Press Release Civil Lawsuit Filed Against Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health for Child Abuse
💥 New Lawsuit Alleges Physical and Sexual Abuse of Teen Patient
Strom Law Firm attorneys—led by renowned civil rights lawyer Bakari Sellers, along with Mario Pacella, Amy Willbanks, and Alexandra Benevento—have filed a powerful new lawsuit on behalf of a 15-year-old survivor, referred to as John Doe, who endured horrific physical and sexual abuse while housed at Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health in Florence, South Carolina.
The lawsuit targets Palmetto Pee Dee, as well as its parent companies Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) and UHS of Delaware, Inc., alleging gross negligence, willful misconduct, and systemic failure to protect vulnerable children.
🔍 What Happened at Palmetto Pee Dee?
In 2014, John Doe was admitted to Palmetto Pee Dee for trauma treatment. According to the lawsuit:
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Within days, he was sexually assaulted by his roommate.
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No meaningful action was taken by staff—even after repeated reports.
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He suffered ongoing abuse by at least six residents, including violent beatings and forced sex acts.
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Staff witnessed and even recorded the abuse but failed to intervene.
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One staff member, Harry Austin, allegedly physically assaulted the teen himself.
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Other staff reportedly gave alcohol to minors and forced sexual encounters.
Despite clear signs of injury, John Doe received no proper medical care beyond a Tylenol.
⚖️ A Pattern of Abuse at UHS Facilities
This isn’t an isolated case. Allegations of sexual abuse, neglect, and violence have plagued UHS facilities nationwide, including:
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A 13-year-old with a known history of sexual abuse assaulting a 10-year-old—two days in a row—at a South Carolina facility.
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A 12-year-old boy fleeing Palmetto Pee Dee in 2019, found shoeless and scared on the streets of Florence, reporting similar abuse and bullying.
🗣️ A Message from Our Attorneys
“It’s horrific,” said Bakari Sellers. “We’d be disgusted to see adults endure this in prison, let alone children in a medical facility. These companies know what’s happening—they just refuse to act because it threatens their bottom line.”
“There are countless survivors like John Doe,” added Alexandra Benevento. “We’re standing with them—and we urge them to come forward.”
📂 Legal Action and Advocacy
Strom Law Firm is currently representing dozens of clients across South Carolina with similar claims and plans to file additional lawsuits in the coming weeks.
If you or a loved one has suffered abuse at Palmetto Pee Dee Behavioral Health or another UHS facility, you are not alone—and you deserve justice.