Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Residential treatment centers serve vulnerable populations in different communities across the United States. These inpatient and outpatient facilities often help those facing mental health issues, addiction, or behavioral challenges. However, there have also been several Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital sexual abuse lawsuits. 

Staff at these facilities are responsible for providing safe environments that deliver quality care and adhere to professional standards. Failing to meet this expectation could place patients in danger of negligence, abuse, malpractice, or even sexual abuse.

Under state and federal laws, patients in residential treatment centers have certain rights, including the right to quality care, the right to maintain dignity, and the right to be protected from harm.

A Michigan residential treatment center abuse attorney from Injury Lawyer Team can help victims of abuse or negligence and their families seek compensation for their suffering. Together, we can pursue justice and hold the at-fault party accountable for negligence or abuse.

About Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital

Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital provides comprehensive psychiatric care and mental health care for children, adolescents, and adults in a secure therapeutic environment. Here’s the Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital profile:

Overview

Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital is a residential treatment center in Ferndale, Michigan. It has 100 licensed beds and is located at 10300 W 8 Mile Road, Ferndale, MI 48220.

Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital provided a full spectrum of services for those with mental health challenges, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal thoughts, and substance use. Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital served children, adolescents, and adults for more than 40 years.

This residential treatment center has permanently closed. However, a new center has replaced it: Henry Ford Behavioral Health Hospital. It’s the company with a slightly different name, and they get a do-over on their reputation if you don’t know about the name change. 

It’s critical to remember Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital’s abuse lawsuits when it comes to the new name as well. This is the name of the parent company that owns various centers. The accusations of recent years shed light on what may be happening statewide. 

Who Owns Henry Ford Kingswood?

The legal business name for this facility is Henry Ford Health Kingswood Hospital. It is owned by the Michigan-based parent company, Henry Ford Health System, which operates 550 healthcare facilities across the state, including behavioral centers, hospitals, urgent care centers, and emergency rooms.

Are There Notable Legal Actions Against Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital?

Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital is responsible for upholding patient rights. When those rights are violated and patients are subjected to abuse, negligence, or other forms of harm, the facility and its staff are often held responsible.

There are numerous instances of abuse or neglect occurring at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital, some of which have led to lawsuits against the facility. Here are some notable legal issues affecting children, teens, and adults at this hospital on West Eight Mile Road.

Young Male Patient Sexually Assaulted By Roommate at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital

The victim in question was an 11-year-old boy named Dayton Ackley. The lawsuit was filed by his friend, Rick Ackley. When Dayton was 11, he was admitted to Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital.

After two days, his roommate, another minor named Braylon Banks, threatened to assault him sexually. Ackley reported the threat to hospital staff and was promised a transfer. However, Banks carried out his threat later that day.

Filed with the help of Michigan sexual abuse lawyers, the lawsuit claims that the hospital staff tampered with evidence before an investigation could be conducted.

In the claim, the plaintiff attempts to charge Banks with assault and battery and Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital with ordinary negligence for failing to protect Ackley from sexual assault after the threat had been reported.

State Review Reveals Alarming Rate of Abuse Allegations at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services compiled a statistical analysis of abuse and neglect in healthcare facilities across the state. While many facilities were included, the numbers for Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital were troubling.

From October 1, 2019, to March 30, 2020, there were 3,556 admissions to this facility. During this time, 257 allegations of abuse or neglect were reported. Thirty-two investigations revealed 11 substantiated allegations. However, 255 interventions were made to address these issues.

The types of violations reported in this study include abuse, medical negligence, and sexual abuse. The numbers reflect a troubling reality in Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital and other Michigan facilities: patients are not always protected from abuse and neglect by the staff.

Henry Ford Health Pays Settlement Due to Not Providing Quality Service For Deaf Patient

A deaf male patient and his two sisters were admitted to Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital. The facility failed to provide a sign language interpreter, thereby preventing the patient and his family from adequately communicating with hospital staff. As a result, the patient issued a complaint with the government, citing the Americans with Disabilities Act.

After an investigation, it was determined that the Henry Ford Health System was not providing adequate auxiliary aids for deaf or hard-of-hearing patients. The parent company paid a $70,000 settlement and was required to change its patient service policies.

What Did Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital Find?

Residential treatment centers across the country are regularly inspected for deficiencies. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides the public with information from these inspections, allowing them to analyze which facilities are more effective.

Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital has had its fair share of deficiencies from recent inspections. Here are some weaknesses identified in recent years, particularly relative to state or national averages.

• Only 51% of patients with alcohol use disorders received a brief intervention during their inpatient stay, compared to the national average of 77%.
• Only 40% of patients who screened positive for an alcohol or drug use disorder either received medication for treatment or a referral for addiction recovery upon discharge, compared to the national average of 61%.
• Only 48% of patients who use tobacco received or refused medication to help them quit and received or refused counseling to help them quit, compared to the national average of 71%.
• Patients spent 0.22 hours in seclusion per 1,000 hours of patient care, compared with the state average of 0.12 hours.
• 20.6% of patients were readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of discharge from the residential treatment center, compared with the national average of 19.6%.

What Laws Govern Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital Sexual Abuse Cases?

Laws governing legal actions arising from improper conduct at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital in Michigan focus on statutory duties regarding patient safety, reporting requirements, and deadlines for filing a civil action.

Mental Health Code

The state’s Health Code sets standards for care in psychiatric and behavioral centers. Under MCL 330.1722, a recipient of mental illness services shall not be subjected to harmful treatment or conditions and may seek legal remedies when those standards are breached. 

Child Protection Law for Minors

When the matter involves a person under 18, Michigan’s Protection Law (Act 238 of 1975) defines prohibited conduct toward minors and requires certain professionals and facility personnel to tell authorities about suspected incidents to the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Statutes of Limitations

Deadlines for filing a lawsuit in such situations are governed by deadlines in the Revised Judicature Act. Under this statute, a civil action based on criminal sexual conduct that occurred during minority may be brought before whichever is later of: (a) the survivor’s birthday, or (b) within three years after discovering the causal link between the injuries and the abusive conduct. This extended period recognizes the unique circumstances in many of these cases where the harm or its connection to abuse is not discovered until years later.

Together, these statutes establish the legal framework for addressing improper conduct at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital, defining duties of care, reporting requirements, and the timeframes for pursuing legal action.

What Rights Do Victims Have?

Every patient has rights protected by state and federal laws while in a residential treatment center. Whether your right to quality care, dignity, or protection from harm is violated,

Injury Lawyer Team can help you hold the at-fault party responsible. Together, we will pursue compensation for legal damages, including lost income, medical expenses, future medical expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

You have a set amount of time to file your claim due to the statute of limitations. For sexual abuse cases involving criminal conduct, you have up to seven years after you realize you were sexually abused to file the claim. For personal injury, you have three years. Medical malpractice claims have a shorter time frame of two years.

Hiring an experienced attorney at a residential treatment facility abuse firm is key to succeeding in your lawsuit. You should find an attorney who has worked on cases similar to yours.

For example, if you suffered sexual abuse at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital, you should work with a legal team with experience in this subject. The same applies to surgical, medication, and medical negligence errors.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

The residential treatment center on West Eight Mile Road has not consistently met professional standards for all patients. If you suffer abuse, negligence, or harm at this hospital, you can hold them accountable while pursuing compensation. Injury Lawyer Team is ready to help.

We offer a free consultation, during which you can ask questions about your case and learn more about the legal process, including the investigation. An experienced attorney will provide all the answers you need before making a decision.

Our team also works on a contingency-fee basis with our clients so that you won’t pay any legal fees upfront for our services. Instead, your lawyer will only receive payment if they recover a settlement on your behalf. This arrangement minimizes the financial burden on clients who are already suffering from abuse or negligence.

If you would like to speak with a professional attorney at Injury Lawyer Team, call or complete the online form to request a free consultation today

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.