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Chicago Group Home Abuse Lawyer

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Group homes are intended to offer safe, inclusive spaces where people with developmental disabilities can learn to live as independently as possible. When CILA caregivers neglect their duty to protect these vulnerable citizens, you can count on a group home abuse lawyer at Levin & Perconti to stand up to the home provider and fight for justice for your loved one.

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Quick Facts About Levin & Perconti

Group home abuse can cause life-threatening physical injuries while leaving the victim with profound psychological damage that hinders growth and development. Sadly, this abuse is often perpetrated by the very caregivers who are supposed to protect them and foster that growth.

CILA group home abuse often remains in the shadows because those affected have difficulty understanding or vocalizing what occurred. The Illinois Department of Human Services is responsible for supervising CILA facilities, but a 2018 audit by the Office of the Auditor General uncovered serious shortcomings in DHS monitoring and licensing procedures.

As a result, CILA group home providers have been able to continue abusing these innocent individuals without oversight.

If your loved one has suffered mistreatment in a CILA group home setting, our compassionate and experienced CILA lawyers at Levin & Perconti can help you take immediate action to protect your loved one and pursue substantial compensation.

What Is a Community Integrated Living Arrangement?

A Community Integrated Living Arrangement is a group home, family home, or apartment where up to eight adults with developmental disabilities live under supervision. They receive individualized supportive services and assistance in maintaining, developing, and improving life skills. CILA group home facilities are licensed and supervised by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

According to the Illinois Auditor General, there were 3,097 CILA group home facilities in Illinois as of 2018, which serve approximately 10,000 developmentally disabled individuals. Approximately a third of them are located in Cook County.

How Common Is CILA Group Home Abuse?

Who Is Liable for Group Home and CILA Abuse?

The exact incidence of CILA group home abuse is unknown because this crime is largely underreported.

In 2021, DHS received 779 allegations of abuse, but by the end of the fiscal year, it had failed to complete investigations of 579 of the allegations. Of the 200 allegations that were investigated, DHS found the following:

  • 18 substantiated cases of abuse
  • 76 unsubstantiated cases, which means there was credible evidence of abuse but not enough to verify it
  • 25 unsubstantiated allegations with recommendations, which means the facility was admonished to make changes
  • 74 unfounded allegations, which means there was no credible evidence of abuse
  • 7 unfounded allegations with recommendations

Based on this data, more than half of the allegations were credible, which means hundreds of CILA group home residents may still be experiencing abuse unchecked after the abuse was reported to DHS. This is in addition to the thousands of unreported instances of abuse that may be occurring, which calls into question whether CILA group homes are safe.

Related: Shocking Video Shows 28-Year-Old Disabled Man Being Hit Repeatedly in the Head at a Group Home

Liability for abuse in group homes falls on the staff member who committed the abuse, the owner of the facility, any staff or organization that manages the facilities, and in some cases, the Department of Human Services.

What Types of Abuse Occurs in CILA Group Homes?

There are many types of abuse that can take place in CILA group homes. Abuse can be defined as any intentional or inappropriate conduct against a group home client that could cause physical, psychological, or financial harm, including the following:

  • Mental abuse – Degrading, intimidating, or threatening words or actions that may cause emotional distress in anyone who experiences or witnesses it
  • Physical abuse – Deliberate or malicious physical contact that causes bodily harm
  • Sexual abuse – Any sexual or intimate conduct perpetrated on a resident by an employee, including sexual intercourse and fondling, but also actions that do not involve physical contact, such as exposing oneself, displaying pornographic materials, or sexually explicit language
  • Financial exploitation – Accessing a resident’s money or property through theft, manipulation, or coercion and using it for personal financial gain
  • Neglect – Failure to provide for the physical and mental needs of CILA residents
  • Abandonment – Leaving a CILA resident without care or supervision

Who Are the Abusers in CILA Group Home Settings?

Abuse can be perpetrated by anyone who comes into contact with residents, including family members, vendors, and other residents. Unfortunately, most abuse is perpetrated by employees. Neglect is one of the most common forms of abuse, and this alone can have profound physical and psychological impacts on vulnerable adults.

Warning Signs of Abuse in CILA Group Home Facilities

Recognizing the warning signs of abuse in CILA group home residents is crucial because they may be afraid, embarrassed, or unable to tell you about it. The following symptoms of abuse in developmentally disabled adults may be warning signs if they are unusual, especially if they appear suddenly:

  • Behavioral changes
  • Withdrawal
  • Nervousness
  • Fearfulness
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Unexplained injuries
  • Overmedication
  • Isolation
  • Dehydration
  • Malnourishment
  • Poor hygiene
  • Lack of food or toiletries
  • Pressure ulcers

Warning signs of financial exploitation include the following:

  • Withdrawals of large amounts of cash
  • Unexplained credit card charges
  • Checks that appear forged
  • Unpaid bills
  • Unfamiliar creditors

If you see checks signed by your loved one but written to individuals you or your loved one doesn’t know, or for purchases your loved one would not have made, this could also be a sign of financial exploitation.

What to Do If You Suspect Abuse in a CILA Group Home

If you suspect your loved one has been abused in a CILA facility, take the following immediate action:

  1. Call the Office of the Inspector General’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-368-1463.
  2. Call the police. If your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.
  3. Contact an experienced CILA abuse lawyer.

Don’t wait until you can prove the abuse. A suspicion is enough to warrant a report. When you contact one of our compassionate and skilled CILA group home abuse attorneys, we will help you report the abuse to the proper authorities, immediately go to work to protect your loved one’s safety, and help you file a lawsuit against the liable parties.

Victims of Group Home Abuse May Be Entitled to Financial Compensation

If your loved one has experienced abuse in a group home setting, you can count on our empathetic and capable CILA group home abuse attorneys to fight for your loved one. Your loved one may be entitled to recover significant compensation for damages, including the following:

  • Mental anguish
  • Physical pain
  • Medical expenses
  • Moving expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of society

The compensation you and your loved one recover will depend on multiple factors specific to your case, including the severity of the abuse, who the liable parties are, and the weight of the evidence against the group home.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a CILA Abuse or Group Home Negligence Lawsuit?

In most cases, you must file a lawsuit within two years of your loved one’s injury. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. Determining the exact time limit in cases involving developmentally disabled adults is complex because they may lack the capacity to file a claim on their own behalf.

It is important to contact a CILA attorney as soon as possible after the abuse so we can determine how the statute of limitations applies in your case well ahead of its expiration. If you do not file your claim before the statute of limitations expires, you lose your right to seek compensation forever.

Why Choose Levin & Perconti for Your CILA Group Home Abuse Case?

We are here to help. As pioneers in long-term care litigation, we have been helping the most vulnerable members of society for more than 30 years. We were one of the first law firms to stand up for vulnerable Illinois adults.

We actively support legislation to protect group home residents and have been asked to testify in support of such legislation because of our commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of disabled Illinoisans.

Our group home abuse lawyers are responsible for the largest reported settlement for a group home abuse case in Illinois history as well as many other notable settlements:

  • $6 million settlement for a 25-year-old autistic man who died in a group home due to grossly negligent care
  • $2 million settlement on behalf of a resident who choked to death on his food at an understaffed group home.
  • $1.5 million settlement against a CILA group home for the family of a 31-year-old who sustained traumatic brain injuries and died from CILA abuse.
  • $1.5 million settlement on behalf of a resident who was left unsupervised at a group home, choked on food, suffered full cardiac arrest, and died as a result of care providers failing to follow his individual service plan (ISP)
  •  $1.475 million settlement against a Coles County group home for a client who choked while the DSP failed to perform life-saving care and treatment.

Contact the Chicago Group Home Abuse Lawyers at Levin & Perconti

Don’t wait to take action if you believe your loved one has experienced abuse at a CILA group home facility. We can help you keep them safe and get justice. Contact us today online or call us at (312) 332-2872 to schedule a free consultation.

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