Key Takeaways
- A federal lawsuit alleges a man was sexually assaulted by his roommate while living at a sober living home associated with his substance abuse treatment at Legacy Healing Center.
- The lawsuit alleges that after the plaintiff reported the assault to police, Legacy asked him not to implicate the treatment center in the abuse.
- The lawsuit brings claims including negligence, negligent training and supervision, premises liability, and violation of New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination.
A federal lawsuit filed by Andreozzi and Foote alleges that Legacy Healing Center, Citadel 12, and affiliated entities failed to protect a man from sexual assault and harassment by his roommate while he was receiving substance abuse treatment and living in a Citadel sober living house in New Jersey.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of a man from New York, referred to in the complaint as J.M.
The lawsuit names Legacy Healing Center and related Legacy entities, Citadel 12 and related entities, HEF Ventures, LLC, doing business as Citadel 12, and the individual owner of HEF, which owns and operates Citadel.
Plaintiff Entered Legacy Healing Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
The complaint states that Legacy Defendants hold themselves out as a “comprehensive addiction treatment and behavioral health provider.” At their Cherry Hill, NJ, facility, they provide partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient treatment programs for their clients.
Citadel provides sober living homes throughout both New Jersey and Ohio.
The suit alleges that Legacy and Citadel 12 are intertwined entities and that non-local Legacy clients are required to reside in Citadel housing.
The complaint includes a screenshot from Legacy’s website advertising Citadel 12 among its sober living options in Cherry Hill. The website describes Citadel 12 as a “luxury sober home” offering a supportive environment for people in recovery.
According to the lawsuit, J.M. began receiving treatment for substance abuse disorder at Legacy. Because he lived outside the area, the lawsuit alleges he was required to reside in Citadel housing— a sober living home at 285 Mt. Laurel Road in Mt. Laurel Township, New Jersey, known as “The Estates.”
According to the complaint, J.M. would receive treatment at Legacy during the day before being transported back to The Estates at night. He was 29 years old at the time and shared a room with a 40-year-old man whom the lawsuit refers to as the perpetrator.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
Almost immediately upon living together at The Estates, the perpetrator allegedly offered J.M. drugs. According to the suit, J.M. then asked to be transferred to another Citadel house, but his request was refused by his Legacy therapist.
Several days later, the complaint alleges, the perpetrator repeatedly tried to hump J.M. and take off his towel after he got out of the shower. The lawsuit alleges that both Legacy and Citadel employees witnessed this incident.
The following day, the perpetrator allegedly approached J.M. in his bedroom and strangled him with a belt, causing him to become lightheaded.
The lawsuit alleges that a few days later, the roommate entered J.M.’s bedroom while he was lying on his bed, climbed on top of him, pinned him down and subjected him to unwanted sexual contact. Shortly afterward, the perpetrator allegedly showed him an explicit video.
Plaintiff Allegedly Made Report to Legacy and Citadel Employees
J.M. reported what happened to employees of Legacy and Citadel, according to the lawsuit. The complaint alleges that he was assured by employees of Legacy Defendants and Citadel that the perpetrator would no longer be allowed around him.
Allegedly, various employees of Legacy Defendants and Citadel later pulled J.M. aside, heard his story, and promised that the perpetrator would be kicked out.
However, according to the lawsuit, the Defendants took no action and the perpetrator continued to follow J.M. around The Estates, harass him, and make sexual noises toward him.
The lawsuit alleges that at one point, in order to avoid the perpetrator’s harassment, J.M. locked himself in the bathroom and texted The Estates’ supervisor to advise him of the harassment but was told to “just ignore” the perpetrator.
According to the lawsuit, despite their assurances that the perpetrator would be removed from the Legacy program and The Estates, the Defendants continued to permit the perpetrator to have access to J.M., even allowing them to be in the same therapy group.
Lawsuit Alleges Legacy Asked Plaintiff Not to Implicate Them
The complaint states that the perpetrator was eventually removed from the Legacy program and The Estates.
The suit alleges that ultimately, due to the assault and the poor handling of the assault, J.M. left the Legacy program, moved out of The Estates, and filed a police report.
The lawsuit alleges that after J.M. reported the assault to police, the Legacy Defendants asked him to not implicate them in the abuse.
According to court records, the perpetrator pled guilty to crimes stemming from his sexual assault of J.M. while at the Defendants’ property.
The lawsuit alleges that J.M. relapsed shortly after removing himself from the program..
Lawsuit Accuses Defendants of Failing to Protect Plaintiff
The lawsuit alleges that Legacy, Citadel, and the other defendants knew or should have known of the harassment, but failed to take effective measures to stop it.
According to the complaint, they failed to adequately supervise the men, investigate the alleged abuse, train employees to respond to reports of sexual abuse and harassment, and implement appropriate abuse prevention policies.
The complaint asserts claims for negligence, intentional and/or negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent training and supervision, premises liability, and violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
Safety in Addiction Treatment and Sober Living Facilities
People receiving addiction treatment rely on treatment providers and sober living facilities to provide a safe environment during recovery.
This lawsuit raises questions about how addiction treatment facilities prevent and respond to reports of abuse.
In cases involving abuse in addiction treatment or related facilities, civil litigation can examine whether appropriate safety policies were in place, how employees responded to warning signs or reports of misconduct, and whether reasonable measures were taken to protect those in their care.
Civil litigation can provide survivors with a pathway to hold institutions accountable, pursue compensation for the harm they have suffered, and encourage stronger policies designed to better protect patients in the future.
Sexual Abuse in a Treatment Facility: Know Your Legal Rights
Sexual assault or abuse in a treatment or recovery setting is a profound violation of trust. Survivors may have legal options against organizations whose actions contributed to or failed to prevent the abuse.
Andreozzi + Foote represents survivors of institutional sexual abuse in New Jersey and across the country, including individuals who experienced abuse at an addiction treatment facility or related housing.
If you were a victim of sexual assault or sexual harassment while receiving treatment at Legacy Healing Center, Citadel 12, or another addiction treatment or sober living facility, our attorneys can help you understand your legal rights and determine whether you may have a civil claim.
We approach every case with compassion for survivors and a commitment to holding institutions accountable.
All consultations are free and confidential.
Contact us today.
Image source: Legacy Healing Center | Luxury Rehab, Cherryhill, NJ, © Google, Google Maps.
