls staff members to take advantage of vulnerable residents, whether by committing fraud, neglecting patients, or suppressing complaints of sexual misconduct.
If you were the victim of childhood sexual abuse or if you were sexually assaulted at Timberline Knolls, contact a Chicago psychiatric malpractice lawyer from our law firm for a free case evaluation.
Prior Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center Sexual Misconduct Allegations
In addition to various lawsuits, Chicago CBS Investigators publicly stated that dozens of 911 calls recorded related to the staff members raping patients and a number of calls related to other crimes and negligence in monitoring sexual misconduct. In the past 5 years, Lemont law enforcement have received eight reports of vulnerable patients reporting forced rapes or that some form of abuse occurred. Sadly, most reports were from adolescent girls. This shows a history of ensuring that exploited patients remain isolated within the residential treatment facility.
If you were repeatedly raped or if another type of abuse occurred while you were seeking treatment, contact a Timberline Knolls lawyer to determine if you can pursue a lawsuit against the facility.
Erick Hampton Timberline Knolls Employee Repeatedly Raped a Mental Health Patient
A new civil lawsuit indicates that Erick Hampton, a prior employee, repeatedly raped a woman who was admitted to the Illinois Timberline Knolls facility for mental health issues including borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and suicidal thoughts. The victim, later identified as Jane Doe, was seeking treatment and a safe environment. Instead of the institution providing mental health services, Doe was the target of alleged assaults on three separate occasions by an employee who was entrusted to provide protection and help while she was undergoing treatment. This lawsuit alleges that Doe told her roommate an employee was sexually abusing her. Instead of physically helping her, not only did the facility fail at offering any type of protection, but a Timberline Knolls staff member also accused the victim of having a “secret affair” and allowed Erick Hampton continued patient access. This includes access to adolescent girls. She left after receiving services from the institution for less than two weeks. There are a growing number of cases like this, with numerous abuse allegations against the facility and its operator, Acadia.
Prior patients, like Jane Doe, are now seeking justice and restitution for the trauma and future harm caused by the misconduct and neglect they endured by being exploited. Our Timberline Knolls lawyer team is dedicated to holding Acadia responsible when their facilities fail to protect vulnerable patients and allowing them to be repeatedly raped or sexually assaulted by their staff.
If you were repeatedly raped or if the mental health center failed to take appropriate measures of protection, a Chicago Timberline Knolls sexual abuse lawyer from our firm can help you pursue a lawsuit against the institution and staff.
Mike Jacksa, Timberline Knolls Counselor, Sexually Abused Six Patients
Mike Jacksa, a prior counselor, has been formally charged with sexually abusing at least six patients at Timberline Knolls in Lemont, Illinois. The allegations triggered more lawsuits. The most well-known lawsuit alleges the sexual acts occurred during private room therapy sessions when Mike Jacksa was a licensed employee entrusted with providing counseling services to young women with serious mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, borderline personality disorders, or substance abuse disorders. The allegations include being sexually assaulted, fondled, and coerced into unwanted sexual acts.
In one case, staff confronted Mike Jacksa in front of his victim. She was then forced to discuss how the abuse occurred and share her concerns with the counselor. The confrontation caused her to attempt suicide. This underscores not only the trauma that the confrontation caused, but also highlights the additional harm caused by the facility’s failure to take appropriate action against employees entrusted with vulnerable individuals in the mental health industry.
Despite early reports, the mental health facility failed to notify law enforcement for three weeks. In the interim, Timberline officials suspended and reinstated Jacksa twice after internal investigations were completed, despite a history of having a gross disregard for patient safety. After police were involved a third time, Mike Jacksa was ultimately fired.
Like other facilities operated by Acadia Healthcare, the Lemont, Illinois mental health center now faces legal action. Our Chicago Timberline Knolls lawyer team can help file a sexual assault lawsuit to seek justice and financial compensation. If you were involved in a sexual encounter or incident of any kind, we’ll help ensure those responsible are held liable for their failure to provide a safe environment for vulnerable individuals seeking treatment.
Who Can Sue Timberline Knolls For Sexual Abuse?
Patients who were raped or experienced abuse of any kind while receiving care at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center in Lemont, Illinois, can pursue civil lawsuits against the facility or it’s operator, Acadia. If you are a former patient who was sexually assaulted by former employees, Mike Jacksa or Erick Hampton, or by any other residents or employees, and you suffered trauma or other forms of harm, our Chicago Timberline Knolls attorney team can help you seek financial compensation.
Additionally, families may be entitled to pursue legal action on behalf of minors or deceased loved ones who were sexually assaulted or raped during their time spent at an Acadia facility.
Even if the abuser wasn’t suspended or there weren’t formal criminal charges brought against them, you still have legal options. Contact an experienced Timberline Knolls sexual abuse lawyer from our legal team for a free case evaluation to understand your rights.
How To File a Timberline Knolls Sexual Assault Lawsuit
If you or a loved one was a resident and suffered sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, a Chicago Timberline Knolls sexual abuse lawyer from our firm can help you pursue a claim. Generally, the legal process involves the following.
First, you’ll contact a Chicago Timberline Knolls sexual abuse lawyer to review your case and determine whether you’re eligible to pursue a claim. Our legal team will gather medical records, facility reports, journal or diary entries, and interview witnesses that help build a strong case. Then, our Chicago Timberline Knolls sexual assault lawyer team will assess the statute of limitations that applies to your specific case under Illinois state law.
From here, our Chicago Timberline Knolls sexual abuse lawyers will pursue legal action on your behalf, seeking compensation for trauma and feelings of being isolated, emotional abuse, and other damages related to your case. We’re dedicated to seeking justice and accountability on behalf of vulnerable patients. We’ll represent you throughout the insurance negotiations and/or trial process, working to ensure all parties bear accountability for their lack of care in protecting vulnerable patients from negligent policies implemented by Acadia employees. Our Chicago sexual abuse attorneys are committed to providing the legal assistance that clients who were sexually assaulted need to secure justice and fair settlements they deserve.
Statute of Limitations Sexual Assault Illinois
The statute of limitations for filing a sexual abuse suit in Illinois depends on the individual’s age at the time of the incident. Survivors over 18 years old generally have two years to pursue a lawsuit. Those pursuing cases for childhood sexual abuse, if needed, can file claims up to 20 years after discovering the incident or their 38th birthday, whichever date is later. Factors, such as mental disabilities or allegations that delay reporting, can extend the statute of limitations.
Because the statute of limitations for sexual abuse allegations is complex, our Timberline Knolls sexual abuse lawyer team encourages survivors to consult with our firm to determine how the time to file applies to their individual case.
Trial Attorneys For Acadia Healthcare Claims in Illinois
The recent lawsuit has exposed a disturbing pattern of systemic issues within Acadia Healthcare facilities, where plaintiffs recount sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and inappropriate behavior involving minors and vulnerable clients. These cases detail how those entrusted with the care of individuals struggling with substance abuse, eating disorders, and self-harm attempts instead caused emotional harm and permitted inappropriate relationships to develop.
As thousands across the country begin discovering the true cost of what occurred, many are now stepping forward to seek answers, hold those liable accountable, and prevent others from experiencing similar trauma. These cases underscore a national reckoning with how these institutions interact with and protect those placed in their trust.
Contact our Chicago Timberline Knolls lawsuit attorneys to see how we can help.
How a Chicago Timberline Knolls Sexual Assault Lawyer Can Help
Our Timberline Knolls sexual assault lawsuit attorney team provides experienced legal support for emotional, physical, and sexual abuse survivors seeking settlements or jury awards for being forced to endure sexual abuse by employees or other patients. Our trial attorneys manage defense communications, file lawsuits within the statute of limitations, and provide fierce advocacy for your rights throughout insurance settlement negotiations or trials.
By filing a sexual abuse claim, survivors can reclaim their power and ensure others don’t face the same pain, trauma, and costs they did.
For a free case evaluation, call 312-321-1111 or fill out our online contact form.
