Residential Treatment Center Lawsuit

Florida Residential Treatment Center Abuse Attorneys

The abuse attorneys at the Senior Justice Law Firm understand residential treatment center litigation, which can be regulation-based and confusing to the average lawyer. In fact, one of our attorneys created landmark appellate case law regarding wrongful injuries inside these treatment facilities. For more on the Townes v. NDA case, click here.

With more than 50 years of combined experience representing victims of abuse and neglect inside long term care facilities, our residential treatment center lawyers can offer unique insight into your case. If your loved one was injured, attacked or wrongfully died inside a residential treatment center, you may have standing to bring a negligence lawsuit against the residential treatment facility. To speak with an experienced facility litigation lawyer now, call us at 1-844-253-8919. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.

So What is a Residential Treatment Center?

Florida separates residential treatment facilities based on two categories: children/adolescents (minors) and adults. FAC Rule 65E.9.002 defines the term as follows:

“Residential treatment center” means a 24-hour residential program, including a therapeutic group home, which provides mental health treatment and services as defined in Section 394.492(5) or (6), F.S., and which is a private for-profit or not-for-profit corporation under contract with the department or the agency. This rule does not change the Chapter 419, F.S., designation of a program as a “community residential home.”

Residential treatment centers house residents inside their facility and owe a statutory duty to provide the appropriate level of care and supervision required by the law.

Since residential treatment centers usually house patients with serious mental illness, the center must be equipped with properly trained staff. There must also be enough nurses, mental health technicians and staff inside the residential treatment facility to care for and supervise these high-risk residents. Failing to provide the right staff members can result is catastrophic consequences, as these patients deserve the attention and supervision the law requires of these facilities.

Residential treatment centers can specialize in different types of mental afflictions; however, common patient mental health issues involve schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse (drug) addiction, eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder and other types of psychiatric disturbances.

Common Injuries Resulting in Residential Treatment Center Lawsuits

Injuries inside residential treatment centers that commonly result in lawsuits include:

• Physical attacks by staff resulting in serious injury
• Physical attacks by other residents/participants
• Sexual assault and rape
• Wrongful death and murder

5 Things You Should Do if Your Family Member was Harmed Inside a Residential Treatment Facility

1. Call the police and open a formal investigation immediately. To do this, use the list of facilities below to locate what city or town the RTC is located in, and call that local police department.
2. Get your family member medical attention immediately. Do not rely on the RTC to use their physician. Get an outside provider or hospital emergency department to evaluate the injuries.
3. Photograph the harm done.
4. Report the potential abuse or neglect to the state. If the incident took place at a Florida residential treatment center, you can report the facility by calling the Florida Department of Children and Families at 1-800-962-2873.
5. Call our residential care facility abuse lawyers now to begin investigating the case. Our lawyers will start gathering documents and obtaining witness statements. Timing is critical so do not delay. We are available now at 1-844-253-8919 and we are happy to help answer your questions in this difficult time.

Your Residential Treatment Facility Abuse Claim

Abuse or neglect injuries inside residential treatment facilities are usually severe, oftentimes even fatal. If your loved one was seriously injured or killed inside a residential treatment facility, speak with our experienced lawyers now. We can begin a no-obligation investigation into why the injury or wrongful death occurred and whether it could have been prevented. Call us now at 1-844-253-8919. The consultation is free.

List of Florida Residential Treatment Centers for Children and Adolescents

List of Florida Residential Treatment Centers for Adults