|
|
|
Alleged
|
|
when
|
when
|
when
|
|
|
|
Plaintif(s)
|
Defendent(s) |
Nature
|
where
|
occur
|
filed
|
resolvd
|
Judgment
|
ref
|
|
Lulu Corter |
Dr. Miller
Newton (formerly national clinical director
Straight, Inc); Kids of North Jersey, and his
psychiatrists |
child abuse |
Newark, NJ |
|
|
July 2003 |
$6,500,000 settlement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rebecca Erlich |
Dr. Miller
Newton (formerly national clinical director
Straight, Inc); Kids of North Jersey, and his
psychiatrists |
child
abuse |
Newark, NJ
|
|
|
1998
|
$4,500,000
settlement |
1
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
Lucy
|
She had
already been placed in SAFE on 3 separate
Marchman Acts for observation. She escaped was
now 18, and her dad , an attorney, tried to
force her back in on 4th Marchman Act.
|
Pinellas
Cty, Fl |
2000
|
|
|
Magistrate
denied Marchman Act commitment |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
G. T. and
J. P. old comers at Growing Together--a
Straight-descendent program |
in an
apparent un-official rite of passage called the
Naked Crusader, four old comers tried to orally
sodomize a newcomer, masturbated on his back.
criminal # for G. T. 97028770MMD02 |
West Palm
Beach, Fl |
1997
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Straight-Cincinnati |
sensory
deprivations, sexual confessions, kids sitting
in own defecation, kids carving on self. Atty.
Richard Doyle 606-431-5683 , Cincinnati, led 3
year investigation. |
Ohio
|
|
|
|
Straight
voluntarily closed on day of trial. Strangely,
today Kids Helping Kids of Cincinnati --a
Straight descendent program operates out of old
Straight -Cincinnati facility |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Growing
Together. State investigation found that a GT
client warned that he might commit suicide but
his counselors thought he just wanted
attention. The client did commit suicide and
the state concluded that the client may still be
alive had his warning been taken seriously
|
West Palm
Beach, Fl |
1986
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straight
President Walter Loebenberg and Straight Exec
Dir Bernadine Braiwaite |
while
officers of Pembroke Pines Gen Hospital, prior
to Straight, failed to pay back appx. $950K of
Medicaid money. |
federal
court, Tampa, Fl |
|
|
|
out come
not known |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Straight
counselor Arthur Nichol, age 40 |
rape of
two male teenagers, a Straight client and his
friend |
Pinellas
Cty |
|
|
8-29-91 7
years prison |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
George
Ross of Possibilities Unlimited--a Straight
descendent program. Prosecutors announced they
would seek jail time. |
While
Miller Newton is the highest Straight or former
Straight official to pay out the highest civil
award against a Straight or a Straight-like
program, Dr. George Ross, Straight's former
national education director, is the highest
Straight or former Straight official to ever be
prosecuted in a criminal court. (Miller Newton
settled with the federal government by paying
$45,000 for 254 fraudulent insurance claims in
return for not being criminally prosecuted.)
Ross was tried in Aug 1985 for physically
holding kids in his program. Originally 5
people made charges against him but the judge
dismissed 2 immediately. One of Ross' character
witnesses was Helen Petermann, Straight's former
clinical director, who herself has been accused
of abuse. |
Fayette
Cty, Ky |
|
|
1986
|
Prosecutors were Phil Maloney and a Mr. Giles.
Ross' attorney was the former states attorney.
Ross was acquitted. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Doe
|
Straigh-Springfield, et al |
Minor
alleged was spat upon and not allowed to wipe
off spit untill he admitted he admitted he was a
drug addict. He escaped and was run down and
beaten by Straight old comers until a Virginia
State trooper interceded. |
Fairfax
County, Va. |
7-91
|
|
|
Attorney
Sandra Havrlik, of Fairfax County handled his
case. Disposition is unknown. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Columbia
Mgt, Inc |
Straight,
Inc. |
Straight
sued by its landlord sued for failure to pay
$42,726.31 in rent. |
Columbia,
MD District Court. |
|
2-18-92
|
|
unknown
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fairfax
Food Services and Caterers |
Straight,
Inc. |
Straight
sued by a Pizza company for owing a $17,177.72
pizza bill. |
Fairfax
County |
|
c. 91 |
|
"discontinued and stricken" |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christi
Fortson |
Straight
Dallas |
False
imprisonment, physical and emotional abuse, she
was "frightened, humiliated, embarrassed, and
suffered severe physical pain and emotional
anguish" |
Dallas
|
|
1991
|
|
Defended
by D. Gerry Orth of Chappel and Handy, 1800 City
Center Tower Two 301 Commerce St, Fort Worth
76102-4118, 817-332-1800. Outcome unknown.
|
|
|
Michael
Daniels |
Straight-Saint Petersburg |
sued for
driving him insane |
|
|
|
c. 1988
|
Daniels
lost |
|
|
Bill Fager |
Straight-Springfield |
sued for
abusing him and driving him insane |
|
|
|
1993 |
Fager lost |
|
|
Straight
Dallas |
Tempie
Worthy (mother of Christi Fortson) |
a gag suit
to keep the mother from sounding off at protests
of the Straight facility |
Dallas
|
|
1991
|
|
see
Christi Fortson |
|
|
Sherri
Slaughter |
Straight
Dallas |
kidnapped
|
Dallas
|
|
c91
|
|
her atty
asking $5 million. She independently settled
for $2,000. |
|
|
Frank L.
Giocondo |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # SC316584 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
9-22-88
|
|
|
|
|
Khachik
Toomian |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # B029996 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
9-30-88
|
|
dismissed
with prejudice 1-4-91 |
|
|
Harriet I.
Hermann |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # SC319545 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
12-30-88
|
|
|
|
|
Richard A.
Hermann |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # SC319545 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
12-30-8?
|
|
Richard
Hermann awarded $1303 plus $26 cost of court on
2-7-89 |
|
|
Rykoff
Sexton, Inc. |
Kids of
Southern California |
small
claims case # B041973? |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
8-24-89
|
|
dismissed
with prejudice 5-14-90 |
|
|
Randel
Sherwood |
Straight
of Southern California |
small
claims case # B088158 |
Fullerton,
Ca. |
|
1-15-93 |
|
|
|
|
Yorbi
Linda Commerce Assoc |
Straight
of Southern California |
case #
688552 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
5-5-92
|
|
Straight
ordered to pay $872,642.37 on 10-6-92. Appears
to be for rent default. |
|
|
Gibralta
Products, Inc. |
Kids of
Southern California |
case #
565557 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
8-18-88
|
|
|
|
|
Harriet
Herman |
Kids of
Southern California |
case #
584418 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
3-9-89
|
|
|
|
|
Altobar
Dev. Co. Inc. |
Kids of
Southern California ? |
case #
564182 |
Santa Ana
Central Justice Center |
|
8-2-88
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal
|
Straight
counselor Ken Barker |
allegedly
kissed and touched client Beth Cline |
Chesapeake, VA Circuit |
|
|
1-8-91
|
trial date
1-8-91. resolution not known. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott
Beatty |
Straight
Springfield, VA |
spat upon,
other abuses. |
Fairfax
Cty, Va. |
89-90
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
State
health granted 90 day conditional license to
Straights in Orlando and Saint Petersburg
instead of the normal yearly license due to
violations. |
Pinellas
and Orange County Florida |
6-22-89
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
Dewitt Mildrum and mother Rene H. Mildrum
|
Straight
Saint Petersburg |
abuse
|
Pinellas
Cty, Fl |
|
|
8-22-88
|
Straight
settled |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen
Norton |
Straight,
Inc.; Miller Newton |
Miller
Newton threw Karen Norton against a wall
|
Pinellas
Cty, Circuit Court, Fl |
|
|
1990
|
$720,000
#85011481CI |
2
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amy Craun
|
Straight-Springfield, VA, |
abuse
|
Fairfax
Cnty, Va |
1987
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Doe
|
Straight
St Pete |
had
psychiatric problems--not drugs. Was beaten,
starved, started carving on his body |
|
|
|
11-4-86"
|
Attorney
Karen A. Barnett handled case. Straight settled
for $15K and host family for $10K. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric
Weaver |
Straight
Cincinnati |
Claimed
Straight made him so despondent he carved on his
body. Parents say they were told by Straight
staff that carving was normal part of detox.
|
Cincinnati
|
1986
|
|
|
Cincinnati
attorney Jonathan Schiff was representing Weaver
as of 10-16-86. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Does
1, 2, 3, 4. |
Straight-Cincinnati |
Four
youths fled Straight Cincinnati. |
Cincinnati
|
85-86
|
|
|
Cincinnati
attorney Jonathan Schiff represented all four
successfully and kept them from being sent back.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Does
1, 2, 3, 4. |
Straight
Cincinnati |
Filed in
Ohio from 83 - 85 by Ohio attorney David J.
Scacchetti complaining kids beaten, painfully
restrained, held in small isolation rooms for
long periods of time, denied food and sleep.
|
|
|
|
|
Two suits
settled out of court; two pending as of 2/91.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wendi
Weidman |
Straight
Cincinnait |
a
teenager, alleged attacked and beaten at
Straight and at host home |
Cincinnati
|
86
|
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Benson
Williams age 14 |
Straight
Sarasota |
atrocities
including beatings, hung by his underpants
carried about by his hair, mental and physical
torture, deprivation of medical attention and
schooling |
Sarasota
Cty Circuit Court |
|
8-7-83
|
|
Sarasota
attorney Larry Byrd handled case. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lawrence
Taylor Williams |
Straight
Sarasota |
15 years
old at time of abuse. alleged being deprived of
bathroom facilities and proper food. |
Sarasota
|
|
|
|
Sarasota
attorney Larry Byrd handled case. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Margaret
L. Heath |
Straight
Sarasota |
beaten,
thrown to a concrete floor, and pinioned there
for over 2 hours, deprived of adequate food,
water, sleep pulled out of chair by hair, denied
education, denied bathroom privileges.
|
Sarasota,
Fl. |
|
8-4-85
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Straight,
Inc. |
State of
Florida |
Straight
sues for right to force teens into treatment
|
2-13-85
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Florida
Health warns Straight to stop force therapy
|
Pinellas
Cty and Orange Cty, Fl |
9-14-84
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrative |
|
Florida
Health orders straight to change its ways
|
Pinellas
Cty |
6'21'83
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael T.
Keen |
Straight
St Pete |
assault,
false imprisonment, etc |
Pinellas
Cty |
82
|
10-83
|
|
unknown
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 teens
rep by ACLU |
Straight-Atlanta |
inhumane
treatment |
Cobb Cnty,
Ga. Superior Court |
81-82
|
|
|
|
4a
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arletha
Schauteet |
Straight-St Pete, Miller Newton |
held
against will, kidnapping told by Newton her mom
would be put in jail for kidnapping if she did
not co-operate. |
St Pete
|
81-82
|
|
'8-83 |
writ of
habeas corpus released her. Her atty William
A. Leffler. Straight settled-undisclosed
amount. |
4a |
|
Hope
Hyrons |
Straight-St Pete, Miller Newton |
kidnapping, false imprisonment at sibling
interview, restraint, (she's from Longwood, FL)
told by Newton, I don't give a damn about your
rights |
|
|
|
8-83
|
Straight
settled for undisclosed. Her atty William A.
Leffler |
5
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
Daniels |
Straight-St Pete |
driving
him insane |
|
|
5-83
|
|
Daniels
lost |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin
Brashears |
Straight-Atlanta |
he was an
adult, false imprisonment |
|
|
8-83
|
|
unknown
|
|
