Class Action Filed Alleging Systematic Abuse

A class action lawsuit has been filed against the State of Maryland alleging systematic mistreatment at Montrose School, including allowing an 11-year-old child to be raped repeatedly by older boys.

The Lawsuit

The class action alleges widespread abuse and institutional failures at Montrose School, a juvenile facility operated by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. The lawsuit names the State of Maryland as the defendant.

Horrific Allegations

Among the most disturbing allegations in the complaint:

The 11-Year-Old Victim:

• An 11-year-old child was housed with older boys
• Staff allegedly allowed the child to be raped repeatedly
• The institution failed to protect one of its youngest and most vulnerable residents

Systematic Abuse:

• Pattern and practice of mistreatment
• Staff abuse of detained youth
• Failure to prevent youth-on-youth violence
• Inadequate supervision

Institutional Failures:

• Youth placed inappropriately based on age
• Warning signs ignored
• Complaints not investigated
• Culture of abuse enabled by management

What is a Class Action?

A class action lawsuit is filed on behalf of a group of people who suffered similar harm. In this case:

• Multiple survivors with similar experiences at Montrose
• Common allegations of institutional failure
• Seeking accountability for pattern of abuse
• More efficient than hundreds of individual lawsuits

The Maryland Child Victims Act

Maryland's Child Victims Act, effective October 1, 2023, makes this class action possible:

• Eliminates statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims
• Unlimited lookback period for past abuse
• Institutions can be held liable for failing to protect children
• Survivors from any time period can join the class

About Montrose School

Montrose School was a juvenile facility in Maryland that housed youth in the juvenile justice system. The facility was operated by the Department of Juvenile Services.

Conditions at Montrose, like other Maryland juvenile facilities, have been the subject of monitoring reports and investigations over the years.

Why Class Actions Matter

Class action lawsuits serve important purposes:

For Survivors:

• Strength in numbers
• Shared legal costs
• Validation that others experienced similar abuse

For Accountability:

• Forces institutions to address systemic problems
• Can result in policy changes
• Financial consequences deter future abuse

For Justice:

• Holds the state responsible for its failures
• Provides compensation for survivors
• Creates public record of what happened

The Broader Pattern

Montrose is part of a widespread problem in Maryland juvenile facilities:

• Backbone Mountain: DOJ identified as having highest sexual abuse rate in the nation
• Waxter Center: Closed in 2022 after decades of abuse
• Noyes Center: Class action and individual lawsuits filed
• Baltimore City JJC: Multiple abuse allegations
• Cheltenham: Staff criminally charged

Impact on Survivors

Children who experience abuse in juvenile facilities suffer lasting consequences:

• Severe psychological trauma
• PTSD, depression, anxiety
• Difficulty forming healthy relationships
• Educational and employment challenges
• Increased risk of substance abuse
• Ongoing mental health needs

Joining the Class Action

If you were abused at Montrose School:

• You may be eligible to join the class action
• The Child Victims Act eliminates time limits
• Contact information is available through the attorneys
• Your participation helps hold the state accountable

The allegations against Montrose represent some of the most serious failures of the juvenile justice system - the state allowed a child to be repeatedly victimized by the very system that was supposed to protect them.