Centerpointe Hospital Abuse Lawsuit Investigation [2025 Update]

About CentrePointe Hospital

CenterPointe Hospital is a privately operated psychiatric hospital system in Missouri that provides mental health services for adolescents, adults, and older adults through a network of inpatient and outpatient programs.

The facilities offer inpatient treatment, crisis stabilization, and programming for conditions such as mood disorders, behavioral disturbances, and substance abuse, delivered by teams of mental health professionals employed by the corporate operator.

As part of Missouri’s mental health care landscape, CenterPointe functions much like other private psychiatric providers: patients are admitted during periods of acute need, rely on staff for supervision and safety, and undergo treatment in settings where the hospital controls nearly all aspects of their daily environment.

The system has expanded through acquisitions and corporate restructuring, with multiple campuses now operating under the CenterPointe name.

CenterPointe Hospital locations:

• CenterPointe Hospital – St. Charles (Flagship): St. Charles, MO
• CenterPointe Hospital of Columbia: Columbia, MO
• CenterPointe Behavioral Health System – Kansas City Region (behavioral health network sites)
• Outpatient and satellite treatment programs tied to the St. Louis, Kansas City, and Columbia hubs

This multi-site structure places CenterPointe among Missouri’s larger private psychiatric providers, with clinical and operational decisions influenced not only by on-site staff but also by broader corporate policies and administrative oversight.

History of CenterPointe and Acadia Ownership

CenterPointe Behavioral Health System began as a privately operated network of psychiatric hospitals and outpatient programs in Missouri, gradually expanding its footprint across the state through multiple inpatient facilities and satellite treatment sites.

In late 2021, CenterPointe was acquired by Acadia Healthcare, one of the largest for-profit behavioral health corporations in the country.

The acquisition, completed on December 31, 2021, brought CenterPointe’s Missouri operations, including four inpatient hospitals, dozens of acute-care and substance-use beds, and approximately ten outpatient locations, under Acadia’s corporate control.

After the transaction, CenterPointe’s facilities were absorbed into Acadia’s national network, meaning decisions about staffing, safety protocols, clinical operations, and compliance were shaped not only by local administrators but also by Acadia’s broader corporate structure.

Acadia finances, governs, and ultimately oversees these psychiatric hospitals, positioning the company (not only the individual facilities) as a potential party responsible for systemic issues raised in patient allegations.

Understanding this ownership timeline matters because it helps clarify who may be liable if institutional failures contributed to unsafe conditions or inadequate protections within CenterPointe hospitals.

Abuse Allegations and Reports Under Review

Public records and government inspection reports show that CenterPointe Hospital has faced both formal allegations and regulatory findings related to patient safety and sexual abuse.

In March 2025, a civil lawsuit filed in Boone County Circuit Court alleged that a female patient at CenterPointe Hospital–Columbia was sexually assaulted by another patient in August 2024; the complaint claims CenterPointe and its parent company, Acadia Healthcare, failed to supervise the unit, failed to act on prior reports of sexual misconduct by the assailant, and did not promptly secure a forensic sexual assault exam.

The petition further alleges that Acadia should have known, based on prior reports of assaults at other Acadia facilities, that patients were at risk of harm when supervision and security were inadequate.

Separate from that lawsuit, a 2018 federal inspection of CenterPointe Hospital in St. Charles, Missouri, found that the facility “failed to provide a safe environment” when it did not prevent sexual abuse between two adolescent patients, did not adequately increase supervision of a patient already identified as high-risk for sexual assault, and did not complete required contraband checks.

Surveyors concluded that the hospital also failed to timely report three abuse allegations involving six patients to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and misinterpreted state law about mandatory reporting of child abuse and minor-to-minor sexual contact.

These deficiencies were serious enough that regulators cited the facility for non-compliance with Medicare’s “Patient Rights” condition of participation and determined that the cumulative effect of these practices placed all patients at risk, triggering an “Immediate Jeopardy” finding until a corrective action plan was implemented.

Taken together, the pending Jane Doe lawsuit and prior inspection findings raise questions about whether CenterPointe had effective systems in place to protect patients from peer-to-peer sexual assaults and to respond appropriately when concerns were reported.

At the same time, those materials describe allegations and regulatory determinations about policy failures and under-reporting, not final findings that any broader pattern of sexual abuse has been legally proven across all CenterPointe locations.

The legal investigation into CenterPointe therefore focuses on these documented incidents and regulatory reports while remaining cautious not to overstate their scope, using them instead as indicators that patient safety, supervision, and reporting practices warrant closer legal and factual review.

Patient Safety Issues in Psychiatric Settings

In inpatient settings, people receiving treatment for mental health conditions often have limited control over their surroundings, their movement, and the staff who supervise them.

Many patients are admitted during periods of acute crisis or instability, making it difficult to advocate for themselves or report unsafe experiences.

Because these environments centralize authority among staff members, nurses, and psychiatrists, lapses in supervision or communication can leave vulnerable individuals exposed to harm.

Patients with severe mental health issues may also struggle to recognize risk, communicate boundaries, or seek help when misconduct occurs.

Power imbalances, restricted access to outside support, and reliance on the facility for basic needs can create circumstances in which abuse (whether staff-on-patient or patient-on-patient) goes unnoticed or unaddressed.

When these safety structures fail, the consequences can affect a person’s long-term well-being and shape the course of their lives long after hospitalization.

Common safety vulnerabilities in psychiatric facilities include:

• Inadequate staffing or supervision on high-acuity units
• Failure to monitor patients with known risk factors for aggression or sexual misconduct
• Restricted communication that limits a patient’s ability to seek outside help
• Delayed or incomplete responses to allegations of abuse
• Power imbalances that discourage reporting or disclosure
• Inconsistent application of safety checks, observation levels, or risk assessments

Civil Lawsuit Involving CenterPointe Hospital of Columbia

As we’ve mentioned, a civil lawsuit was filed in Boone County Circuit Court alleging that a female patient, identified as Jane Doe, was sexually assaulted by another patient while hospitalized at CenterPointe Hospital of Columbia on or about August 14, 2024.

The sexual abuse lawsuit names CenterPointe Hospital – Columbia and its parent company, Acadia Healthcare, and asserts multiple counts of negligence, including failure to supervise, failure to warn, and failure to protect the plaintiff from a known risk.

According to the petition, the alleged assailant had a documented history of prior sexual misconduct issues, and the hospital is accused of failing to take appropriate precautions or adjust monitoring to account for that risk before placing the plaintiff in proximity to that patient.

Court filings state that after the incident, Jane Doe was not transported for a sexual assault examination until the following day, when she was taken to University Hospital, where providers purportedly questioned why she had not been brought in immediately.

The lawsuit further alleges that Acadia “should have known,” based on prior reports of assault or abuse at other Acadia facilities, that patients like the plaintiff were at heightened risk when security and supervision were inadequate, and it cites national reporting on alleged safety issues at other Acadia-operated hospitals as context.

The complaint seeks damages for the physical and psychological harm the plaintiff alleges she suffered as a result of the assault, as well as for the facility’s alleged failure to act on warning signs and risk factors.

This case is currently an allegation, not a final judgment, and no court has yet made findings on the merits of the claims.

Still, the detailed allegations about supervision, risk management, and delayed response form a central part of the broader legal review into whether CenterPointe and Acadia adequately protected psychiatric patients in their care.

Legal Rights of Sexual Abuse Survivors in Psychiatric Settings

Survivors of sexual abuse in psychiatric facilities have clear legal rights, even when the abuse occurred in a controlled environment where patients had limited ability to protect themselves or report what happened.

The law recognizes that individuals experiencing acute mental health crises may be especially vulnerable, and that institutional power dynamics can silence victims for years.

Whether the perpetrator was a staff member or another patient, survivors have the right to pursue civil claims if a facility failed to supervise, intervene, or maintain a safe environment.

They also have the right to confidentiality throughout the legal process, which can be especially important for people recovering from trauma.

These rights exist regardless of whether the survivor filed a report during hospitalization or only came forward later in life.

Legal rights may include:

• The right to file a civil claim for sexual assault, harassment, or exploitation
• The right to seek compensation for physical, emotional, and long-term psychological harm
• The right to have allegations investigated without retaliation or dismissal
• The right to access certain medical or facility records related to their care
• The right to pursue claims against both individual perpetrators and the institutions responsible for supervision and safety

Statute of Limitations for Missouri Sexual Abuse Claims

Missouri law provides specific filing deadlines for survivors of sexual abuse, and those timelines differ depending on whether the survivor was a minor or an adult at the time of the assault.

For adult survivors, Missouri generally requires civil sexual abuse claims to be filed within five years of the assault, though certain circumstances (such as repressed memories, delayed discovery of psychological harm, or fraud) may affect how the deadline is calculated.

For childhood sexual abuse, Missouri’s statute is far more flexible: survivors may file a civil lawsuit until age 31, or within three years of the date they discover that their injuries were caused by the abuse, whichever is later.

This “discovery rule” is crucial because many survivors do not understand the connection between past abuse and long-term trauma (including depression, anxiety, or PTSD) until well into adulthood.

Legislative discussions in recent years have also focused on extending or reforming Missouri’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, reflecting a growing understanding of how long it can take survivors to process or disclose what happened.

While those proposed changes have not yet become law, the trend underscores a statewide acknowledgment that traditional deadlines often fail to accommodate the realities of trauma.

Because statutes of limitations can bar a claim permanently once they expire, speaking with an attorney promptly is essential.

A legal review can help determine whether the filing window remains open and how Missouri’s discovery rule may apply to your specific circumstances.

Who May Qualify for a CenterPointe Hospital Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

You may qualify for a sexual abuse lawsuit if you experienced sexual assault, coercion, or inappropriate sexual contact while admitted to any CenterPointe psychiatric facility in Missouri.

Individuals harmed by patient-on-patient abuse may also qualify if inadequate supervision, improper risk assessments, or staffing failures contributed to the incident.

Survivors who reported concerns but felt ignored, dismissed, or discouraged from speaking out may have valid grounds for a claim.

Those who experienced emotional or psychological harm connected to unsafe conditions (even without physical violence) may also be eligible for review.

Former patients who now recognize symptoms such as anxiety, fear, or trauma-related disorders connected to their hospitalization may qualify, even if they did not understand the impact at the time.

Eligibility is not limited to those named in public cases; many survivors never reported harm due to fear, confusion, or the dynamics of psychiatric hospitalization.

Attorneys evaluating these cases will consider the survivor’s experience, the environment of care, and whether the facility’s actions or omissions may have contributed to the harm.

A confidential review can help determine whether your circumstances align with the patterns currently under investigation.

Evidence and Documentation in CenterPointe Cases

Evidence in psychiatric-facility abuse cases often looks different from what people expect, especially when the events occurred inside locked units where patients had little control over communication or access to documentation.

Many survivors were experiencing acute mental health crises during hospitalization, which can make memory, reporting, or immediate documentation difficult.

The absence of physical evidence does not weaken a potential case; instead, attorneys rely on institutional records, staff documentation, and contextual information to understand what happened.

Personal testimony, even years later, can be highly significant when paired with facility records or regulatory findings that reflect patterns of supervision issues or safety failures.

Potential evidence may include:

• Incident reports, safety logs, and internal investigation documents
• Nursing notes, progress notes, and patient observation records
• PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) documentation, when applicable
• Emails, shift reports, or communications among staff
• Staffing schedules and risk-assessment documents
• Witness statements from former patients or employees
• State inspection findings or federal regulatory reports
• Medical records reflecting injuries, behavioral changes, or trauma response
• Court filings or criminal case materials involving staff or patient misconduct

Compensation and Damages for Survivors

Attorneys help survivors evaluate and calculate damages by examining how the abuse affected their physical health, emotional well-being, and long-term stability.

They review medical and psychiatric records, speak with mental health providers, and assess how trauma has influenced relationships, work, education, and daily functioning.

Lawyers also look at the institutional context (including supervision failures or reporting gaps) to determine how those factors contributed to the harm.

In some cases, expert evaluations are used to quantify future treatment needs or the impact of conditions such as PTSD or anxiety disorders.

This comprehensive process allows attorneys to identify the full scope of losses and pursue compensation that reflects the survivor’s lived experience and ongoing needs.

Potential damages may include:

• Costs of therapy, counseling, and long-term psychiatric treatment
• Medical expenses related to injuries or trauma
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Loss of earning capacity or interference with education
• Diminished quality of life
• Trauma-related conditions requiring lifelong care
• Costs associated with relocation or safety measures
• Punitive damages in cases involving severe negligence or institutional misconduct

TorHoerman Law: Investigating Abuse Claims in Missouri Psychiatric Institutions

The concerns raised in Missouri’s private psychiatric hospitals highlight the critical importance of protecting patients who rely on these facilities during periods of acute vulnerability.

When abuse, unsafe supervision, or institutional failures occur in inpatient psychiatric settings, the effects can reshape a person’s emotional health, stability, and long-term well-being.

TorHoerman Law is actively reviewing allegations involving CenterPointe Hospital and other Missouri facilities to determine whether lapses in oversight or safety exposed patients to preventable harm.

Our investigation focuses on understanding what happened, identifying potential systemic issues, and ensuring that survivors have a path to accountability if misconduct or negligence played a role.

If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse, unsafe conditions, or other harm in a Missouri psychiatric facility, you can contact TorHoerman Law for a confidential, no-cost legal consultation.

Our team can help you understand your rights, evaluate whether a potential claim exists, and discuss the next steps in seeking justice.