Maple Lane School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
Maple Lane School was a juvenile detention facility in Washington that operated until 2011. Recently, numerous survivors have come forward with accounts of alleged sexual abuse by staff at the facility. If you have experienced sexual abuse at Maple Lane School, you have legal rights and options for seeking accountability.
- Until its closure in 2011, Maple Lane School served as a juvenile detention facility in Washington state.
- At least one former employee of the Maple Lane School has been found guilty of sexually abusing minor inmates, and dozens of survivors have taken civil legal action against the state for the alleged abuse they endured at the facility.
- If you or a loved one has suffered abuse at Maple Lane School, contact Helping Survivors to learn more about your rights and options.
The Maple Lane School originally opened in 1914 as a training school for girls and served various populations under Washington’s Department of Corrections until its closure in 2011. In 2016, the Department of Social and Health Services reopened the facility as a behavioral health treatment unit. It now houses adult residents who are being held under civil commitment orders or who have been found not guilty of crimes by reason of insanity.
Even though the Maple Lane juvenile detention facility has been closed for several years, survivors of past sexual abuse at the facility may still have legal options for seeking justice.
Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Maple Lane School
As of December 2024, more than 300 former inmates had filed suit against the state of Washington over alleged sexual abuse at its facilities, including Maple Lane School, Echo Glen Children’s Center, Green Hill School, and Naselle Youth Camp. The lawsuits allege abuse as far back as the 1950s and as recently as the 2020s, and victims say they were sexually abused and manipulated by facility staff.
Among other things, the lawsuits allege that employee background screenings should have caught potential predatory employees. However, the state gave people who had been convicted of crimes access to children anyway, the survivors allege.
Accounts of abuse by staff at Maple Lane School surfaced long before the recent lawsuits. In 2010, former food services employee Lindsay Anne Mitchell was charged with sexual abuse for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a male youth at Maple Lane School. Mitchell pleaded guilty in 2011.
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Rights and Options for Survivors of Maple Lane School Sexual Abuse
Survivors of juvenile detention center sexual abuse in Washington state have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable. They may be able to file a complaint with oversight agencies, report the abuse to police to initiate a criminal investigation, or file a civil lawsuit against the abusers and the parties that enabled abuse.
File a Complaint with Oversight Agencies
Survivors of juvenile detention center sexual abuse at Maple Lane School have the right to file a complaint with the Washington State Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds. Family members can also submit a complaint on a survivor’s behalf by completing the form on ofco.wa.gov or calling 206-439-3870.
Report to Law Enforcement
Although reporting abuse to the police is not always required to take civil legal action, it may still be helpful. It can trigger a criminal investigation that may lead to criminal charges against the perpetrator. It can also create a valuable paper trail that can help substantiate abuse claims.
You can call 911 or your local law enforcement agency to file a report for abuse at Maple Lane School, even if it occurred years or decades ago.
File a Civil Lawsuit
To file a civil lawsuit for juvenile detention abuse in Washington, you must take action before the deadline imposed by the applicable statute of limitations. Washington lawmakers abolished the state’s civil statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse as of June 6, 2024. Thus, anyone victimized by child sexual abuse on or after that date may file suit at any time.
However, since Maple Hill closed in 2011, survivors of abuse there have until their 21st birthday or within three years of discovering the harm stemming from the abuse to file suit. Adults typically have three years to file a lawsuit. It’s crucial to speak with an experienced lawyer to understand how the statute of limitations and the discovery rule apply to your case.
At Helping Survivors, we connect survivors of sexual abuse and assault with trauma-informed attorneys, who can represent them in civil lawsuits and seek compensation on their behalf. Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
How a Washington State Sexual Abuse Lawyer Can Help
It’s crucial to work with an experienced Washington sexual abuse lawyer to have the best chance of success in a claim over sexual abuse at Maple Lane School. An attorney can listen to your story, explain your options, determine the applicable deadline, investigate the abuse, identify liable parties, gather and preserve key evidence, and build the strongest possible case. They will handle all communications with the opposition and negotiate for a full and fair settlement. If a settlement cannot be reached, they will litigate your case and fight for you at trial, if necessary.
At Helping Survivors, we connect survivors of sexual abuse and assault with trauma-informed attorneys to handle their cases and seek compensation on their behalf. Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
What Compensation Could Be Available in a Maple Lane Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?
In a successful juvenile detention center sexual abuse claim, survivors can recover compensation for multiple types of damages, such as the following:
- Medical expenses
- Psychological treatment and counseling expenses
- Lost income and opportunities
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
The compensation recoverable in your case depends on circumstances such as the severity and duration of the abuse, the effects on your life, and the strength of the evidence. Speak with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer to learn more about the compensation available to you.
Have You Been Abused at a Juvenile Detention Center?
If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse while in a juvenile detention center, you have the right to seek justice. Our team of experienced attorneys is here to provide you with the legal support and guidance you deserve.
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