A lawsuit filed in Michigan last week claims a 15-year-old girl incarcerated for a mental illness was “encouraged” by staff to assault another patient, a 10-year-old boy.
The lawsuit was brought by the girl’s mother on her behalf. It follows a previous lawsuit filed by the mother of the young boy.
According to coverage in the Detroit News, both juveniles were residents at the Walter Reuther Psychiatric Hospital, under the supervision of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The case centers on an incident that occurred on Oct. 18, 2023, employees at Walter Reuther unlocked and opened a door separating older kids from younger ones, then encouraged the 15-year-old girl to attack the boy, the plaintiffs said.
Surveillance footage shows staff watching as the girl stomps on the boy’s head until another staff member intervenes. The boy stands afterwards but stumbles and falls.
This new lawsuit is seeking $50 million on behalf of the girl, who attorneys claim was manipulated by staff and used as an enforcer for bad behavior. She was at the psychiatric hospital for nearly two years, her mother said. She is now being treated at a new location.
The mother of the boy is seeking $100 million in damages on behalf of her son.
More details on the story can be found by reading the story from Detroit News at the link below.
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