W.J. Maxey Boys Training School Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Children and teenagers sent to juvenile detention facilities deserved safety, care, and protection. Former residents of the W.J. Maxey Boys Training School in Michigan who experienced sexual abuse by staff have legal rights and ways to seek accountability. Speak with a juvenile detention attorney to learn more about your options.
- The W.J. Maxey Boys Training School was a juvenile detention center in Whitmore Lake, Michigan, that closed in 2015.
- Numerous legal allegations and investigations into Maxey have revealed years of alleged abuse by staff, including clergy members.
- If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse while detained at the W.J. Maxey Boys Training School, you have legal rights and options for seeking accountability and compensation.
Overview of the W.J. Maxey Boys Training School
The W.J. Maxey Boys Training School was a juvenile corrections facility in Whitmore Lake. Operated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, it housed youths aged 13 through 20 adjudicated as juvenile offenders and committed to state custody. The facility was closed in 2015 for budgetary reasons.
Misconduct Investigations at Maxey
In 2004, the U.S. Attorney General’s office investigated conditions at the W.J. Maxey Training School under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, or CRIPA, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Both laws give the Department of Justice authority to seek remedies for patterns or practices of conduct that violate the rights of children in juvenile justice institutions.
The investigation revealed that the Maxey School subjected youths to unconstitutional uses of restraints and isolation, deprived them of an adequate grievance system, and maintained staffing levels that “incubate an environment ripe for danger.” Officials found additional constitutional and statutory deficiencies involving juvenile justice management, medical and mental healthcare, fire safety, and education.
Table of Contents
- Overview of the W.J. Maxey Boys Training School
- Abuse Allegations Involving Maxey Training School
- Can Former Maxey Residents Still File a Lawsuit?
- Speak With a Sexual Abuse Attorney
- Meet the Milberg Team
- Who May Be Held Accountable for Abuse at Maxey Training School?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Experience that Delivers Results
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Abuse Allegations Involving Maxey Training School
In November 2023, former W.J. Maxey Boys Training School resident Brian McLain filed a lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, and priest Richard Lobert. Lobert served under both dioceses and periodically visited Maxey to provide religious services and counseling. According to the lawsuit, Lobert used his position of power to repeatedly sexually abuse McLain as a minor in 1999.
Can Former Maxey Residents Still File a Lawsuit?
Former Maxey residents may still be able to file a lawsuit for sexual abuse that occurred at the facility. In Michigan, survivors of childhood sexual abuse must generally file a lawsuit by their 28th birthday or within three years after discovering injuries caused by criminal sexual conduct, whichever occurs later. The rules and deadlines for your case may vary depending on your age at the time of abuse, when it occurred, when you discovered the harm, and who may be held responsible.
Speak With a Sexual Abuse Attorney
If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse while detained at the W.J. Maxey Boys Training School, seek legal guidance as soon as possible to understand your legal options and deadlines for filing a lawsuit.
At Helping Survivors, we partner with law firms that file civil lawsuits on behalf of survivors to seek compensation from the individuals, institutions, workplaces, and organizations that perpetrated and enabled abuse.
We can connect you with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer who can investigate the abuse, determine whether you have a claim, identify the liable parties, determine the applicable deadlines, handle all communications with the opposition, and file a civil lawsuit on your behalf.
Meet The Milberg Team
Marc Grossman
Senior Partner, Milberg PLLC
30+ years of complex litigation experience. Marc leads Milberg’s Sexual Abuse Practice and is recognized by Lawdragon 500 as one of America’s leading litigators. He’s committed to institutional accountability and survivor support.
Melinda Maxson
Senior Counsel, Milberg PLLC
20+ years representing survivors. Melinda has been involved in landmark cases exposing systemic failures in institutions, including her work on the T.T. v. Roblox case. She believes survivors deserve every legal avenue to seek accountability.
Who May Be Held Accountable for Abuse at Maxey Training School?
Those legally responsible for juvenile detention center sexual abuse may include the perpetrators of the abuse and those who enabled it. In a civil lawsuit, you might be entitled to seek compensation from the following:
- Individual Staff Members or Perpetrators: You may be able to sue the employees, contractors, volunteers, visitors, or others who perpetrated or failed to report abuse.
- Government Agencies and Facility Leadership: State agencies, facility administrators, supervisors, or others may be liable if they knew or should have known about the risks and failed to protect the youths under their care. These claims often focus ona facility policies regarding hiring, training, reporting, and responding to complaints.
- Third Parties Connected to the Facility: Contractors, service providers, or outside organizations may be liable in some cases, depending on their role in perpetrating or enabling abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I Have Never Reported the Abuse at Maxey?
Failing to report the abuse just after it occurred doesn’t automatically prevent you from filing a lawsuit, although it may make your case more difficult to prove. An attorney can help you gather other types of evidence to show when and how abuse occurred, even without an official report.
Can I Sue if Another Resident of Maxey Training School Abused Me?
Most sexual abuse lawsuits target the institution or oversight agencies that failed to protect victims rather than just the individual perpetrator. If Maxey, its staff, or its administrators knew about and failed to stop or prevent abuse by another resident, you may still have grounds to sue.
Experience That Delivers Results
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Institutional Abuse Specialists
Milberg’s Sexual Abuse Practice Group, led by Senior Partner Marc Grossman (30+ years experience, Lawdragon 500 recognized) brings expertise in facility-based abuse, systemic failures, and corporate neglect.
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