Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Ridge Creek School / Hidden Lake Academy => Topic started by: happyday7 on March 27, 2007, 07:49:53 AM
-
I heard that the Judge is supposed to make the final ruling on whether or not to allow class certification of this lawsuit either this week or next week. I have heard through a reliable source that HLA thinks that the Judge will will not certify this class action suit.
If the class action suit is not certified, can HLA get loans to recover and stay in business is the question? With several peer groups to graduate in May, I do not see how they could recover losing that many more students. Just my opinion.
-
From what I understand there are many consultants just waiting for the judge to rule. This is what I could see happening...If he rules in HLA's favor, which is expected, you can expect to see a large influx of students at HLA. HLA is good for their business and it will benefit them (ed cons) to help it stay open. Because of the lawsuit they can make an even better case to parents about how effective HLA is. They will site the fact that HLA is a licensed treatment facility with the state and that they have more safety measures in place than do most schools. For parents that are worried about whether or not it is a REAL school, they will site HLA's SACS accreditation. IF HLA does not fold, this is going to make them much stronger. In the idustry HLA will be seen as the victim of a few misguided and disgruntled parents.
If he rules against HLA, they will close in May after graduation.
-
The sad thing is that HLA makes promises and so do Ed Cons that they never follow through with. It is sad that they can get that kind of money and then not do what parents in good faith signed the contracts for HLA expecting them to do. The families that filed suit all have very valid points.
-
I heard that the Judge is supposed to make the final ruling on whether or not to allow class certification of this lawsuit either this week or next week. I have heard through a reliable source that HLA thinks that the Judge will will not certify this class action suit.
If the class action suit is not certified, can HLA get loans to recover and stay in business is the question? With several peer groups to graduate in May, I do not see how they could recover losing that many more students. Just my opinion.
Of course they want people to think the Judge won't certify the class action suit. How can HLA get another loan when they can't even pay back the money they owe to parents who pre-paid the whole tuition and pulled their kids early? Plus, it's rumored Bucci is preparing to declare bankruptcy and is looking for someone to buy HLA. I doubt people that are still owed money are going to see a dime of their money returned to them.
-
The sad thing is that HLA makes promises and so do Ed Cons that they never follow through with. It is sad that they can get that kind of money and then not do what parents in good faith signed the contracts for HLA expecting them to do. The families that filed suit all have very valid points.
Do you know the circumstances of all the families that have filed? I don't, but I know of a couple of them and am frankly shocked that they would file. In one of the cases HLA bent over backwards to help this family. Don't be fooled into thinking that ALL of these families are innocent victims. Some have very legitimit complaints, but some are just completely difunctional adults who cannot accept the extent to which they screwed up there kids. HLA's biggest fault with one of these kids is that they allowed the kid to stay. There is a lot of irony in the fact that the suit claims HLA allows violent students (which sadly is true), but this kid I am speaking was probably the biggest thug that HLA ever had.
I know there are A LOT of changes that needed to happen at HLA, and I sincerely hope they are happening, but this one family in the suit is unbelievable.
-
I read the lawsuit as to what all the charges are that the families are suing for and I speak from my own experience that most of what they are claiming is true based on what I have seen for myself. I am sure there have been some bad situations like what you are referencing, but I know that HLA makes lots of empty promises. For as much as the tuition is, you ought to get everything you are promised and MORE!!
-
The sad thing is that HLA makes promises and so do Ed Cons that they never follow through with. It is sad that they can get that kind of money and then not do what parents in good faith signed the contracts for HLA expecting them to do. The families that filed suit all have very valid points.
Do you know the circumstances of all the families that have filed? I don't, but I know of a couple of them and am frankly shocked that they would file. In one of the cases HLA bent over backwards to help this family. Don't be fooled into thinking that ALL of these families are innocent victims. Some have very legitimit complaints, but some are just completely difunctional adults who cannot accept the extent to which they screwed up there kids. HLA's biggest fault with one of these kids is that they allowed the kid to stay. There is a lot of irony in the fact that the suit claims HLA allows violent students (which sadly is true), but this kid I am speaking was probably the biggest thug that HLA ever had.
I know there are A LOT of changes that needed to happen at HLA, and I sincerely hope they are happening, but this one family in the suit is unbelievable.
And how much of the prison mentality at HLA contributed to turning this kid (who you say is one of the biggest thugs you know) into a thug? For some of the kids that was the only way to survive HLA - especially for the boys.
The only thing HLA bent over to do was to give it to someone up the ass.
-
For this kid HLA did absolutely nothing to turn him into a thug. HE contributed heavily into turning other kids into a thug and creating a prison mentality. Again, HLA's biggest fault, and it was a big one, was keeping this kid for so long.
-
Regardless of whether or not the class is certified HLA will not be allowed to operate business as usual. I see this place closing within 3 months. With all the negative publicity they will not be able to survive. As far as Len is concerned I'm sure he will pop up elsewhere, probably outside the scrutiny of regulatory agencies that are now wise to his practices.
-
This is all conjecture...only Judge O'Kelley knows when his decision
will be rendered.
-
Regardless of whether or not the class is certified HLA will not be allowed to operate business as usual. I see this place closing within 3 months. With all the negative publicity they will not be able to survive. As far as Len is concerned I'm sure he will pop up elsewhere, probably outside the scrutiny of regulatory agencies that are now wise to his practices.
Actually HLA is very close to state compliance. You are right that they will not be able to do things as usual, and that is a good thing. They are being forced to do things the way they should be done. The system is working. It is sad that it took a law suit to force compliance, but when you are dealing with someone like Len Buccellato the only way he will let someone else call the shots is if he is forced to do so. That has always been HLA's biggest weakness. Regardless of that, however, HLA is being seen as the victim in many ed con circles and they will send a lot of business toward HLA if the suit is not certified.
-
Either way its win-win. If HLA has to actually obey the law and stop violating the rights of these kids then that in itself is a major victory.
-
Either way its win-win. If HLA has to actually obey the law and stop violating the rights of these kids then that in itself is a major victory.
I absolutely agree.
-
For this kid HLA did absolutely nothing to turn him into a thug. HE contributed heavily into turning other kids into a thug and creating a prison mentality. Again, HLA's biggest fault, and it was a big one, was keeping this kid for so long.
You seem to know quite a bit about this kid - were you his counselor by chance? Big ethical violation if you were.
-
For this kid HLA did absolutely nothing to turn him into a thug. HE contributed heavily into turning other kids into a thug and creating a prison mentality. Again, HLA's biggest fault, and it was a big one, was keeping this kid for so long.
You seem to know quite a bit about this kid - were you his counselor by chance? Big ethical violation if you were.
No I was not his counselor. Also, his name has not been mentioned. No one without prior knowledge of him would know who he is. if you CAN guess who he is, then it further goes to show that I am right about him.
-
I heard that the talks between HLA and AEG has ended?they (AEG) were able to close a deal/purchase some land and buildings from Suny Cortland in upstate New York last week (not sure what that is all about, I think they run a University or something) and then called their people back from Georgia after that was settled. I do know there were a lot of pissed off people heading home from Georgia this week. I don?t have the details on who broke it off but my experience tells me it was AEG who stepped away from the table, the other reason would be if HLA got word that the suit was going to be dismissed and was able to find a backer to float some financing until they can fill their beds and subsequently broke off talks with AEG. Either way it should be interesting to see how this pans out, I would expect something in the papers soon.
So DJ, it looks like you wont have to worry about Aspen in your back yard after all!
-
For this kid HLA did absolutely nothing to turn him into a thug. HE contributed heavily into turning other kids into a thug and creating a prison mentality. Again, HLA's biggest fault, and it was a big one, was keeping this kid for so long.
You seem to know quite a bit about this kid - were you his counselor by chance? Big ethical violation if you were.
No I was not his counselor. Also, his name has not been mentioned. No one without prior knowledge of him would know who he is. if you CAN guess who he is, then it further goes to show that I am right about him.
i think he was just sying that as a counselor you shouldnt be giving out personal info..thought without giving names you arent
-
That is exactly the point. Unless you already have personal knowledge of who this is, you could never identify the person. There is no ethical violoation here.
-
I heard that the talks between HLA and AEG has ended?they (AEG) were able to close a deal/purchase some land and buildings from Suny Cortland in upstate New York last week (not sure what that is all about, I think they run a University or something) and then called their people back from Georgia after that was settled. I do know there were a lot of pissed off people heading home from Georgia this week. I don?t have the details on who broke it off but my experience tells me it was AEG who stepped away from the table, the other reason would be if HLA got word that the suit was going to be dismissed and was able to find a backer to float some financing until they can fill their beds and subsequently broke off talks with AEG. Either way it should be interesting to see how this pans out, I would expect something in the papers soon.
So DJ, it looks like you wont have to worry about Aspen in your back yard after all!
No, not in my backyard. I've already spoken to a good contact in Spitzer's office and I believe AEG will not be opening in NY... Sorry for your lost investment.
-
I heard that the talks between HLA and AEG has ended?they (AEG) were able to close a deal/purchase some land and buildings from Suny Cortland in upstate New York last week (not sure what that is all about, I think they run a University or something) and then called their people back from Georgia after that was settled. I do know there were a lot of pissed off people heading home from Georgia this week. I don?t have the details on who broke it off but my experience tells me it was AEG who stepped away from the table, the other reason would be if HLA got word that the suit was going to be dismissed and was able to find a backer to float some financing until they can fill their beds and subsequently broke off talks with AEG. Either way it should be interesting to see how this pans out, I would expect something in the papers soon.
So DJ, it looks like you wont have to worry about Aspen in your back yard after all!
No, not in my backyard. I've already spoken to a good contact in Spitzer's office and I believe AEG will not be opening in NY... Sorry for your lost investment.
Whoops... bad source I guess, DJ, they opened in New York yesterday.......
.Aspen Education Group, the nation's leading provider of therapeutic and education programs for struggling and underachieving youth, today announced that it has acquired Camp Huntington, a co-ed summer camp for children and young adults with autism and related special needs located in High Falls, New York.
http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/200 ... 007-1.html (http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/20070329/AQTH03129032007-1.html)
...................
-
Funny how quickly you heard about that. I guess they send all that information to their employees though huh?
-
You should know that buying a property doesn't mean opening a shit pit. There are already people looking into AEG's practices and I don't beleive they will recieve a license to operate in NY.
This is the beginning of a process, just as it was for Ivy Ridge. I don't believe it will open or operate for very long. We'll just have to wait and see.
One thing I do know is that they will suffer financially once people are up tp speed on their practices. NY doesn't take kindly to unlicensed RTC's with unaccredited academics. Again, reference A.I.R.
-
There are already people looking into AEG's practices
-
There are already people looking into AEGs practices
Come on, DJ, boilerplate comments dont cut it, of course people are looking into them, all successful companies are being looked into to figure out why they are so successful. The more successful they are the higher powered the microscope. If they werent doing well you think they would be getting any attention?
This is the beginning of a process, just as it was for Ivy Ridge
Or ASR ?
I dont believe it will open or operate for very long. Well just have to wait and see.
That is what they said when they purchased that old Boy Scout camp and all that land down there in North Carolina. The skeptics said: How the hell they going to make enough money to pay off the ticket let alone make a profit? They named it SUWS of the Carolinas the rest is history.
-
if the class suit isn't approved, won't it just turn into individual suits? hopefully there will be parents willing to do that, but they've been ripped off before, most of them will probly be hesitant to sue individually. see why i hate corporations???
-
No, class suit or no class suit, HLA isnt being let off the hook.
-
No, class suit or no class suit, HLA isnt being let off the hook.
for certain? they've slithered thier way out of shit like this before....it's just hard to imagine anything really working out in the end.
-
Have some faith. These people arent going to give up and the school will be begging to settle. This problem isnt going away no matter what.
-
The more successful they are the higher powered the microscope. If they werent doing well you think they would be getting any attention?
Soooo it's only because these places are so successful that they are having all these problems. Damn he's found us out. Cindy will you promise to keep quiet about us all being investors in some lesser known kiddie prisons? That's the only reason we're picking on these really successful ones.
They named it SUWS of the Carolinas the rest is history.
Better put, 'will be history".
-
Well hell, what can one really expect from someone hell bent on presenting bologna as Filet Mignon?
And among the most successful in the industry, we have:
Ivy Ridge, Eagle Pines Academy, Whitmore, Wellspring Academy, CEDU Running Springs, Skyline Journey, On Track..... to name just a few from the Hall of Shame.
Unfortunate that all programs can't be as successful.
-
if the class suit isn't approved, won't it just turn into individual suits? hopefully there will be parents willing to do that, but they've been ripped off before, most of them will probly be hesitant to sue individually. see why i hate corporations???
Parents will step up and sue individually but most will be settled out of court (if they have a case) and you will never hear about them. The advantage of a class action suit is to raise the awareness/visibility and put pressure on the judicial system, get the momentum going saying, Hey this is important! A class action suit attracts the very best legal services and can really make an impact. If the class action fails this gives the advantage to the defense (HLA) and they can use this to drive off the individual law suits. A guy from Pennsylvania is going to have a tough up hill battle suing some corporation a 1,000 miles away unless he is very motivated and has deep pockets, although many of these families do have deep pockets.
It will be interesting to watch this unfold.
In my opinion the lawsuit had too many line items. Who cares about who paid Buccellatos personal taxes? Etc. Keep it short and simple and focused on abuse. If the defense can show that Buccellato paid his own taxes then it throws into doubt the other allegations and makes it look like a witch hunt for money and waters down the Plaintiffs case.
-
Message to "The Who": Please keep posting. You obviously have no clue what's really going on - although you really pretend like you're in the know. It's great for people out there to see the type of people who are promoting TBS's and the mentality of those promoting TBS's. Believe it or not, you're actually doing us a favor with your postings.
-
On a happy note, the judge ruled today on HLA's petition to dismiss.
DENIED!!!!!!!
-
Robert,
You're not giving all of the information, just choosing the parts that are not in HLA's favor. I heard from a friend who's a lawyer the judge actually allowed the dismissal on some of the claims, but not all.
My lawyer-friend also told me this decision isn't very valuable right now anyway. I heard that this was simply a procedural hearing. In other words, the judge isn't saying he agrees or disagrees with any the validity of the accusations, he was just determining what issues can go forward in any further legal action. The judge believes he doesn't have enough information either way to make a determination on this issue, so he's allowing the plaintiff's to file in order to put up evidence to prove and disprove arguments.
209
-
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Was Kevin Bacon involved?
-
Robert,
You're not giving all of the information, just choosing the parts that are not in HLA's favor. I heard from a friend who's a lawyer the judge actually allowed the dismissal on some of the claims, but not all.
My lawyer-friend also told me this decision isn't very valuable right now anyway. I heard that this was simply a procedural hearing. In other words, the judge isn't saying he agrees or disagrees with any the validity of the accusations, he was just determining what issues can go forward in any further legal action. The judge believes he doesn't have enough information either way to make a determination on this issue, so he's allowing the plaintiff's to file in order to put up evidence to prove and disprove arguments.
Don't feed the troll. Clearly baiting for information, as s/he has none.
-
Apparently.
-
"Don't feed the troll. Clearly baiting for information, as s/he has none."
Deborah, no need for FJ to bait. The ruling is available to the public. You can access it yourself.
-
"Don't feed the troll. Clearly baiting for information, as s/he has none."
Deborah, no need for FJ to bait. The ruling is available to the public. You can access it yourself.
What is it with you HLA people and your multiple personalities? Guess he took your advice RB. Or, funnier yet, maybe it is ol Hunter himself.
-
Oh God - is Hunter Thompson coming back as Function Junction and DennisL? More multiple personality disorders from that fine staff at HLA. Gotta love it!