Surprise active shooter drill at children’s psychiatric hospital results in $13M for victims
An active shooter drill has left young patients and staff at a children’s psychiatric hospital in Michigan traumatized, resulting in a $13 million payout to victims as part of a settlement stemming from a class-action lawsuit.
The unannounced active shooter simulation was approved by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), wherein two individuals were instructed to act as armed intruders, breaking into Hawthorn Center, a state-run psychiatric facility, and roam the floors to ensure doors were properly locked and residents and staff had secured themselves.
According to coverage in the Washington Post, Michigan HHS failed to notify staff and local law enforcement that a drill was taking place, resulting in 911 calls, 50 emergency vehicles, and 22 police officers rushing to the hospital after an announcement over the loudspeaker said two shooters had entered the building and fired shots.
The two individuals hired to conduct the drill were subsequently detailed by law enforcement, the report said.
Employees responded by filing a class-action lawsuit in April 2023 against Michigan HHS, citing extreme emotional and psychological harm stemming from the incident. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs also said patients were acting aggressive toward themselves and each other as a result of the chaos.
Multiple employees reportedly quit their jobs after the drill concluded.
According to attorneys representing the plaintiffs, nearly $9 million from the $13 million settlement will be directly distributed to patients and staff as compensation for the “trauma and distress they experienced.”
“We are quite pleased that both the Hawthorn Center and the state of Michigan are being held accountable for their misconduct that endangered vulnerable patients and their caregivers,” said Robin Wagner, one of the attorneys from Pitt Law, said in a statement. “While active shooter drills should be taken seriously, it should not be at the expense of patients’ and staff’s mental wellbeing. We are hopeful this settlement can provide closure for those traumatized on that horrific day.”
The incident was blamed on a single Michigan HHS official, Derek Leppek. He remains employed by the agency and holds similar responsibilities at another state-run hospital, attorneys for the plaintiffs said.
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