Missouri has made national news in recent years due to allegations of abuse at “troubled” teen treatment centers. The Circle of Hope Girls Ranch near Humansville, Missouri, Agape Boarding School in Stockton, Missouri, Lighthouse Christian Academy near Piedmont, Missouri, all face allegations of abuse. As a Kansas City personal injury lawyer who has handled child and teen abuse cases in Missouri, here are a few causes of action under Missouri law that I think apply to these types of cases.
Understanding Intentional Torts: False Imprisonment, Assault, and Battery
These three causes of action are called intentional torts. This is because on of the elements of each claim is that the wrongdoer intended to cause harm. For false imprisonment, one must prove that the wrongdoer intentionally restrained the victim against their will. For assault, one must prove the wrongdoer intentionally scared the victim into thinking they will be harmed. For battery, the intention must be to strike the victim. While seemingly easy to prove in the context of these cases, the problem with these causes of action is that there is rarely any insurance to cover the claims.
Premises Liability in Teen Treatment Center Abuse Cases
Unlike intentional torts, premises liability cases do not require the wrongdoer act intentionally. This means that the claim is most likely covered by insurance, which is almost always better than an uninsured claim. To prove a premises liability claim, the victim must show that there was a dangerous condition on the property and the wrongdoer knew or could have known about it in time to fix it or warn about it. In the context of teen treatment center cases, the premises claim could be for poor living conditions, subpar equipment, or physical defects with the property.
The Role of Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress in Abuse Claims
Another claim in these types of cases that would also likely be covered by insurance is negligent infliction of emotional distress. For this, the victim must prove the wrongdoer knowingly created an unreasonable risk of emotional distress. This seems to be the core mission of “troubled” teen treatment centers and is an obvious choice for causes of action against them.
Seeking Justice: Legal Help for Victims of Teen Center Abuse
If you or a loved have been the victims of abuse at a “troubled” teen treatment center and are curious about a claim for money compensation for your injuries, please contact my firm of Kansas City personal injury lawyers. We have the expertise and experience to maximize the value of our case.
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