Did you know that Clearview Horizon, a Christian boarding school and treatment center for girls in Heron, Montana, is presently kinda entangled in a hefty lawsuit? Yes, this we now know as the Clearview Girls Lawsuit. For those who don’t know yet, well, this school claims to be therapeutic support for troubled teenagers but has been accused of exposing students to emotional and psychological harm. Like, the lawsuit states that Clearview’s staff breached their duty to protect students and approved harmful practices which is a major concern.
These practices, as mentioned by many former students, allegedly included solitary confinement, food deprivation, and tough discipline that gave them serious distress. Just so you know though, this lawsuit filed in 2021 by past students is a healing journey that began in 2012 and ends in 2018 as they prepare for justice for what they have been through.
Then Why is the Insurance Company Involved?
Well, Kinsale Insurance Company, Clearview’s insurer, has also become intertwined in this case. And why’s that? Well, Kinsale’s argument is that they are not liable for any claims related to the lawsuit because their current status was from April 1, 2020, to April 1, 2021, which is well after the alleged incidents that supposedly took place from 2012 to 2018, you know? For sure, now, Kinsale has approached the federal court of Montana to ask for a ruling that they do not have to aid or cover Clearview concerning these claims. The curiosity is being solved through the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.
What’s The Broader Issue Aka Montana’s Troubled Teen Programs?
In the state of Montana, Clearview is not exclusively referred to for child mistreatment accusations. Like, several programs that purported to offer “therapy” or “rehabilitation” were investigated and were found to have abusive practices. The 2019 investigation uncovered complaints against processing programs in Montana were often ignored, allowing harmful practices to continue. Consequently, though, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) of Montana took the authority to supervise these programs so they could improve their complaints handling plus ensure greater protection for the youth.
The New Law for Teen Protection in Montana.
You see, as of October 2023, the state of Montana has passed laws that help in the safeguarding of teens in treatment programs. The law says that facilities must permit unmonitored, weekly video calls between teens and their parents. This communication should not be restricted in any way and should be a part of the evidence-collection process for reporting abuse or mistreatment directly. What is more, this law hereby gives and requires state officials to conduct unscheduled and routine inspections. The officials are to conduct interviews with at least fifty percent of the people in the program. Programs have to offer 24-hour abuse hotlines for all participants. All in all, keep in mind that the laws presented and enforced are meant to create a safe atmosphere so that teens can come forward and ask for assistance if they have any problems.
