Leomeir Kennedy and their former employer Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center recently received a complaint of action for damages for allegations of abuse that occurred in their facility under the supervision and care.
On April 10th, 2023 Kennedy voluntarily made a statement to Greenwood Police Department that he had been inappropriately touching three (3) clients who were under his supervision at the time of his employment at Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center. During his voluntary confession, Kenndy stated “It was a victim pool, and I could help children with Autism grow”, he deliberately chose clients who were not on his caseload to avoid any suspicion amongst co-workers and would pick up on lunch shifts to target individual clients and prey on them. Kennedy stated that these children had “lust in their eyes and it felt like Christmas when I touched them”.
Kennedy’s trial was originally set for August and moved to September 25, 2023.
On August 11th, 2023 Johnson County Correctional Officers found Kennedy unconscious in his jail cell according to Johnson County’s Sheriff’s Office. Kennedy was found to have had a cardiac arrest and received CPR before emergency medical staff arrived & was pronounced dead upon arrival. No foul play is to be suspected in Kennedy’s death, while an autopsy and toxicology test will still take place in the investigation (Allen, Indy Star, 2023).
Kennedy had received documents that were filed against both himself and Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center in Indianapolis, by a mother stating that Kennedy had admitted to molesting their child and that their child was under the supervision and care of Kennedy.
The complaint filed by Jane Doe’s parent states that Kennedy was covering for another employee during their lunch break and was the caretaker for Jane Doe at that time. Jane Doe is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and is considered “semi-verbal”. During supervision, Kennedy would “inappropriately tickle and touch Jane Doe’s genitals” and Kennedy’s employer Hopebridge should have known or had seen signs of Kennedy’s “dangerous propensities on or before the abuse occurred in February 2023”. The complaint and suit for damages state that while Jane Doe was in the care of Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center, Jane Doe suffered serious and permanent injuries, obtained many medical expenses, suffered mental anguish pain, psychological and emotional damage, obtained legal expenses & has lost educational opportunities and enjoyment for life and will continue to suffer these damages in the future. Jane Doe has also lost her therapeutic services, has had to obtain new therapeutic services, create new rapports with Registered Behavioral Technicians and establish new bonds, incurred legal expenses & has lost wages and time with her therapeutic services that could have been beneficial at that time. Jane Doe’s Mother states she has suffered from negligent infliction of emotional distress, past, present, and future by both Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center & Kennedy.
Jane Doe’s Mother states that Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center had a duty to protect and provide safety and care for Jane Doe’s well-being. Therefore Hopebridge was careless and negligent, and vicariously liable because of one or more of the following acts or omissions:
a. Failing to supervise Jane Doe, a minor child;
b. Failing to protect Jane Doe from sexual, physical, emotional & psychological abuse;
c. Failing to control & supervise their employee(s) and/or actual, implied or apparent agent(s) including but not limited to, Leomeir Kennedy;
d. Failing to warn Jane Doe’s mother & Jane Doe of Leomeir Kennedy’s dangerous propensities;
e. Failing to protect Jane Doe from Leomeir Kennedy;
f. Failing to warn of a dangerous condition on the premises created by the presence of Leomeir Kennedy;
g. Failing to monitor the treatment center premises;
h. Failing to monitor enrollees;
i. Failing to monitor its staff;
j. Failing to have an appropriate number of therapists and/or staff allocated to supervise the premises;
k.Failing to put appropriate safeguards in place to prevent Jane Doe from being sexually abused;
l. Failing to appropriately implement policies & procedures into effect before, during, and after the sexual abuse occurred;
m. Failing to appropriately respond to the sexual abuse;
n. Negligently hiring and retaining Leomeir Kennedy;
o. Failing to provide appropriate resources and protections to its enrollee, Jane Doe, before, during, and after the sexual abuse;
p. Failing to properly investigate allegations of sexual misconduct;
q. Failing to properly intervene when their agent/employee’s sexual misconduct was or should have been known; and
r. Otherwise failing to provide Jane Doe adequate care, maintenance, and treatment according to her individual needs.
Jane Doe’s mother states that not only was Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center careless for one or more of the many reasons stated above, but she also stated that Kennedy was too careless & negligent. She continued to state that while Kennedy was an employee of Hopebridge, his conduct was egregious and rose to the level of gross and willful negligence by reasons of one or more of the following acts and omissions:
a. Sexually abusing Jane Doe; a minor child
b. Physically abusing Jane Doe; a minor child
c. Emotionally abusing Jane Doe; a minor child
d. Psychologically abusing Jane Doe; a minor child
While Jane Doe’s mother knows that what has occurred to her minor child has been life-changing physically, and mentally, and may forever change them, she also realizes that no amount of money will ever change the life that her daughter has at this time.
Jane Doe’s Mother has sued for a fair amount that will compensate their family for their injuries and damages, including financial loss due to the action that Hopebridge and Kennedy have put their family in at this time. Jane Doe’s Mother has asked that all other relief be covered by interest which is allowed by the law.
On August 10, 2023, Riley Bennett made an appearance on behalf of Hopebridge Autism Center and requested a Motion for Enlargement of Time to respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint for Damages. Shortly after filing this motion, A Request for Trial by Jury was filed on behalf of Hopebridge Autism Center.
While Kennedy has now passed, we will continue to follow this story as Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center has been alleged to have put a minor who is unable to speak for themselves, awareness is key and safeguards should have been put into place.
See something, say something. Not all children are able too.