Key Takeaways
- A lawsuit filed in Georgia alleges a counselor employed by Stepping Stones Therapeutic Solutions, Roderick Branscomb, sexually abused a vulnerable client.
- The complaint alleges Branscomb used his position over the victim to pressure her into sexual acts.
- The lawsuit alleges that that Stepping Stones failed to properly screen Branscomb, despite prior warning signs
A civil lawsuit filed by Andreozzi + Foote and co-counsel in the State Court of Appling County, Georgia, alleges that Stepping Stones Therapeutic Solutions failed to protect a vulnerable client from sexual abuse by one of its counselors, Roderick Branscomb.
According to the complaint, Stepping Stones Therapeutic Solutions provides a wide range of services, including therapeutic assessments, drug screening, Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) services. The lawsuit states that Branscomb was employed as a counselor at Stepping Stones from 2022 through 2024 and provided in-home therapy services to both male and female clients.
The complaint alleges that in January 2024, Branscomb was assigned as counselor in relation to the victim’s DFCS-related case. During one counseling session conducted inside her home, the lawsuit alleges that Branscomb exposed his genitals, rubbed his genitals on the victim’s face, and forced her to perform oral sex.
According to the filing, the abuse continued for months, with the counselor repeatedly soliciting oral sex and, eventually, sexual intercourse, until June 2024. The complaint states that the woman complied with Branscomb’s demands because he was responsible for approving her DFCS paperwork, and she believed that refusing him could negatively affect her children.
The lawsuit further alleges that the woman in the complaint was one of several women whom Branscomb assaulted while employed at Stepping Stones.
Prior Red Flags and Alleged Institutional Failures
The lawsuit alleges that Stepping Stones Therapeutic Solutions and its owner knew or reasonably should have known that Branscomb had a history of prior incidents involving inappropriate and boundary violating conduct at his previous places of employment.
According to the complaint, Branscomb was previously indicted in 2010 for sexual battery after allegedly inappropriately touching a female student while working as a substitute teacher at Carver High School in Muscogee County, Georgia. The suit also alleges that in 2018, while employed by CedarTree, a group home where the Georgia Department of Family & Child Services placed youth, Branscomb was charged with forgery.
Stepping Stones knew or should have known about Branscomb’s predatory and inappropriate conduct, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants’ failure to exercise due diligence allowed a dangerous predator to remain in a position of authority and continue exploiting individuals seeking counseling and treatment through Stepping Stones.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of negligence, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent retention, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the complaint, as a result of the defendants’ negligence and failures, the victim suffered sexual assaults, harassment, and intimidation, and was both physically and emotionally harmed.
Civil Accountability
The allegations in this case raise broader questions about how organizations entrusted with helping vulnerable clients screen, monitor, and supervise their employees. As counselors and other service providers have significant influence over clients’ lives and family stability, proper oversight and safeguards are extremely important.
Organizations that provide counseling or family-support programs have a responsibility to properly vet employees, monitor interactions with clients, respond appropriately to red flags, and implement safeguards designed to prevent exploitation and abuse.
Civil sexual abuse lawsuits focus on whether responsible institutions ignored warning signs or failed to take reasonable steps to protect vulnerable people.
For survivors, civil claims may provide an opportunity to seek answers, obtain compensation for the harm they suffered, and help develop stronger safeguards in the future.
Reach Out Today for Trusted Legal Support
At Andreozzi + Foote, our attorneys represent survivors of sexual abuse with compassion and trauma-informed care. We understand how difficult it can be to speak up, especially when the harm comes from someone in a position of trust and authority.
Our team is committed to uncovering the truth, holding institutions accountable, and helping survivors reclaim their voices.
We approach every case with care and sensitivity, ensuring our clients are heard, supported, and protected throughout the legal process. Our attorneys leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice.
If you or a loved one was harmed by Roderick Branscomb or while receiving counseling through Stepping Stones, please know that you are not alone.
We are here to listen, answer your questions, and help you understand your legal options.
All consultations are free and completely confidential.
Email us at info@vca.law or call us at (866) 311-8640.
Image sources: Logo for Stepping Stones Therapeutic Solutions, LLC, via sstsog.com. Image of 120n Thomas St, Baxley, GA 31513, the address associated with Stepping Stones listed in the complaint, © Google, Google Maps.
