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Hyde Schools / Re: Federal class action lawsuit against Hyde School and Gauld family filed
« on: August 22, 2025, 03:29:32 AM »
From Reddit:
For those following the lawsuit against Hyde School, here?s a detailed breakdown of Jessica Fuller?s First Amended Individual and Class Action Complaint ? now with key direct quotes from the filing itself.
Who is being sued?
Hyde School in Bath, Maine, and five members of the Gauld family: Laura Gauld, Malcolm Gauld, Georgia ?Gigi? Gauld MacMillan, Donald MacMillan, and Laurie Gauld Hurd. The complaint says they have ?operated Hyde as a coordinated enterprise? for decades, ?sharing both decision-making authority and financial benefits.?
Allegations about the founder?s legacy: The complaint cites founder Joseph Gauld?s own writings as evidence of an abusive philosophy. In a 1973 column titled Slap May Be Just What Child Needs, Gauld bragged about calling a 16-year-old ?a brat,? slapping her three times, and threatening to throw her in a pond if she didn?t apologize.
In another column, The Black ?I-Q?, he questioned ?why would the black man have the same ?I.Q.? as a white?? and wrote that whites were ?more developed in some intellectual areas, particularly academics.?
The filing says Hyde ?maintained continued reverence for his abusive philosophy? even after public controversies and that his ?racist, misogynistic, and abusive? views ?became and remain foundational to Hyde?s operations.?
Core abusive systems described:
? Brother?s Keeper ? Students were required to report others? infractions, with failure to do so resulting in the same punishment. Malcolm Gauld warned that those who didn?t report would ?find themselves in the same disciplinary boat.?
? Work Crew / 2-4 ? Punitive unpaid labor, sometimes in ?extreme weather conditions,? including ?shoveling snow from all walkways,? ?clearing out the Hyde school basement that had visible signs stating asbestos was present,? and ?landscaping staff members? homes, including? Gauld family members? homes.?
? Attack therapy ? ?Students often sat in a circle while staff and peers screamed verbal attacks at them? and were ?forced to admit traumatizing and embarrassing facts to their peers, often from a stage to a large group.?
? Harsh punishments ? ?Students were forced to run on broken toes, with shin splints, in freezing conditions, and even with untreated asthma attacks.? Others were made to ?exercise in sync in the middle of the night, in the snow, without gloves or coats,? and those who fell out of sync ?were often punished, and the group could not stop until exercise was completed in sync for a set period of time.?
? Deprivation ? Students on 2-4 were ?forbidden from speaking,? ?isolated from other students,? and put on ?severe food restrictions, such as being limited to just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.? .
Labor benefiting Hyde and the Gauld family: The complaint says students ?maintained wilderness properties? while clearing brush, building structures, and cleaning paths.?
On Seguin Island, ?Hyde students? built a stone walkway from the beach? and ?cleared brush, moved boulders, and other hard labor? which Defendants profited from by offering it as a campground and summer activity to prospective students.?
At the Eustis property, students were ?forced to camp? without adequate clothes or food,? given only ?a few handfuls of trail mix per day,? and made to ?sleep in the snow for days? while building and maintaining facilities Hyde used to market its programs.
The plaintiff?s own experience:
Fuller reports she was ?physically restrained with excessive force,? forced to exercise while sick or injured ?to the point of further injury, collapse, and vomiting,? and denied prescribed psychiatric medication during a mental health crisis.
She says she was ?surveilled? including during private moments such as using the bathroom or showering? and ?required to work under threat of physical and emotional harm, deprivation of food and housing, and further forced labor without pay,? including ?cleaning toilets with bleach while sick? and ?pushing and pulling heavy wheelbarrows for long periods of time.?
Legal claims include:
? Violations of federal human trafficking and forced labor laws (18 U.S.C. ?? 1584, 1589, 1590, 1594, 1595, 2255).
? Violations of Maine?s human trafficking law (5 M.R.S. ? 4701). ? Negligence, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress
? Negligent hiring, retention, and supervision. ? Premises liability. .
What Fuller and the class seek:
? Damages ? statutory ($150,000 per violation minimum under ? 2255), compensatory, punitive, back pay for unpaid labor.
? Injunctive relief ? stop forced labor, preserve assets, prevent destruction of records, require financial disclosure.
? Class certification ? to represent all former students meeting certain age/date criteria.
. The complaint sums up its core argument bluntly: Hyde?s program wasn?t ?character development? ? it was ?a system deliberately designed to extract unpaid labor and suppress dissent? from vulnerable minors, while enriching its leadership.
The lawsuit doesn?t just cover Jessica Fuller ? it?s filed as a class action, meaning she?s asking the court to let her represent two groups of former students.
Primary Class
This is the main group. It covers:
? All former Hyde students who were subjected to forced labor
AND
? Either (1) that forced labor happened on or after July 12, 2015
OR
? (2) they were minors when it happened and are still under age 28 as of July 11, 2025.
(That cutoff date is tied to legal deadlines under the federal trafficking laws.)
Subclass
This is basically everyone else. It covers:
? All other former Hyde students who were subjected to forced labor at Hyde
BUT
? Who don?t fit into the Primary Class definition (for example, their forced labor happened too far back in time, or they?re older than 28 now).
.
What this means in practice:
? The Primary Class has the strongest legal claims under the federal statutes and could be entitled to larger damages.
? The Subclass still gets representation and can pursue claims, but they may have to rely more on state law or different remedies.
.
So in short:
? Primary Class = more recent victims and/or those who were still minors and young enough under the law
? Subclass = older or earlier victims who were still subjected to the same forced labor practices
Here?s what each of the 16 counts in Jessica Fuller?s amended complaint against Hyde School boils down to, in everyday language:
Count 1 ? Involuntary Servitude
They kept kids working against their will through threats, punishments, and control over every aspect of their lives.
Count 2 ? Forced Labor
They got kids to do unpaid work by scaring, shaming, and punishing them ? not letting them say no.
Count 3 ? Trafficking for Labor
They brought kids to the school under false promises, then used them for free labor that made the school money.
Count 4 ? Maine Human Trafficking Law
They broke state law by forcing minors to work in unsafe and punishing conditions, including at remote locations.
Count 5 ? Civil Claim for Minor Victims
Because the victims were under 18, each act of forced labor could mean at least $150,000 in damages.
Count 6 ? Attempted Forced Labor
Even if some acts weren?t completed, they planned and took steps to make kids work under threat.
Count 7 ? Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor
They worked together, as a family-run operation, to force kids to work and to hide what they were doing.
Count 8 ? Personal Responsibility for Forced Labor
Each Gauld family member was directly involved in and benefitted from the forced labor.
Count 9 ? Personal Responsibility for Harm to Minors
Each Gauld family member knew minors were being forced to work and did nothing to stop it.
Count 10 ? Conspiring Personally
Each Gauld family member personally joined the plan to force kids to work and keep it secret.
Count 11 ? Negligence & Emotional Harm
The school failed its duty to protect students, ignored abuse, and caused severe emotional harm.
Count 12 ? Personal Negligence & Emotional Harm
Each Gauld family member personally failed to protect students in their care and caused harm.
Count 13 ? Intentional Emotional Harm
They deliberately acted in extreme and cruel ways that caused serious emotional damage.
Count 14 ? Bad Hiring and Supervision
They hired, kept, and failed to supervise staff who harmed students.
Count 15 ? Unsafe Premises
They allowed the school environment to be unsafe and to enable abuse.
Count 16 ? Court Orders to Stop Abuse & Preserve Assets
They want the court to stop forced labor at Hyde, freeze assets so they can?t be hidden, and make sure evidence isn?t destroyed.
For those following the lawsuit against Hyde School, here?s a detailed breakdown of Jessica Fuller?s First Amended Individual and Class Action Complaint ? now with key direct quotes from the filing itself.
Who is being sued?
Hyde School in Bath, Maine, and five members of the Gauld family: Laura Gauld, Malcolm Gauld, Georgia ?Gigi? Gauld MacMillan, Donald MacMillan, and Laurie Gauld Hurd. The complaint says they have ?operated Hyde as a coordinated enterprise? for decades, ?sharing both decision-making authority and financial benefits.?
Allegations about the founder?s legacy: The complaint cites founder Joseph Gauld?s own writings as evidence of an abusive philosophy. In a 1973 column titled Slap May Be Just What Child Needs, Gauld bragged about calling a 16-year-old ?a brat,? slapping her three times, and threatening to throw her in a pond if she didn?t apologize.
In another column, The Black ?I-Q?, he questioned ?why would the black man have the same ?I.Q.? as a white?? and wrote that whites were ?more developed in some intellectual areas, particularly academics.?
The filing says Hyde ?maintained continued reverence for his abusive philosophy? even after public controversies and that his ?racist, misogynistic, and abusive? views ?became and remain foundational to Hyde?s operations.?
Core abusive systems described:
? Brother?s Keeper ? Students were required to report others? infractions, with failure to do so resulting in the same punishment. Malcolm Gauld warned that those who didn?t report would ?find themselves in the same disciplinary boat.?
? Work Crew / 2-4 ? Punitive unpaid labor, sometimes in ?extreme weather conditions,? including ?shoveling snow from all walkways,? ?clearing out the Hyde school basement that had visible signs stating asbestos was present,? and ?landscaping staff members? homes, including? Gauld family members? homes.?
? Attack therapy ? ?Students often sat in a circle while staff and peers screamed verbal attacks at them? and were ?forced to admit traumatizing and embarrassing facts to their peers, often from a stage to a large group.?
? Harsh punishments ? ?Students were forced to run on broken toes, with shin splints, in freezing conditions, and even with untreated asthma attacks.? Others were made to ?exercise in sync in the middle of the night, in the snow, without gloves or coats,? and those who fell out of sync ?were often punished, and the group could not stop until exercise was completed in sync for a set period of time.?
? Deprivation ? Students on 2-4 were ?forbidden from speaking,? ?isolated from other students,? and put on ?severe food restrictions, such as being limited to just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.? .
Labor benefiting Hyde and the Gauld family: The complaint says students ?maintained wilderness properties? while clearing brush, building structures, and cleaning paths.?
On Seguin Island, ?Hyde students? built a stone walkway from the beach? and ?cleared brush, moved boulders, and other hard labor? which Defendants profited from by offering it as a campground and summer activity to prospective students.?
At the Eustis property, students were ?forced to camp? without adequate clothes or food,? given only ?a few handfuls of trail mix per day,? and made to ?sleep in the snow for days? while building and maintaining facilities Hyde used to market its programs.
The plaintiff?s own experience:
Fuller reports she was ?physically restrained with excessive force,? forced to exercise while sick or injured ?to the point of further injury, collapse, and vomiting,? and denied prescribed psychiatric medication during a mental health crisis.
She says she was ?surveilled? including during private moments such as using the bathroom or showering? and ?required to work under threat of physical and emotional harm, deprivation of food and housing, and further forced labor without pay,? including ?cleaning toilets with bleach while sick? and ?pushing and pulling heavy wheelbarrows for long periods of time.?
Legal claims include:
? Violations of federal human trafficking and forced labor laws (18 U.S.C. ?? 1584, 1589, 1590, 1594, 1595, 2255).
? Violations of Maine?s human trafficking law (5 M.R.S. ? 4701). ? Negligence, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress
? Negligent hiring, retention, and supervision. ? Premises liability. .
What Fuller and the class seek:
? Damages ? statutory ($150,000 per violation minimum under ? 2255), compensatory, punitive, back pay for unpaid labor.
? Injunctive relief ? stop forced labor, preserve assets, prevent destruction of records, require financial disclosure.
? Class certification ? to represent all former students meeting certain age/date criteria.
. The complaint sums up its core argument bluntly: Hyde?s program wasn?t ?character development? ? it was ?a system deliberately designed to extract unpaid labor and suppress dissent? from vulnerable minors, while enriching its leadership.
The lawsuit doesn?t just cover Jessica Fuller ? it?s filed as a class action, meaning she?s asking the court to let her represent two groups of former students.
Primary Class
This is the main group. It covers:
? All former Hyde students who were subjected to forced labor
AND
? Either (1) that forced labor happened on or after July 12, 2015
OR
? (2) they were minors when it happened and are still under age 28 as of July 11, 2025.
(That cutoff date is tied to legal deadlines under the federal trafficking laws.)
Subclass
This is basically everyone else. It covers:
? All other former Hyde students who were subjected to forced labor at Hyde
BUT
? Who don?t fit into the Primary Class definition (for example, their forced labor happened too far back in time, or they?re older than 28 now).
.
What this means in practice:
? The Primary Class has the strongest legal claims under the federal statutes and could be entitled to larger damages.
? The Subclass still gets representation and can pursue claims, but they may have to rely more on state law or different remedies.
.
So in short:
? Primary Class = more recent victims and/or those who were still minors and young enough under the law
? Subclass = older or earlier victims who were still subjected to the same forced labor practices
Here?s what each of the 16 counts in Jessica Fuller?s amended complaint against Hyde School boils down to, in everyday language:
Count 1 ? Involuntary Servitude
They kept kids working against their will through threats, punishments, and control over every aspect of their lives.
Count 2 ? Forced Labor
They got kids to do unpaid work by scaring, shaming, and punishing them ? not letting them say no.
Count 3 ? Trafficking for Labor
They brought kids to the school under false promises, then used them for free labor that made the school money.
Count 4 ? Maine Human Trafficking Law
They broke state law by forcing minors to work in unsafe and punishing conditions, including at remote locations.
Count 5 ? Civil Claim for Minor Victims
Because the victims were under 18, each act of forced labor could mean at least $150,000 in damages.
Count 6 ? Attempted Forced Labor
Even if some acts weren?t completed, they planned and took steps to make kids work under threat.
Count 7 ? Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor
They worked together, as a family-run operation, to force kids to work and to hide what they were doing.
Count 8 ? Personal Responsibility for Forced Labor
Each Gauld family member was directly involved in and benefitted from the forced labor.
Count 9 ? Personal Responsibility for Harm to Minors
Each Gauld family member knew minors were being forced to work and did nothing to stop it.
Count 10 ? Conspiring Personally
Each Gauld family member personally joined the plan to force kids to work and keep it secret.
Count 11 ? Negligence & Emotional Harm
The school failed its duty to protect students, ignored abuse, and caused severe emotional harm.
Count 12 ? Personal Negligence & Emotional Harm
Each Gauld family member personally failed to protect students in their care and caused harm.
Count 13 ? Intentional Emotional Harm
They deliberately acted in extreme and cruel ways that caused serious emotional damage.
Count 14 ? Bad Hiring and Supervision
They hired, kept, and failed to supervise staff who harmed students.
Count 15 ? Unsafe Premises
They allowed the school environment to be unsafe and to enable abuse.
Count 16 ? Court Orders to Stop Abuse & Preserve Assets
They want the court to stop forced labor at Hyde, freeze assets so they can?t be hidden, and make sure evidence isn?t destroyed.