Child abuse cases against Glade Run Lutheran Services resolved
Multiple lawsuits alleging systemic negligence that enabled child abuse and child sexual abuse more than a decade ago against Glade Run Lutheran Services have been resolved, according to a law firm.
The alleged child abuse incidents occurred at the former residential treatment facility in Zelienople, according to court records. The claims were brought by Pisanchyn Law Firm in Pittsburgh and filed in Allegheny County.
Glade Run Lutheran Services CEO Steven Green said all the allegations are more than 10 years old and stem from a residential treatment facility program that has not operated in eight years. He also said none of the allegations were proven true in court.
“Glade Run has invested significantly in quality improvements … since then,” Green said.
He added since the allegations were brought, the company has hired a new CEO and replaced executive management team members who served at that time.
The law firm said common themes across the cases included inadequate staffing, failure to intervene and violations of state licensing regulations.
“The real heroes in these cases are the children and their families, who had the courage to come forward,” the law firm said in statement issued Tuesday, Sept. 30. “While no legal resolution can undo the trauma they endured, these settlements provide them with the means to begin healing and reclaim their lives.”
In one Allegheny County case, the law firm said a 9-year-old boy was sexually assaulted by multiple residents while unsupervised by staff. He was transported to a hospital where doctors found signs of prolonged sexual abuse.
Court records show the case was settled Feb. 19 for an undisclosed amount and discontinued.
Another Allegheny County case alleged a young boy was lured into a recreation room and forced to engage in sexual acts with other residents, according to the law firm.
The law firm said the boy’s parents had previously been informed of “sexual issues among the children.” Court records show the case was settled March 10 for an undisclosed amount and discontinued.
In a third case, a child utilizing counseling was sexually assaulted by a roommate despite Glade Run being previously cited by state agencies, the law firm said. Court records reportedly included reports of employees sleeping during overnight shifts.
The law firm said the case was settled recently for a confidential substantial amount. Court records show the case was discontinued by the plaintiff Sept. 25.
This story was updated at 10:40 a.m. Oct. 2 to reflect the alleged incidents occurred at the formerly operated Zelienople campus. A previous version of this story incorrectly said the alleged incidents occurred at multiple campuses.
