Acadia Healthcare Lawsuit for Abuse in Mental Health Facilities [2025 Update]

Acadia Healthcare Lawsuit for Abuse in Inpatient Behavioral Health Facilities: Overview

The Acadia Healthcare company markets itself as a leader in the behavioral health system, operating psychiatric hospitals, residential programs, and inpatient facilities across the country.

Yet recent lawsuits and investigations reveal a troubling record of abuse, neglect, and systemic failures at facilities operated by Acadia.

Survivors have come forward with reports of sexual assaults and inappropriate behavior by staff members, often occurring in the very places where patients were sent for safety and mental health treatment.

State regulators, local media, and the federal government have all taken action in response to persistent problems at these facilities, citing violations of patient rights and breakdowns in oversight.

Allegations range from patient-on-patient assaults to direct abuse by health care providers who were supposed to protect those in their care.

Some survivors have chosen to sue Acadia Healthcare, seeking accountability through the courts and financial compensation for the harm they endured.

These cases are further complicated by questions about whether the company’s drive for profit undermined patient safety, a concern echoed by government reports and advocacy groups.

The pattern of abuse and regulatory scrutiny places Acadia alongside other large corporations accused of exploiting vulnerable populations under the guise of treatment.

Active and past developments in sexual abuse cases against Acadia Healthcare include:

• Closure of Timberline Knolls (Illinois) in February 2025 following a civil lawsuit alleging repeated rape of a patient by a staff member.
• Lawsuits in Indiana against Options Behavioral Health after reports of multiple patient-on-patient sexual assaults.
• New litigation in Georgia (2025) targeting Riverwoods Behavioral Health, where former teen patients reported abuse by staff and peers.
• Lawsuits and regulatory actions in Michigan tied to Harbor Oaks Hospital and Detroit Behavioral Institute, alleging years of sexual and physical abuse.
• Closure of Highland Ridge Hospital (Utah) in 2024 after repeated sanctions for failing to protect patients from sexual assaults.

While some cases have resulted in a civil settlement agreement or facility closures, many survivors continue to pursue claims to hold the Acadia Healthcare company accountable.

State regulations have forced certain facilities to make changes, but consistent failures across multiple regions suggest deeper problems within the behavioral health system.

For survivors, filing a lawsuit is not just about compensation, it is about creating change in the way mental health treatment is delivered.

Taking legal action can shed light on abusive practices and help ensure that health care providers face real consequences for misconduct.

Families should understand that they may have the right to sue Acadia Healthcare for damages connected to abuse, neglect, or systemic negligence in facilities operated by the company.

If you or a loved one suffered harm in an Acadia facility, you may be entitled to financial compensation and should speak with a lawyer about your options today.

Other Investigations and Lawsuits Against Acadia Healthcare Company

Beyond sexual abuse cases, Acadia has faced high-profile investigations and civil actions that point to broader risks in its mental health care operations.

In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $19.85 million resolution of False Claims Act allegations that Acadia submitted false claims to government healthcare programs for medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services and services that did not meet federal and state regulations.

The press release specifically names Park Royal Hospital (FL), North Tampa Behavioral Health (FL), Lakeview Behavioral Health and Riverwoods (GA), Harbor Oaks (MI), and Seven Hills Hospital (NV), and details allegations that facilities failed to provide adequate discharge planning, required individual and group therapy, and other active treatment, while also maintaining improper and excessive lengths of stay.

Separate investigative reporting has examined allegations that some Acadia hospitals held patients longer than medically necessary, including tactics that made it difficult for patients to leave once stabilized.

A New York Times investigation described patterns of detaining patients “against their will,” with specific examples tied to North Tampa Behavioral Health, and documented law-enforcement and inspector findings related to Lakeview Behavioral Health.

Earlier, the Tampa Bay Times found that North Tampa “exploited” Florida’s Baker Act by filing petitions that extended stays and billing, even when judges rarely granted those petitions.

These accounts provide independent detail on practices that can jeopardize patient well-being and inflate costs.

States also recovered funds connected to the DOJ matter, with Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating in multistate negotiations.

For example, the Georgia Attorney General reported a state share tied to the settlement and credited the NAMFCU team, while HHS-OIG emphasized protecting taxpayer dollars and safeguarding enrollees in federal programs.

Finally, Congress has examined conditions in residential treatment settings run by large for-profit operators, including Acadia.

A June 2024 U.S. Senate Finance Committee report described systemic harms in youth residential facilities and called for reforms to better protect children placed in these programs.

That federal review, alongside the DOJ resolution and state actions, forms a consistent picture: repeated questions about whether Acadia’s facilities are meeting legal standards while prioritizing patient well-being in practice.

Sexual Abuse Allegations in Acadia Healthcare Facilities

Survivors from multiple Acadia facilities have described deeply traumatic experiences during inpatient treatment, reporting sexual assaults by staff members and abusive co-patients in settings intended to heal.

At Timberline Knolls (IL), a patient alleges she was raped three times by an aide entrusted with her care, only to find staff ignoring her pleas and labeling the abuse as a “secret affair.”

Former residents at Options Behavioral Health (IN) recount being drugged into submission, physically assaulted, or held against their will in order to maximize profit.

Across these institutions, persistent understaffing, negligent hiring of those with violent criminal histories, and a lack of meaningful oversight created conditions where inappropriate behavior could flourish unchecked.

The common thread is a system that prioritized occupancy and revenue over patient well-being, leaving many victims feeling silenced and betrayed.

These allegations are supported by lawsuits, investigative reporting, and state records, suggesting systemic failure rather than isolated incidents.

Reported forms of abuse include:

• Repeated rape or sexual assault by staff (e.g., Timberline Knolls aide assaulting a patient multiple times under the guise of care)
• Sexual assault or exploitation by other patients in mixed‑gender wards with inadequate supervision (e.g., at Options Behavioral Health)
• Drugging or forced sedation used to control patients, including cocktails like “B‑52,” bypassing less restrictive de‑escalation techniques
• Failure to remove or supervise known sex offenders, enabling them to abuse vulnerable patients
• Institutional minimization or mischaracterization of abuse reports, where patients reporting assaults were punished or disbelieved

These stories reveal a disturbing pattern: institutions that failed to protect those most in need, placing financial metrics over human safety.

Many survivors faced not only the trauma of abuse but additional emotional damage from being disbelieved or blamed when seeking help.

Lawsuits continue to emerge as victims and families pursue justice and accountability from Acadia Healthcare Company.

Lawyers emphasize institutional recklessness, not just individual misconduct, which spotlight broader lapses in training, supervision, and culture.

These lawsuits are a call for fundamental change, demanding that future mental health care centers truly prioritize healing over profit.

Acadia Healthcare Facilities Under Investigation for Abuse

Acadia Healthcare operates a vast network of behavioral health facilities spanning multiple states, with sexual abuse investigations surfacing in the Midwest, South, and beyond.

The breadth of allegations, from forced drugging to rape and inappropriate behavior, reflects systemic vulnerabilities in Acadia-controlled psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment centers.

Media reports, formal lawsuits, and regulatory probes have targeted facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, among others.

Facilities currently under investigation or named in abuse litigation include:

• Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center (Illinois): Multiple lawsuits alleging repeated staff sexual assault; central to Senate investigative reports
• Options Behavioral Health Hospital (Lawrence, Indiana): Facing numerous lawsuits, including claims of forced drugging, sexual assault, and detention of children
• Detroit Behavioral Institute (Michigan): Several survivors suing over sexual abuse by a supervisor and institutional cover‑ups
• Southwood Psychiatric Hospital (Pennsylvania): Minors have filed suit alleging long‑term sexual abuse by staff and counselors
• Lakeland Behavioral Health (Springfield, Missouri): Ongoing representation of survivors reporting harm at this youth facility
• Additional facilities raising concern include The Pavilion in Illinois, Riverwoods (GA), and Mt. Regis Center (VA) among an extensive list of locations nationwide flagged by abuse survivors

While these facilities span multiple states, TorHoerman Law is currently focusing on claims originating from Illinois and Missouri, where legal initiatives are actively underway.

However, we believe that every survivor’s experience deserves to be heard.

No matter where the abuse occurred, we want to hear your story.

Do You Qualify for a Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Acadia Healthcare?

Individuals who suffered sexual assaults, inappropriate behavior from staff members, or abuse by other patients in facilities operated by the Acadia Healthcare company may qualify to file a lawsuit.

Survivors who were minors at the time of the abuse often have extended legal rights, as many states allow delayed filing windows for child sexual abuse cases.

Adults who endured sexual misconduct while receiving inpatient treatment or residential care also may have legal claims depending on the circumstances.

Evidence can include medical records, witness testimony, prior complaints against staff, or documented failures to follow state regulations.

Even if the abuse happened years ago, changes in the law and recent lawsuits have opened new opportunities for victims to come forward.

Families of deceased victims may also have the right to pursue claims on behalf of their loved ones.

In many cases, lawsuits seek both accountability and financial compensation for the trauma survivors experienced.

Speaking with an attorney experienced in abuse litigation is the best way to determine if you can sue Acadia Healthcare.

If you or a loved one were sexually abused while receiving care at an Acadia Healthcare facility, you may be eligible to take legal action.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

Use the chat feature on this page for a confidential case evaluation.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

Survivors of sexual abuse in Acadia facilities may be entitled to recover damages through civil lawsuits.

These damages are intended to address both the immediate and long-term impact of abuse, from medical costs to the lasting emotional harm caused by trauma.

Courts recognize that the effects of sexual assault extend beyond physical injuries, often disrupting education, employment, and relationships.

By seeking damages, survivors and their families can hold the Acadia Healthcare company accountable while pursuing financial compensation that reflects the severity of their suffering.

Potential recoverable damages include:

• Medical expenses related to physical injuries and ongoing health care
• Costs of mental health treatment, including therapy, counseling, and medication
• Pain and suffering associated with trauma and emotional distress
• Loss of income or reduced earning capacity caused by the abuse
• Loss of enjoyment of life and damage to personal relationships
• Punitive damages aimed at holding Acadia accountable for systemic negligence

TorHoerman Law: Investigating Acadia Healthcare Lawsuit Claims

The growing number of lawsuits against Acadia Healthcare demonstrates the urgent need for accountability across its psychiatric hospitals and behavioral health facilities.

Survivors have come forward with devastating accounts of sexual assaults, inappropriate behavior by staff members, and systemic neglect that endangered patient safety.

At TorHoerman Law, we are committed to thoroughly investigating these claims and helping victims pursue justice against one of the largest mental health care providers in the country.

If you or a loved one were abused in an Acadia facility, you may have the right to sue Acadia Healthcare for financial compensation.

Our legal team can guide you through the process, explain your rights, and build a case tailored to your circumstances.

Contact TorHoerman Law today to share your story and learn more about your options for holding Acadia accountable.