There is new fallout from an abuse scandal at an East Hartford group home. A disabled patient has field a lawsuit claiming he was tortured. Now legal troubles could lie ahead.
“This company has no business dealing with our most fragile citizens,” said attorney Kevin Ferry.
The lawsuit was filed against Options Unlimited, which runs the group home on King Street where Kevin Ferry's severely disabled client was allegedly tortured.
“What they did to him is incredible,” Ferry explained.
He gave NBC Connecticut pictures that showed marks on the patient’s body. Ferry said the staff repeatedly burned him with a lighter to control his behavior in September of 2011.
The lawsuit also claimed the employees even sexually assaulted him, and supposedly grabbed and squeezed his genitals.
“I thought I’ve heard and seen it all but no, I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this,” Ferry admitted.
Ferry said workers at the group home actually recorded his client getting abused, but it was unclear how many times this might have happened. “Maybe it was for some sick twisted fun they wanted to have,” he said.
Police believed a number of patients were abused at the group home, and said in one instance, a disabled woman was kicked in the stomach and dragged by the hair. The incident was caught on camera too.
Authorities arrested three workers so far. Stephanie Jones, the now former assistant manager. As well as ex-employees, Angelica Rivera and Jevaun Phillips.
“The worst possible thing that could happen to someone with these particular issues,” Ferry added.
Ferry wants the company in charge of the group home held accountable. “A company like that doesn’t deserve to be in business,” Ferry said.
NBC Connecticut did reach out to Options Unlimited for a comment on the lawsuit. The director of the company referred NBC Connecticut to a lawyer, and he did not return phone calls.
