Four Winds Hospital Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Compassionate Advocacy and Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse 

Psychiatric hospitals throughout New York are meant to provide safe and supportive environments for patients with mental health challenges. However, sexual abuse is a major concern at these facilities due to a lack of supervision, poor hiring practices, and security failures. Four Winds Hospital has two locations in New York, both of which have been mentioned in sexual abuse claims. If you have been a victim of Four Winds Hospital sexual abuse, you could recover compensation via a lawsuit. 

Injury Lawyer Team has supported plaintiffs during psychiatric hospital sexual abuse lawsuits to increase their chances of securing compensation for legal damages. Our attorneys will help you seek justice against the responsible parties through New York’s civil legal system. 

Allegations of Rampant Sexual Abuse at Four Winds

Holding institutions accountable is essential if we want to curb this epidemic of sexual abuse in places like Four Winds Hospital. The two locations for this institution, located in Katonah and Saratoga Springs, have each been implicated in sexual abuse involving patients.

Multiple Reports that Abuse Occurred at the Westchester County Location

According to reports, Dominic Sbordone was charged with third-degree criminal sexual act and second-degree sexual abuse as a former employee at Four Winds Hospital in Westchester County. Sbordone was accused of having sex with a 19-year-old patient at the facility. 

At the same facility, a woman filed a petition against Four Winds Hospital, Katonah, because her daughter had been sexually abused there when she was just 13 years old. According to the petition, the patient was repeatedly sexually abused during her time at the facility between April and May of 2015. 

The abuse occurred when another male resident assaulted the victim while she was placed in the boys’ section of a residential wing, which had no locks on the doors. When the victim’s mother attempted to obtain hospital documentation, she was refused. 

The primary concerns at the Four Winds Hospital Westchester County location that have led to numerous allegations of abuse include negligent hiring of staff members, a failure to supervise, and a lack of security for patients in residential treatment centers. 

Allegations of Minor Abuse at Four Winds Saratoga Springs

Few details are available regarding sexual abuse at Four Winds Saratoga Springs. A spokesperson for the Saratoga Springs Police Department has stated that multiple reports of abuse occurring at this facility have been made. Still, the story cannot yet be shared because the misconduct involves minors who stayed at the Four Winds facility in Saratoga Springs. 

What Laws Govern Sexual Abuse Cases Involving Residential Treatment Centers?

A New York residential treatment facility sexual abuse lawsuit will be influenced by several state laws, including:

• Section 413 – Staff members in residential treatment centers are mandated reporters and must take action to report suspected abuse.
• Section 208 – Child survivors of sexual abuse have until they turn 55 years old to pursue compensation via civil lawsuits.
• Section 419 – Any entity that acts in good faith to assist with reporting abuse or protecting a child’s rights after abuse is reported is immune to civil and criminal liability in most circumstances. 

What Damages Can Victims Recover in Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?

When you file a residential treatment facility sexual abuse lawsuit, you may be eligible for various legal damages. These compensatory damages can be used to determine the settlement you deserve from the defendant and their insurance company.

Let’s examine some of the most common damages associated with sexual abuse lawsuits:

Economic Damages

• Lost wages – For a victim who is forced to miss work due to their injuries
• Medical bills – The settlement can cover costs associated with the plaintiff’s treatment, such as surgery, emergency care, medication, and rehabilitation
• Future medical expenses – If the plaintiff requires ongoing therapy or other medical services, these can be covered by the claim

Non-Economic Damages

• Emotional distress – Abuse survivors often struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, and self-harm
• Pain and suffering – If the abuse suffered at Four Winds Hospital caused physical injuries, a victim can recover compensation for pain and suffering that affected their well-being
• Loss of enjoyment of life – Many abuse survivors and families struggle to find joy in life after their traumatic experiences

Punitive Damages

A judge or jury can award additional compensation to the victim as a means of further punishing the defendant in a sexual abuse lawsuit. This part of the settlement is called punitive damages, and it is typically reserved for cases involving gross negligence, intentional misconduct, or institutional cover-ups. 

Why You Need an Experienced Attorney

Suing a facility like Four Winds Hospital is a challenging task. As you seek justice through this process, you may encounter a lack of evidence, powerful entities with vast resources, legal defense teams, and stubborn insurance companies. 

At Injury Lawyer Team, we can help you overcome many of these challenges to increase your chances of securing a fair settlement. When survivors file civil lawsuits with our assistance, they can leverage our many legal services:

• Investigating the facility and the sexual abuse accusations
• Assessing all legal damages to maximize compensation
• Gathering evidence of wrongdoing, such as witness statements or surveillance footage
• Submitting subpoenas to obtain institutional documents
• Negotiating with stubborn defendants and insurance carriers
• Litigating in civil court if necessary
• Providing a compassionate and safe space for you to share your story

At our law firm, our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis to help you seek justice. This means you owe nothing unless we win your sexual abuse lawsuit. Additionally, you can ask questions about legal action during a free and confidential consultation. 

Contact us today at 866-757-6452 to schedule our free consultation with an experienced attorney. 

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.