Recently, there have been claims that sexual abuse was happening in Lakeside Academy, a residential treatment center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which is now closed. The institution provided care for juveniles who were considered at risk. Many of them were referred to the facility by the state for rehabilitation and behavioral services.

Instead of care, however, some children were reportedly subjected to sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. Keep reading to learn more about Lakeside Academy sexual abuse lawsuits. But first, let’s start with the background of the institution.

Background of Lakeside Academy
Lakeside Academy was operated by Sequel Youth and Family Services, a company that has numerous residential treatment centers across the United States. The facility held youth aged between 12 and 21 years.

In 2020, Lakeside Academy had its license revoked by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services following the death of a 16-year-old resident, Cornelius Fredericks. Cornelius was restrained after throwing a sandwich in the cafeteria.

The victim was held down for 12 minutes before being released. Cornelius ended up suffering a cardiac arrest and passing away two days later. Witnesses said Fredericks shouted that he couldn’t breathe but they ignored these pleas. The death was ruled a homicide and a $100 million civil right lawsuit was filed against Sequel Youth and Family Services.

Lakeside Academy Sexual Abuse Allegations
Several former students have made allegations of staff sexual abuse when they were children at Lakeside Academy. One of the most serious allegations is the story of a 14-year-old boy from the Detroit area who was sexually assaulted three times by a male youth counselor, Kimeon Tyrone Bolden, who was 27 at the time.

The counselor faced three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Kimeon's identity was not initially made public to protect the victim's anonymity. However, he was later exposed and charged with the crimes. Even though this story happened back in 2009, it shows just how long residents of the facilities had been facing sexual abuse.

Civil lawsuits that are arising from these claims allege that Sequel Youth and Family Services failed to properly screen, train, and monitor its employees. This created a dangerous environment where abuse could go undetected. Additionally, the secretive nature of the institution made it hard for victims to report the abuse.

According to these lawsuits, the company allegedly knew about the abuse. Some argue that it was their responsibility to have known of the risk posed by some of its employees and they failed to take proper measures to protect the children in their care.

Why Survivors Are Coming Forward After Many Years
One of the reasons that victims of abuse at Lakeside Academy are coming forward now is the change in the law in Michigan about the statute of limitations of child sexual abuse cases.

Under the current Michigan law, the victims of child sexual abuse can file civil claims until they are 28 or within three years of discovering the abuse and its impact. If the abuse happened while the survivor was under 18, the clock does not start to run until they reach age 18.

New legislative attempts have tried to extend or to completely remove such limits because of high-profile abuse scandals. Although not all suggested changes have been enacted into law.

It is important for survivors to contact experienced attorneys, as the specific timing and any exceptions may be limited to certain situations. Legal authorities may help determine whether a case is still viable within current statutes.

Conclusion
The Lakeside Academy lawsuit shows the need to protect vulnerable teenagers in treatment facilities. They also represent why extensive reforms are necessary to ensure that treatment centers like Lakeside Academy provide secure conditions for rehabilitation.