A woman undergoing inpatient drug treatment at a Lehigh County rehab was forced to perform a sex act on one of its workers, according to a lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed by a Lancaster woman against White Deer Run in Salisbury Township, and its parent company, Acadia Healthcare of Franklin, Tennessee.
Attorneys for White Deer Run and Acadia didn’t immediately respond to email messages seeking comment.
The woman says the worker forced her to perform the sex act in a bathroom one night during her inpatient stay from November to early December 2024, according to the lawsuit. It says she told her roommate, who told a counselor, but nothing happened after that.
It’s unclear whether the woman reported the matter to police. The Lehigh County District Attorney and Salisbury Township police didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The lawsuit was filed by Philadelphia attorneys Haley Ferise and Tobi Ann Russeck. They didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on whether the allegation was reported to police.
The 15-count lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages over $50,000. It accuses the rehab and Acadia of failing to care for the victim, putting her in danger, and failing to train and monitor its staff.
The lawsuit was filed in August in Philadelphia County Court. It was filed there because Acadia runs a rehab facility in Philadelphia.
Acadia attorney James Steigerwald of Philadelphia filed court papers last week to have the case moved from Philadelphia County Court to federal court.
White Deer Run is represented in the case by Philadelphia attorney Joseph McHale. The facility at 1620 Riverside Drive offers residential treatment for adults who struggle with substance use disorders and related mental health issues according to the facility’s website.
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