A fourth lawsuit has been filed against the Bridge Family Center, the operator of the former Short Term Assessment & Respite (STAR) home in Harwinton. It alleges the plaintiff, who was 15-years-old at the time, was sexually assaulted while residing at the home.
The lawsuit was filed in Hartford Superior Court on May 22 and brings one charge of corporate negligence and one count of breach of special duty of care to children against the Bridge Family Center. It was filed on behalf of a former resident of the Harwinton STAR home, who resided at the home at various times, including between January 2020 and April 2020.
According to the lawsuit, during the plaintiff’s stay at the home at that time, she “suffered various forms of sexual abuse and neglect while at the facility including sexual assaults by another resident of the facility.” She reportedly also suffered “significant physical and emotional harm” as a result.
The suit further says that the abuse occurred because of the Bridge Family Center’s negligence, including as a result of a failure to properly supervise minor residents, including the plaintiff, and as a result of failing to follow the support plan it should have had in place for the plaintiff. It also alleges the operators of the home failed to properly supervise employees and to provide them with training, failed to provide proper security, and failed to provide the plaintiff with around the clock supervision.
“It was reasonably foreseeable that the defendant’s negligence would result in injuries to its plaintiff.” the suit claims.
As a result, the lawsuit claims the plaintiff suffered physical and sexual assaults and physical and emotional injuries, exposure to illegal activities, great fear and shame, an aggravation of her existing emotional and psychological condition, and permanent psychological and emotional harm. “As a further result of the defendant’s negligence, the plaintiff will never enjoy the health and wellbeing she did prior to becoming a resident at the defendant’s facility, and her ability to enjoy the full spectrum of life’s activities has been impaired.” the lawsuit reads.
A second count for breach of special duty of care to children alleges that the plaintiff’s injuries occurred because the STAR home employees failed to carry out their duties in a variety of ways, including by investigating whether employees were following proper protocols.
The suit is requesting $15,000 in monetary damages as well as punitive damages and other relief the court deems appropriate.
The lawsuit is the fourth that has been filed against the former operators of the Harwinton STAR home since September 2023. The first lawsuit filed against the home alleged a 14-year-old girl was physically assaulted while she was housed there. A second lawsuit filed in February 2024 alleged another 14-year-old who had been placed at the home had been raped during her stay. Another lawsuit alleging a former resident of the home was raped was filed later that same month.
The Department of Children and Families announced the closure of the home in November 2023. This followed an informational hearing by the legislature’s Committee on Children in October 2023. The hearing followed reporting from Inside Investigator that revealed a series of incidents that had occurred at the home, including reports of sexual and physical assault and frequent trips by law enforcement and emergency services to the former home.
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