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ST. VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE, ACADIA HEALTHCARE AND BARZINI

As early as the 8th Century, the “Feast” of Saint Valentine was marked by the Western Church of Christendom in honor of one of the Christian martyr, Valentine. 

In ancient Rome, Lupercalia was observed February 13–15 on behalf of Pan and Juno, two pagan gods of love, marriage and fertility.

More recently, in order to generate revenue between Christmas and Easter, companies like Hallmark elevated Valentine’s Day to an international day of love. Approximately 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are purchased. Every kiss begins with K. Restaurants serve small, fixed-price menus at inflated prices. Men shake their heads, discretely breathe heavily and endure the slings and arrows of a corporate manufactured day of greed … I mean love.

But there is an even darker side to this day.

Numerous shootings and tragedies have occurred on February 14. Perhaps the most notorious is The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929. This was the murder of seven members and associates of Chicago’s North Side Gang. The men were gathered at a Chicago garage on the morning of February 14, 1929. They were lined up against a wall and shot by four unknown assailants, two of whom were disguised as police officers.

Today, a part of this wall, with bullet holes, is on display in the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And now, another notable event is going to occur on February 14, 2025. On that day, Acadia Healthcare is going to shutter one of its torture chambers … err, treatment centers, Timberline Knolls.

Let’s briefly review events leading up to this closure.

In August 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Timberline Knolls alleging staff member Erick Hampton sexually assaulted a 24-year-old patient, Jane Doe, three times in May 2024. The lawsuit also alleges Timberline Knolls falsely accused the victim of having a secret affair with a staff member and out of fear, she left the facility after less than two weeks. Blaming the victim is always a sound strategy! (rolling eyes emoji here)

On August 21, 2018, Michael Jacksa, then a counselor at Timberline Knolls was arrested and charged with assaulting a 29-year-old patient at Timberline Knolls during two counseling sessions between May and June of 2018. Jacksa was indicated for sexually abusing at least six other former Timberline Knolls.

But the problems are far more widespread.

According to media sources, 546 calls were made to authorities from Timberline Knolls from 2023 – 2024.

Dozens of 911 calls related to criminal sexual abuse or sexual assault at Timberline Knolls were made to authorities since 2018.

With all of the numerous issues involving rape, sexual abuse, sexual assault, inappropriate behavior and lack of oversight, Timberline Knolls still had the audacity to hold itself out as having, “A Timberline Knolls Sexual Abuse Trauma Treatment Center for Women and Girls.” 

Just when you think that corporate hypocrisy and reprehensible conduct have reached an all-time low, we discover an even deeper level of hell.

Therefore, we should not be surprised by the closing. After all, it is part of Acadia’s overall corporate business strategy. That is, when a treatment center has too much notoriety, when its liability is too great, you simply shut down that treatment center and move along …

In 2018, Acadia through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ascent Children’s Health Services announced it was closing all ten (10) locations in the State of Arkansas. This closure displaced nearly 1700 children.

The closure was announced after the settlement of a Crittenden County Circuit Court civil lawsuit filed in July 2017 by Ashley Smith, mother of 2-year-old Christopher Gardner. Christopher died June 12, 2017, after being left in a transport van at the West Memphis facility for eight hours. Ascent workers signed documents showing that Christopher was taken inside the West Memphis day care center, even though he remained in the van.

In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against amongst other defendants, Acadia Healthcare. In that lawsuit, a guardian of an adolescent accused the Acadia companies of failing to protect a young girl under their care. The filing states that an employee of one of Acadia’s subsidiary companies repeatedly raped the child in 2018. The jury awarded the plaintiff $485 million dollars in damages. 

Acadia Healthcare of course, closed this youth treatment center in New Mexico amid egregious abuse allegations, multiple lawsuits and losing its certification from state regulators.

Acadia’s on-going incompetence, professional negligence and many scandals caused lower-than-expected volume growth. This resulted in a $20 to $30 million reduction in Acadia’s revenue guidance and a $10 to $15 million impact on the company’s EBITDA outlook.

Acadia’s response?

Acadia’s Chief Financial Officer, Heather Dixon stated, “If lower volumes persist, Acadia will reduce facility-level costs accordingly.” This tantamount to the old saying, “The beatings will continue until morale improves!”

Closing a facility is the nuclear level reduction of facility-level costs. A level to which Acadia does not hesitate to implement when its corporate commodities … uh… patients, become too problematic and not profitable enough.

Acadia’s profiteering at the expense of its patients is the dirtiest kind of money. And yet, our eating disorder organizations will close their eyes, hold their noses and continue to accept Acadia’s dirty money.

Perhaps these organizations believe that because the foul stench of the dirty money is covered in shiny wrapping paper, i.e., on the surface it comes from those treatment centers owned by Acadia; McCallum Place, Carolina House, Montecatini and various smaller centers, then they are free to accept revenue built on the backs of suffering people whose lives are worsened by Acadia’s corporate greed.

Those organizations may believe that since they haven’t heard anything unethical or bad about those specific treatment centers, [not that they have investigated] then it is acceptable to continue to associate with them.

These organization’s parochial thinking ignores the harsh reality that Acadia’s mindset is focused on greed and unethical profiteering. These organizations may believe it is acceptable to wait until a patient has been raped, or sexually abused, or mistreated before they take some type of action. And even that may not be enough. After all, when the tsunami of abuse allegations was brought to the public’s attention, when a patient was allegedly raped, not one organization stood up and issued any statement condemning the on-going conduct. Not one!

These organizations have not come to the realization that, “Tattaglia is a pimp. He never could have outfought Santino. But I didn’t know until this day that it was Barzini all along.” Acadia is Barzini. And it will line up against a wall for execution, any of its treatment centers which do not turn a big enough profit.

If those organizations, knowing that the parent company is corrupt, and through demands for third party investigations, increased oversight and stronger vigilance, could have prevented future abuse in those facilities and instead does nothing … DOES NOTHING … they should be held accountable.

They need to understand it was, “Barzini/Acadia all along.” And are you going to collaborate with that type of reprobate?

AED … AT THE CROSSROADS

“Destroy the old you, before it destroys you. It’s not about erasing your history, but rather rewriting it with intention, resilience, and newfound strength. Break down the barriers that prevent you from becoming the best version of yourself. Strive to be better tomorrow than you were today.”

  • Author Unknown

The book on 2024 is closed and has been placed on the shelf.

Certainly, the book on the Academy for Eating Disorders (“AED”) is closed. In every way possible.

Its flaws and faults are many. Financially being taken advantage of by its “management company” and doing nothing. Emphasizing a radical, leftist agenda. A cowardly refusal to address corruption in the mental health community. A parochial self-important view. All these factors have conspired to push AED to the brink of extinction.

When Your Management Company Holds You Ransom

Virtual, Inc. is AED’s “management company.”

Virtual advertises that it provides the following services: “Our comprehensive services include finance and accounting; global events management; group secretariat support; HR services; leadership and operations consulting; membership management; marketing and creative services; certification and licensure management; communications; and cutting-edge technology solutions.”

So how has Virtual performed?

Under Virtual’s “leadership,” from 2020 through 2023, AED has reported a total combined loss of -$658,156.00.

For this cataclysmic financial performance, Virtual charged AED fees in the amount of $1,780,836.00.

Again …

A financial loss of -$658,156.00.

Management fees of $1,780,836.00.

Ponder that level of incompetence. Of professional negligence. Of malfeasance. And yet, AED stands idly by letting this financial drain happen, year, after year, after year, after year.

After one year alone of having a management company underperform resulting in a six-figure loss to an organization, that organization would undoubtedly take an exhaustive due diligence examination of the management company. But four consecutive years? And to have management fees be approximately three times the loss sustained by AED under that management company’s incompetence? Any rational organization would have long ago unleashed its legal counsel on that management company with the instructions to go medieval on that company.

But AED? It whistles by the graveyard. It does nothing. It continues to allow itself to be exploited and abused.  And we are justified in asking one question. A one-word question. That question is … Why?

Even still, AED’s issues and troubles are multifaceted.

AED’s Tribal Echo Chamber is of the Highest Importance

AED has been overrun by radical leftists who place their own outlandish political and social justice beliefs over people who suffer from eating disorders. Even over the financial welfare of its own organization.

In July 2024, AED announced its international conference (“ICED”) was going to take place in San Antonio, Texas in May 2025. In this announcement, AED broadcast its intention of using eating disorders as a platform upon which they intended to continue to propagate its radical political agenda over the priority of research of eating disorders.

AED stated:

“While Board members were excited at the opportunity, there was much concern for the comfort and safety of our attendees considering the political climate in the state of Texas.” 

“We understand and respect that some of you will make the decision not to attend ICED 2025 due to its location. We hope that you will continue to support AED, and perhaps consider a donation to one of the many grass roots organizations in San Antonio fighting for equality. Thank you.”

Good Lord. I cannot even begin to fathom how a mental health organization could understand, let alone respect a fear based, cowardly, irrational decision prioritizing a person’s blind allegiance to a political party over their chosen profession.

AED chose to foster a fear based, ideological platform before everything else. To say that AED has betrayed all families who suffer from eating disorders would be charitable.

So, let’s expose the irrationality of AED’s fear based, political agenda and observe its continued march toward irrelevancy and obsolescence.

The Bear is Blue

With regard to ICED in San Antonio, presumably, the AED “professionals” are concerned for their safety and welfare because a majority of Texans voted for Donald Trump for president. Perhaps they believe that all Republicans, or all who voted for President-Elect Trump are inherently evil.

And yet, one of the many things these AED “professionals” got wrong is they did not consider that Bexar County, the county in which San Antonio is located, is overwhelmingly blue… it is a Democratic stronghold. (Oh, and for clarity’s sake, Bexar is pronounced either “Bear” or “Bair,” your choice.)

Let’s review how the denizens of Bexar County voted in the last 5 presidential elections;’:

In 2024, Kamala Harris received 54.9% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2020, Joe Biden received 58.2% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2016, Hillary Clinton received 54.6% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2012, Barack Obama received 51.56% of the vote in Bexar County;

In 2008, Barack Obama received 52.41% of the vote in Bexar County.

Every judge presiding over the district courts in Bexar County (district courts are the courts in which civil and criminal lawsuits are first heard) is a Democrat. Many of these judges ran unopposed.

The mayor, the district attorney, and the county sheriff are all Democrats. 3 of the 4 county commissioners are Democrats. The 4th is a graduate of the Naval Academy, is a 4th generation military veteran, flew the F-18 fighter jet for 10 years during his tours of duty, graduated with an MBA from Wharton and is married with three children. What a scoundrel!

This information raises a number of questions. Why exactly are the members of AED concerned for their safety and welfare when they will be visiting an incredibly diverse city in which Hispanics comprise 59% of the population and the vast majority of the citizens are Democrats?

And why does AED “respect” the decision of its members who choose not to attend because of their narrow political views? If someone can supply an answer which is more accurate that “idiocy,” by all means, let us know.

AED’s short-sightedness is further demonstrated on its DEI position. Society has self-corrected on this topic. DEI is yesterday’s news.

In 2023 – 2024, rational people and companies decided that the quality and integrity of its product were of the utmost importance.  Companies like Google, Meta, Walmart, Ford, John Deere, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, Molson Coors, Boeing, Toyota, Microsoft and many other companies are scaling back or eliminating their DEI programs. Numerous universities throughout the United States are eliminating DEI programs.

They understand that equal opportunity does not mean equal results.

But AED? No.

AED is doubling down on DEI.  It still has its DEI Advisory Committee. This Committee’s purpose is: “The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee is responsible for helping move both our organization and our field in the direction of being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive and strengthening our organization’s policies, initiatives, and programs.”

Notice there is nothing about improving the quality of research being conducted. There is nothing about improving the quality and professionalism of AED’s members. There is nothing about how families will benefit from this Committee.

And still, AED members are concerned about their welfare and safety in San Antonio? Really? While AED is being systematically, financially abused every year to the point of bankruptcy? While AED elevates their social justice clown show over the needs of those who are suffering?

Speaking of Abuse and Misconduct

Perhaps because AED is a victim of financial abuse, AED refuses to speak out on other aspects of abuse and neglect perpetrated against our most vulnerable population. However, AED does embrace those causes which coincide with their radical vision.

On June 5, 2020, AED released a position paper announcing its solidarity with Black Lives Matter and offered insights into tackling “systemic anti-Black racism and White Supremacy within the eating disorder field.”

Click to access AED_Statement_on_Black_Lives_Matter.pdf

It should come as no surprise that when the corruption within the leadership of the Black Lives Matter movement was exposed, and the Black Lives Matter movement crumbled and became a shell of that which it aspired to be, AED, as a leftist political organization remained radio silent.

https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/reckoning-black-lives-matter

And yet, what is surprising is that as more and more corruption within the mental health and eating disorder fields is exposed by the legacy media, AED again chooses to do and say … nothing.

Corruption, Corruption and AED remains both mute and moot.

The widespread corruption at Acadia Healthcare cannot be denied. Our most vulnerable loved ones are being exploited and in some instances, abused, raped or killed. And still, AED does nothing. And says nothing.

Acadia Healthcare owns McCallum Place, Montecatini, Carolina House and Timberline Knolls. These “treatment centers” allegedly attempt to treat eating disorders.  Acadia is a publicly traded company which may end up as the most corrupt mental health organization in United States history.

2024 was catastrophic for Acadia. Acadia was eviscerated by the Senate Finance Committee in a damning report in June 2024 evidencing deceit and systemic abuse of patients; the New York Times published a comprehensive article evidencing that Acadia was committing many wrongful and/or unethical acts towards patients; Acadia agreed to pay a $19.8 million fine to the Department of Justice and three states; Acadia agreed to pay another $1.38 million to the United States because of Acadia’s misconduct directed toward employees; the Veteran’s Administration announced it was conducting its own investigation into Acadia; the New York Times published a second report on Acadia evidencing that Acadia methadone clinics fraudulently billed Medicaid and other insurers for therapy sessions that did not take place, some clinics accepted patients who were not addicted to opioids to boost patient volume, and dozens of current and former employees at Acadia clinics in 22 states told the Times the clinics sometimes failed to provide adequate counseling to patients receiving treatment for opioid use disorder. 

There are now at least four lawsuits filed against Acadia by disgruntled, angry investors. These lawsuits claim that Acadia, as a matter of its business practices and on a corporate wide basis, perpetrated widespread fraudulent acts and engaged in acts of misconduct and malfeasance. In August of 2024, a civil case was filed alleging that one of Timberline Knolls employees raped a patient in May of this year.

Rape. Sexual abuse. Emotional abuse. Mental Abuse. Fraud on the government. Fraud on families. And in response to the numerous investigations, fines, settlement agreements, lawsuits and patients being abused, all of which impacted Acadia’s volume and revenue growth, Acadia’s Chief Financial Officer, Heather Dixon stated, “If lower volumes persist, Acadia will reduce facility-level costs accordingly.” That means, the higher paid employees, i.e., medical doctors being laid off.

Profits, profits above all else.

And still, AED does and says nothing. And we must wonder … why?

After all, there is precedence for taking action. When Michael Jacksa’s widespread physical and sexual abuse was exposed at Timberline Knolls, the National Eating Disorder Association returned Timberline Knolls’ annual financial contribution of $10,000.00.  NEDA refused Timberline Knolls/Acadia’s dirty money.

However, at ICED 2025, as some AED “professionals” cower in fear concerned for their safety and welfare, undoubtedly Acadia and its subsidiaries, McCallum, Montecatini, Carolina House and Timberline Knolls will proudly display their wares in AED’s exhibit hall. At $3,500 per exhibit table, Acadia will undoubtedly be contributing at least $17,500 to AED’s coffers. [How else will Virtual be paid?]

We have various names for that conduct.  Accepting dirty money. Hypocrisy. Lack of integrity. AED refuses to speak out against systemic abuse in the mental health community and all the while is accepting money from a corrupt corporation which abuses patients and has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve lawsuits based on that abuse.

And yet, AED is not finished with its journey leading to its inevitable destruction. Nonetheless, the time has long since passed for AED to either take a stand with those who are abused and fight against corruption … or be part of the scandals, abuse and horrific conduct by cooperating with the perpetrators.

Ethics, Ethics Everywhere and None of it for …?

Since AED will not come to the mountain, the mountain will come to AED.

AED has an Ethics Committee. It’s long past time for AED to start utilizing it. Within one week, information regarding Acadia, its dirty practices and sordid conduct will be submitted to AED’s Ethics Committee. And AED will be faced with what should be a “no-brainer” decision.

AED can choose to support those who are victims by Acadia’s nefarious, illicit conduct. Or they can stand in solidarity with Acadia. Acadia, who abuses the system. Acadia, who abuses our most vulnerable population. Acadia, who abuses and removes hope. Acadia, who abuses and who removes … life.

But choose AED must … and will. And we will know the direction AED chooses. And the ramifications of that choice will determine whether AED remains a viable entity … until at least Virtual gets through with it.

TIMBERLINE KNOLLS SEXUAL ABUSE TRAUMA TREATMENT CENTER FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS?

Really?

Really?

Good Lord.

Just when you think that corporate hypocrisy and reprehensible conduct have reached an all-time low, we discover an even deeper level of hell.

The Timberline Knolls Sexual Abuse Trauma Treatment Center for Women and Girls … It leaves one nearly speechless. Nonetheless, let’s review.

In August 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Timberline Knolls alleging staff member Erick Hampton sexually assaulted a 24-year-old patient, Jane Doe, three times in May 2024.

Doe, who has bipolar and borderline personality disorders, was seeking treatment at the facility for suicidal thoughts. Despite reporting the assaults to a staff member via her roommate, no prompt action was taken, which resulted in Jane Doe being raped a third time.

The lawsuit also alleges Timberline Knolls falsely accused Doe of having a secret affair with a staff member and out of fear, she left the facility after less than two weeks. The lawsuit claims the assaults worsened her mental health condition, yet Hampton faces no criminal charges.

And remember, Timberline Knolls’ issues with sexually abusing patients goes back a number of years.

On August 21, 2018, Michael Jacksa, then a counselor at Timberline Knolls was arrested and charged with assaulting a 29-year-old patient at Timberline Knolls during two counseling sessions between May and June of 2018.

Jacksa was accused by patients of digitally penetrating their vaginas and buttocks, putting his hands beneath their clothing, fondling their breasts and forcing them to give him oral sex. During his first bond hearing, Jacksa reportedly admitted to police that he “probably went too far.”

This “probably went too far” conduct manifested itself by him being indicted for his reprehensible conduct directed toward a second victim. According to those charges, between Dec. 1, 2017 and Jan. 10, 2018, Jacksa was “treating” an out-of-state woman for eating disorders, anxiety and past sexual abuse. The patient alleges that Jacksa sexually assaulted her during four therapy sessions at Timberline Knolls. The prosecutor said the second woman came forward after seeing media reports.

According to the prosecutor, at least six other former patients from across the country contacted the Lemont Police Department stating that Jacksa engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior” during their respective therapy sessions.

But the problems are more widespread.

According to media sources, 546 calls were made to authorities from Timberline Knolls from 2023 – 2024.

Dozens of 911 calls related to criminal sexual abuse or sexual assault at Timberline Knolls were made to authorities since 2018.

These facts are set forth in a CBS news report from the greater Chicago area:

With all of the numerous issues involving rape, sexual abuse, sexual assault, inappropriate behavior and lack of oversight, one would rightly believe that an organization with a systemic problem of horrific patient care, would at least temporarily close the facility and bring in an independent third party to study and review Timberline Knolls’ policies and procedures.

Acadia and Timberline Knolls did not do this.

Instead, Timberline Knolls has the audacity to hold itself out as having, “A Timberline Knolls Sexual Abuse Trauma Treatment Center for Women and Girls.”  That can be found here:

https://www.timberlineknolls.com/trauma-ptsd/sexual-abuse-treatment/

At this point, so many questions could be asked. Thousands of words could be used to describe the hellish operations of Timberline Knolls.

Instead, perhaps only one question needs to be posed …

DOES TIMBERLINE KNOLLS ONLY TREAT THE SEXUAL ABUSE TRAUMA CAUSED BY ITS OWN EMPLOYEES … OR DOES IT INCLUDE SEXUAL ABUSE PERPETRATED BY OTHERS?

ACADIA’S TRAIL OF VICTIMS

Recent articles highlighted the many legal and financial issues plaguing Acadia Healthcare. Upon further research, additional legal and financial issues have come to light.

Lawsuits

There are now at least three lawsuits filed by disgruntled, angry investors. These lawsuits claim as a matter of its business practices and on a corporate wide basis, Acadia perpetrated fraudulent acts and engaged in acts of misconduct and malfeasance.

The oldest lawsuit was filed in 2018 by the St. Claire County Employees Retirement System on behalf of themselves and a class of other investors. The lawsuit alleges that throughout and before the Class Period,  Acadia, its officers and Board of Directors engaged  in  a  scheme  to  defraud  and  mislead  investors  concerning  patient  care,  staffing  levels,  and  legal  compliance  issues. Acadia has vigorously defended the case.  The Court granted class certification and the case is expected to go to trial in 2025.

Two other cases were filed in October 2024 after: Acadia was eviscerated by the Senate Finance Committee in a damning report in June 2024; the New York Times published a comprehensive article evidencing that Acadia was committing many wrongful and/or unethical acts towards patients; Acadia agreed to pay a $19.8 million fine to the Department of Justice and three states; Acadia agreed to pay another $1.38 million to the United States because of Acadia’s misconduct directed toward employees, and; the Veteran’s Administration announced it is conducting its own investigation into Acadia.

These cases were filed against Acadia, its CEO and CFO and prior CEO and CFO.  Amongst other claims, the lawsuits allege misrepresentation and fraud.

If found liable, Acadia could be forced to satisfy judgments in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Administrative Fines

In September 2024, Acadia agreed to pay $19.85 million dollars to the United States for knowingly submitting false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE for inpatient behavioral health services that were not reasonable nor medically necessary.

Acadia also agreed to pay $1,386,000 to the Securities Exchange Commission pursuant to a Cease and Desist Order entered on September 9, 2024. In this investigation, the SEC found that Acadia had, as a matter of its employment practices, violated rules permitting whistleblowers to receive a reward payment for reporting Acadia’s employment practices to the appropriate federal agency. Acadia also required some of its departing employees to waive their right to file a complaint with any federal government agency.

These provisions created impediments to participation in the SEC’s whistleblower program by requiring employees to forego either their right to file a complaint with the Commission staff or the financial award they might receive for doing so. Through this conduct, Acadia violated SEC Act Rule 21F17(a), which prohibits any person from taking any action to impede an individual from communicating directly with the Commission staff about a possible securities law violation.

These agreements were signed by former employees 56 times between 2019 and 2023.

The Veteran’s Administration announced it was proceeding with its investigation into Acadia for violating laws pertaining to Tricare.

In May 2019, Acadia agreed to pay the federal government $17 million to settle allegations it defrauded Medicaid in West Virginia. The federal government alleged that a subsidiary [CRC Health, L.L.C.] of Acadia which owns seven drug addiction treatment centers in West Virginia, defrauded Medicaid over several years through false claims for laboratory tests related to the opioid epidemic.

Since 2000, Acadia has paid approximately $49,000,000 in fines to federal and state agencies for its egregious conduct.

Other Governmental Investigations

As previously stated, a Senate Committee Report and the New York Times (twice) eviscerated Acadia for its business practices.  On October 3, 2024, Adam Schiff, Senator-elect from the State of California, sent a letter on Congressional letterhead to Acadia demanding answers to eight (8) questions addressing a number of the improprieties.

One of these questions was, “Tim Blair, an Acadia spokesman, has publicly acknowledged that Acadia has deployed employees, referred to as “assessors,” throughout nearby hospital emergency rooms to support hospital staff. What specific services do assessors provide? What education-level and qualifications are required to work as an assessor? What specific training is provided to assessors by Acadia?”

The next day, October 9, 2024, Ron Wyden, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting that the Department of Justice begin an investigation into the facts set forth in the Senate Report.

Private Lawsuits

In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against amongst other defendants, Acadia Healthcare. In that lawsuit, a guardian of an adolescent accused the Acadia companies of failing to protect a young girl under their care. The filing states that an employee of one of Acadia’s subsidiary companies repeatedly raped the child in 2018. The jury awarded the plaintiff $485 million dollars in damages.  Acadia initially stated it would challenge the jury verdict.

Instead, Acadia paid the plaintiff $400 million. $400,000,000.00!

There are at least four (4) lawsuits filed against Acadia and Timberline Knolls and criminal cases pending against Michael Jacksa, a former Timberline Knolls counselor.  Jacksa sexually assaulted at least six (6) patients at Timberline Knolls.

In 2018, Acadia through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ascent Children’s Health Services announced it was closing all ten (10) locations in the State of Arkansas. This closure displaced nearly 1700 children.

The closures were announced after the settlement of a Crittenden County Circuit Court civil lawsuit filed in July 2017 by Ashley Smith, mother of 2-year-old Christopher Gardner. Christopher died June 12, 2017, after being left in a transport van at the West Memphis facility for eight hours. Ascent workers signed documents showing that Christopher was taken inside the West Memphis day care center, even though he remained on the van.

Kendra Washington, Felicia Ann Phillips, Wanda Taylor and Pamela Lavette Robinson, all former Ascent employees were charged with felony manslaughter in Christopher’s death. 

In August of 2024, a civil case was filed alleging that one of Timberline Knolls employees raped a patient in May of this year. A law firm based in Indianapolis represents at least (7) patients who were abused at the hands of Acadia. At least three of these cases are pending in state courts in Indiana and substantiate the allegations made against Acadia.

Now, a former patient of Acadia from Texas has come forth. She alleges the same reprehensible conduct perpetrated by Acadia at other facilities was directed against her. And … I have the honor and privilege of co-counseling with that Indiana law firm to pursue her rights here in Texas.

For those who continue to deal with Acadia (as is your right), for those who continue to accept Acadia’s money, you may wish to review the definition of “dirty money.”

For that money came from patients who were wrongfully held against their will, from patients who were held for the sole purpose of increasing the profit margin of Acadia, from patients who did not receive adequate care or treatment, from patients who were abused and in some cases, sexually assaulted or raped. From patients who died at the hands of employees of Acadia.

And to those organizations which have accepted thousands of dollars from Acadia entities, organizations which have actual knowledge of Acadia’s wrongful conduct, organizations with so called ethics committees but who do nothing … NOTHING … to demand accountability or assess consequences … when you look into a mirror, that death mask reflected back is the visage of your acquiescence, your acceptance and your guilt.

APOLOGIES

In a recent article addressing the on-going issues at Acadia Healthcare, I referenced an event hosted by “Renewed, Eating Disorders Support” based in Tennessee. The co-host and presenter was Acadia Healthcare.

Even though I did not name the presenters, I did note the keynote talk was entitled, “Adventures in Treating Eating Disorders: Sharing Wisdom from a Cumulative 75 years of Practice.” 

I was recently contacted by one of the presenters of the keynote. She asked some very direct, poignant questions, questioned the reasons behind the inclusion in the article of that particular talk and why not others. She came across as a strong, intelligent, direct professional. She did what very few people in the community have had the courage to do.

She immediately gained my respect.

And after reviewing the article and the points raised by her, I concluded I was in the wrong.

So, to Ovidio Bermudez and Reba Sloan, the co-presenters of that keynote talk, I extend my deepest apology and hope that you can accept it.

I have personally known Ovidio for a few years. For that matter, who doesn’t know Ovidio? He is a giant in the community. I have had the privilege of sitting down with him on more than one occasion in social settings. We have discussed cigars, chess, our granddaughters, fishing and life in general. My respect for Ovidio is immense.

Reba, I have not met. But she did something that very few people in the community have had the courage to do.  She reached out to me directly and engaged with me in a professional, no-nonsense communication. She told me about her background and how hard she has been fighting for people suffering.  She explained why the article should not have included the talk. She was 100% correct.

When I investigated further, I discovered that Reba is the co-founder of the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee/Renewed… the host of that event. And clarity became even greater. Reba was fighting for and defending that which she brought into the community… as any good founder would.

Ovidio and Reba are not connected with Acadia Healthcare. They were presenting at an event where Acadia was listed as the primary sponsor and presenter. My inclusion of the title of their presentation was obviously not thought through well enough.

I will certainly not make any excuses for this lapse in judgment.  I believe that proffered excuses only diminish the sincerity of an apology.

And so, apologies. No excuses. No attempts to explain or cast a better light. Simply …

My apology.  

$19.85 MILLION, KARMA AND THE HMS ACADIA

Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning “action.” Generally, we understand it to mean the consequences of one’s actions. The word “karma” is commonly used to indicate bad karma, and the word “merit” is often used to indicate good karma. The law of karma is best described as “cause and effect” because every action (or cause) has a corresponding consequence (or effect). If you plant good causes, you will reap good effects, and if you plant bad causes you will reap bad effects.

There have been many quotes about karma.  “Karma is a cruel mistress.” “For the keynote of the law of karma is equilibrium, and nature is always working to restore the equilibrium whenever through man’s acts it is disturbed.”

Karma comes at unexpected times and in unexpected ways.  Case in point, recent statements made by Christopher Hunter, the current CEO of Acadia Healthcare. In August, in response to a question about the recent damning Senate Committee report about Acadia, Mr. Hunter stated: “Yes. I would say we just haven’t seen any real impact from the Senate hearing in the report. … And so, it’s also not overly material from a financial standpoint to begin with.”

About six weeks after Mr. Hunter’s heartless statement, the Justice Department announced that Acadia agreed to pay $19.85 million to settle an investigation into Acadia.

The United States contended that between 2014 and 2017, Acadia knowingly submitted false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare for inpatient behavioral health services that were not reasonable or medically necessary. In particular, the United States contended that Acadia admitted beneficiaries who were not eligible for inpatient treatment and failed to properly discharge beneficiaries when they no longer needed inpatient treatment and had improper and excessive lengths of stay.

The United States further alleged that Acadia knowingly failed to provide adequate staffing, training and/or supervision of staff, which resulted in assaults, elopements, suicides and other harm resulting from these staffing failures. In addition, Acadia allegedly failed to provide inpatient acute care in accord with federal and state regulations, including, but not limited to, by failing to provide active treatment, to develop and/or update individualized assessments and treatment plans, to provide adequate discharge planning and to provide required individual and group therapy.

Despite this punitive payment and financial hit, Mr. Hunter had this to say, “The allegation that Acadia systematically holds patients longer than medically necessary is false and goes directly against everything we do and stand for when it comes to patient care.”

It is curious that Mr. Hunter believes those claims to be false after Acadia agreed to pay almost $20 million to make those claims go away.

Of course, karma was just beginning for Mr. Hunter. Since Mr. Hunter focuses on the financial bottom line alone, we can assume he must be greatly concerned that Acadia’s stock hit a 52-week low of $42.56 on October 31, 2024. Acadia shares are down more than 44% since the beginning of the year. In fact, Acadia’s stock price has not been this low since November 2020.

Even still, karma was not through with Mr. Hunter. In September 2024, the Justice Department and Inspector General, through Robert DeConti, the inspector general’s chief counsel, stated that the $20 million settlement does not impede investigators from exploring allegations regarding more recent activities.

And so, on September 27, 2024, Acadia disclosed that it received a request for information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, and that it expects similar requests from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the Company’s patient admissions, as well as its length of stay and billing practices.

On October 18, 2024, the New York Times published an article titled “Veterans Dept. Investigating Acadia Healthcare for Insurance Fraud.” The article stated that the Veterans Affairs Department is investigating whether Acadia is defrauding government health insurance programs by holding patients longer than is medically necessary. The New York Times also stated that several former Acadia employees in Georgia and Missouri have also been interviewed by agents from the F.B.I. and the inspector general’s office of the Health and Human Services Department. 

In a separate press release, Acadia Healthcare said the company is cooperating fully with authorities in response to that on-going government investigation.

Naturally, Mr. Hunter a/k/a Captain Smith continued to steer the HMS Acadia toward the iceberg. In addressing these reports, he stated they are inconsistent with Acadia’s policies and do not reflect the medical complexities involved in behavioral healthcare. Dear Captain Smith… An organization is defined by its conduct, not by its CEO’s words.

Karma had one last present for Mr. Hunter. Acadia, its former CEO, its current and former Chief Financial Officers, and of course, Christopher Hunter were all named as defendants in a recent class action lawsuit filed in Tennessee. Acadia, Mr. Hunter and the other defendants were sued for allegedly violating securities laws following Acadia’s September 27, 2024 announcement about the federal grand jury subpoena.

Not coincidentally, Acadia’s stock price fell 16% alone on September 27, 2024, wiping out over $1 billion in market capitalization.

$1 billion in market capitalization.

It gets worse.  When Captain Smith was brought aboard the HMS Acadia on April Fool’s Day in 2022, the market capitalization of Acadia was $6.04 BILLION.  Market capitalization is regarded as the most accurate value of a publicly listed company.  What was Acadia’s market capitalization at the close of business Friday, November 2, 2024? $3.9 billion. So, after ramming into the side of the iceberg, Mr. Hunter/Captain Smith steered the HMS Acadia to a $2.14 BILLION dollar, 35% loss in the company/stock value.

As the HMS Acadia fills with water and starts to list, we are certainly justified in asking Mr. Hunter / Captain Smith, “Is it overly material now … that is, from a financial standpoint to begin with?”

Karma can be oh so cruel.

And as the HMS Titanic plunges toward the bottom of the icy ocean, shouldn’t families, patients and people suffering from any mental illness ask themselves, “why in the world would I subject myself to the HMS Acadia after it plowed into the iceberg and is sinking to the bottom of the North Atlantic?”

Get someone else to rearrange the deck chairs.

Marketers: What You Need to Know About Negligent Referral

Negligent referral is a cause of action in Texas (and in many states) which assesses liability against a person who refers another to the care and treatment of an incompetent third party and that third party causes harm to the person referred. Ordinarily, the referral itself is not enough. You must have know, or should have known, of incompetency or some other triggering factor which causes the negligence to manifest itself.

Knew or should have known of damning information.

In short, if you know, or in the exercise of reasonable care, you should have known of some damning information or evidence perpetrated by an entity, and you refer someone to that entity without disclosing that information, you could be liable should that person be harmed.

The shortest version? “It could be yo’ ass.”

Which brings us once again to Timberline Knolls.

Timberline Knolls and Acadia use marketers throughout the United States. In my time in the community, I have had the privilege of getting to know several of their marketers.  Most all are personable and very likeable.

But being upbeat, likeable and personable must always take a backseat to being responsible, transparent and placing the needs of the population you serve first and foremost.

And so, arises duty. The duty of honesty. The duty to disclose. The duty to investigate. The duty to place the needs of families suffering from eating disorders above your own wants or perceived needs.

As a marketer, families have the right to know, and (in my legal opinion) you have the duty to disclose:

  1. A patient of Timberline Knolls claims to have been raped in May and that when first reported, the staff at Timberline Knolls did nothing.
  • That patient has filed a lawsuit against Timberline Knolls.
  • A former employee of Timberline Knolls, Michael Jacksa was indicted for sexually abusing six (6) former patients at Timberline Knolls in 2019.
  • CBS News Chicago Investigators stated that a record of 911 calls for service to Timberline Knolls showed dozens of calls related to criminal sexual abuse or sexual assault since 2018.
  • The Lemont Police Department stated that it had received 546 calls for service from Timberline Knolls from 2023 – 2024.
  • Since 2020, [after Jacksa] the Lemont Police Department claims to have received reports from patients saying they had been sexually assaulted or abused, many of whom were juveniles.
  • The New York Times published a report indicating that Acadia Healthcare allegedly held patients longer than was necessary and often against their will at certain facilities. The report also claims Acadia trumped up patient symptoms in reports to payers to extract more reimbursement.
  •  The United States Senate Committee on Finance conducted a two-year study of four major companies, including Acadia, providing mental health services to children and adolescents and found numerous alarming issues. 

These issues are material and relevant to a family vetting a place of healing with whom they entrust their beloved family member.

As a marketer, you can probably get away with not disclosing that the CEO of Acadia looks upon a family’s loved one as part of a “difficult population,” and that Acadia intends to simply let “the people that deal with this population” handle the many troubling issues. Notwithstanding that those are the people contributing to the very problems.

But as of now, as marketers, and whether you market to families, primary care physicians, or any third parties, you are on notice of the many problems at Timberline Knolls.  You cannot claim nor feign ignorance.

You have a strong, undelegable duty.

If you choose to continue to conduct business as usual and one of the souls you are responsible for referring is harmed by substandard care or by predators, you could be liable.

Govern yourself accordingly.

$$$

“And so it’s also not overly material from a financial standpoint to begin with.”

            Chris Hunter, CEO, Acadia Healthcare, August 1, 2024

Mr. Hunter’s statement was made to investors at an Acadia quarterly meeting. The statement pertains to Acadia’s response to a scathing report issued by the Senate Committee on Finance.

The question and answer were as follows:

Ben Hendrix

“And just if I could ask 1 on the legislative and regulatory backdrop. Your peer, UHS, noted little fallout to date regarding the Senator Wyden investigation into RTC. So I was just wondering kind of what you’re preparing for or expecting could come down the line from a legislative perspective, whether it be transparency, oversight, minimum staffing, et cetera?”

Chris Hunter

“Yes. I would say we just haven’t seen any real impact from the Senate hearing in the report. I think we believe that the people that deal with this patient population every day, and that certainly includes our referral sources, as well as the various regulatory oversight bodies that are routinely in these facilities, understand that this is just a really difficult population. I think they also understand that our facilities are providing high-quality care to this population, and we demonstrate that routinely with the outcomes that we’re able to achieve. And so we just haven’t seen impact. I’d also point out that our RTC business is small. We only operate 9 facilities. It’s about 11% of our revenue. And so it’s also not overly material from a financial standpoint to begin with.”

This statement was made on August 1, 2024.

Mr. Hunter’s statement was made approximately six (6) weeks after a scathing report was issued by the Senate Committee on Finance. A few of the more alarming conclusions were as follows:

  • Children suffer routine harm inside Residential Treatment Facilities (“RTF”). The risk of harm to children in RTFs is endemic to the operating model. 
  • Horrific instances of sexual abuse persist unremediated inside RTFs. 
  • RTFs often employ unqualified or inadequately trained staff and that staff routinely fail to discharge their duties. RTF staffing failures have led to tragic incidents, including child fatalities, and childrens’ repeated exposure to risk. 
  • State and federal oversight authorities fail to effectively identify and address harm to children in RTFs. When RTFs correct deficiencies, their efforts are remedial rather than company wide.

Mr. Hunter made this statement after he knew or should have known of the existence of 194 pages of statements made by victims, parents and former employees of residential treatment centers. These 194 pages are embedded here:

Click to access survivor_testimony_submitted_into_the_record_by_chairman_wyden_during_hearing.pdf

Mr. Hunter made this statement after he knew or should have known a patient in Timberline Knolls was allegedly raped three (3) times by an employee of Timberline Knolls in May 2024. These alleged rapes were reported to the staff at Timberline Knolls that same month.

Mr. Hunter made this statement even though a record of 911 calls for service to Timberline Knolls obtained by CBS News Chicago Investigators showed dozens of calls related to criminal sexual abuse or sexual assault since 2018.

Mr. Hunter made this statement even though the Lemont Police Department stated that it had received 546 calls for service from Timberline Knolls from 2023 – 2024.

Mr. Hunter made this statement even though on at least eight occasions since 2020, the Lemont Police Department received reports from patients saying they had been sexually assaulted or abused, many of which involved juveniles.

I have not yet verified the veracity of the statements from the Lemont Police Department nor the Chicago CBS News Investigators. But what incentive would they have to prevaricate?

“And so, it’s not overly material from a financial standpoint to being with.”

With the reports and allegations of abuse from third parties, I can scarcely envision a more damning statement proving that patient safety takes a back seat to profits.

546 calls for service from Timberline Knolls from 2023 – 2024.

Dozens of 911 calls related to criminal sexual abuse or sexual assault at Timberline Knolls since 2018.

194 pages of statements made by victims, parents and former employees of residential treatment centers.

At least 1 daughter raped three times by an employee of Timberline Knolls before Mr. Hunter’s statement.

“And so, it’s not overly material from a financial standpoint to being with.”

Acadia and its feckless CEO are evaluating human suffering utilizing a measuring stick marked with dollars and cents alone.

And they have determined that human suffering, assaults, rapes, and egregious conduct are not material if they do not impact the bottom line.

From a financial standpoint.

Timberline Knolls

Dante’s seminal work, “The Divine Comedy,” is regarded as one of greatest writings in Western Literature. It is divided into three parts: Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso.

This literary masterpiece discusses “the state of the soul after death and presents an image of divine justice meted out as due punishment or reward” as it describes Dante’s travels through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. There are nine circles of the Inferno, or Hell, followed by Lucifer contained at its bottom.

We now know there is a tenth level not addressed by Dante.  This level is Timberline Knolls in Lemont, Illinois. 

On August 21, 2018, Michael Jacksa, then a counselor at Timberline Knolls was arrested and charged with assaulting a 29 year old patient at Timberline Knolls during two counseling sessions between May and June of 2018. 

Jacksa was accused by patients of digitally penetrating their vaginas and buttocks, putting his hands beneath their clothing, fondling their breasts and forcing them to give him oral sex. During his first bond hearing on Aug. 21, Jacksa reportedly admitted to police that he “probably went too far.”

This “probably went too far” conduct manifested itself by him being indicted for his reprehensible conduct directed toward a second victim. According to those charges, between Dec. 1, 2017 and Jan. 10, 2018, Jacksa was treating an out-of-state woman for eating disorders, anxiety and past sexual abuse. The patient alleges that Jacksa sexually assaulted her during four therapy sessions at Timberline Knolls. The prosecutor said the second woman came forward after seeing media reports.

According to the prosecutor, at least six other former patients of Jacksa’s from across the country have contacted the Lemont Police Department stating that Jacksa allegedly engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior” during their respective therapy sessions.

But that is not the end of Timberline Knolls and Acadia’s problems.  Not nearly.

On September 1, 2024, a New York Times report published a scathing article about Acadia Healthcare, the publicly traded company which owns Timberline Knolls. The article and its follow up can be found here:

In short, the New York Times report indicated that Acadia Healthcare allegedly held patients longer than was necessary and often against their will at certain facilities. The report also claims Acadia trumped up patient symptoms in reports to payers to extract more reimbursement. The Report stated: “Acadia has exaggerated patients’ symptoms. It has tweaked medication dosages, then claimed patients needed to stay longer because of the adjustment. And it has argued that patients are not well enough to leave because they did not finish a meal,” the New York Times alleged. “Unless the patients or their families hire lawyers, Acadia often holds them until their insurance runs out.” 

This Report allegedly included at least 12 of the 19 states where Acadia operates psychiatric hospitals. Dozens of patients, employees and police officers notified authorities that the company was detaining people in ways that broke the law, the report stated, citing records. It is unknown whether Timberline Knolls is part of that conduct.

Acadia stated the assertions are inaccurate.

But that is not the end of Timberline Knolls and Acadia’s problems.  Not nearly.

The United States Committee on Finance conducted a two-year study of four major companies providing mental health services to children and adolescents.  One of the four companies? Acadia Healthcare.

The findings of that study were released on June 12, 2024.  The study can be found here:

Click to access sfc_report_warehouses_of_neglect.pdf

The testimony before the Committee and the Exhibits supporting the study can be found here:

https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/youth-residential-treatment-facilities-examining-failures-and-evaluating-solutions

The study’s findings can be summarized as follows:

  • Children suffer routine harm inside Residential Treatment Facilities (“RTF”). The risk of harm to children in RTFs is endemic to the operating model. 
  • Children inside RTFs often do not get the treatment they need for mental and behavioral health needs, despite RTFs being reimbursed with federal dollars to provide intensive services. 
  • Horrific instances of sexual abuse persist unremediated inside RTFs. 
  • The use of restraint and seclusion in RTFs allows for unchecked abuse. RTF staff have too often ignored federal restraint and seclusion regulations, resulting in daily use of restraint and seclusion in some instances.  
  • RTFs often employ unqualified or inadequately trained staff and that staff routinely fail to discharge their duties. RTF staffing failures have led to tragic incidents, including child fatalities, and childrens’ repeated exposure to risk. 
  • RTFs are often non-homelike environments, exposing children to unsafe and unsanitary conditions. 
  • RTFs often fail to effectively maintain connections between children and their communities and to plan for childrens’ discharge to the community for ongoing care. 
  • RTFs often employ carceral technology to monitor children, creating environments that feel more like detention facilities than therapeutic settings. 
  • State and federal oversight authorities fail to effectively identify and address harm to children in RTFs. When RTFs correct deficiencies, their efforts are remedial rather than company-wide.
  • Exploiting corporate structures can enable RTF operators to evade oversight. 

Surely, this scathing report must have had an immediate and severe impact on Acadia Healthcare with far fewer referrals and a commitment to investigate and improve. Uh … no.

In an August 5, 2024 call with investors, Chris Hunter, CEO of Acadia Healthcare, said the behavioral health provider had not seen any negative effects from the report. 

Hunter stated: “Residential treatment centers comprise around 11% of Acadia’s revenue… We believe that the people that deal with this patient population every day, and that certainly includes our referral sources, as well as the various regulatory oversight bodies that are routinely in these facilities, understand that this is just a really difficult population.”

That a boy Chris! Don’t address the damning evidence in the Committee’s Report but do insinuate blame on your patient population.  Profits, profits uber alles! Well played, sirrah. 

But that is not the end of Timberline Knolls and Acadia’s problems.  Not nearly.

In August 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Timberline alleging staff member Erick Hampton sexually assaulted a 24-year-old patient, Jane Doe, three times in May 2024.

Doe, who has bipolar and borderline personality disorder, was seeking treatment at the facility for suicidal thoughts. Despite reporting the assaults to a staff member via her roommate, no prompt action was taken, allowing Jane Doe to be raped a third time.

The lawsuit also alleges that Doe was falsely accused of having a secret affair with a staff member and was forced to leave the facility, after less than two weeks, out of fear. The lawsuit claims the assaults worsened her mental health condition, yet Hampton faces no criminal charges.

Worsened her mental health conditions. Rape will certainly do that.

So, in the past four months, Acadia, the parent company of Timberline Knolls:

  1. Was the subject of a scathing Senate Finance Committee Report on systemic abuse of children and adolescents;
  2. Was the subject of a scathing New York Times Report alleging system abuse of children and adolescents;
  3. Was the subject of a scathing lawsuit alleging one of Timberline Knolls employees raped a patient three times while under their so-called care.

Timberline Knolls should have still been reeling from the Jacksa incidents and implemented wholesale changes and improvements to prevent instances of abuse from happening again. Instead?

It is business as usual. According to Acadia’s CEO, its bottom line has not been impacted and families are still referring their loved ones to Timberline Knolls. Acadia marketers are drumming up business with no thought about the possible harm nor consequences.

So, what can be done? For one, complaints with all of this information can be sent to the Attorney General of Tennessee (where Acadia is based); the Attorney General of Illinois (where Timberline Knolls is based); to the Joint Commission; to the REDC and published widely on social media.  Attempted collaboration can be undertaken with the law firms representing the latest victims at Timberline Knolls. Those things can certainly be done. But the question remains …

What are you prepared to do?