Darrell Cochran and Patrick Brown reached a more than $2 million settlement with the state of Washington for 10 young men who were sexually abused when they were wards of the state and placed at Green Hill School, a juvenile detention center for male juvenile offenders.
For decades, Green Hill School fostered a culture of sexual abuse and cover-ups. Through numerous sources, the state knew or should have known that a culture of sexually inappropriate behavior pervaded Green Hill School. Because of this culture, which allowed and even fostered sexual abuse of residents of Green Hill School, the plaintiffs were repeatedly sexually abused.
Green Hill School also had a history of hiring staff without any prior experience in working with children, troubled youth, and/or correctional facilities. After it hired its staff, it did not provide any training on recognizing signs of sexual abuse, grooming behavior, and/or boundary invasion. Green Hill School was a breeding ground for sexual abuse because pedophiles and sex offenders could abuse children without repercussion.
The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Pierce County.
Media coverage about the settlement.
AP News, “State settles juvenile facility sex abuse lawsuit for $2.1M”
Yahoo! News, “Former Green Hill Inmates Reach $2 Million Settlement With State Over Sexual Abuse Allegations”
The News Tribune, “WA agrees to settle lawsuit about abuse at Green Hill School juvenile facility”
King 5 TV: “Washington youth detention facility pays millions in sex abuse settlements against staff”
KIRO 7, “WA agrees to settle lawsuit about abuse at Green Hill School juvenile facility”