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Seven former psychiatric patients have filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court, alleging that eight staff members at Sierra Vista Hospital in Sacramento sexually abused them when they were minors, Cathie Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reported yesterday per Newsbreak. The plaintiffs, now adults, claim that management at every level ignored warning signs and concealed past employee misconduct from them and their parents or guardians.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs were receiving inpatient psychiatric care for serious mental or behavioral health challenges when they were subjected to sexual harassment or sexual battery by hospital employees. Allegations include a staff member watching a patient shower, multiple staffers touching patients’ intimate areas without consent for sexual gratification, and at least one staffer making sexual comments to a plaintiff. The complaint further accuses the companies of failing to adequately hire, train, and supervise staff.
The suit names eight unnamed staff members, Sierra Vista Hospital, its subsidiary BHC Sierra Vista Hospital, and corporate parent Universal Health Services (UHS of Delaware, Inc.) as defendants. Sierra Vista Hospital, located at 8001 Bruceville Road in Sacramento’s Valley Hi / North Laguna neighborhood, is just southeast of the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center campus. Officials at Universal Health Services and Sierra Vista Hospital did not respond to requests for comment.
The plaintiffs have made 13 legal claims, including negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. They also allege violations of California civil rights laws designed to prevent gender-based violence and ensure equal access to business services. In addition, they claim fraud and unfair business practices, asserting the hospital misrepresented itself as a safe, therapeutic environment.
A plaintiff’s attorney stated in the civil lawsuit that the alleged abuse was part of a broader “culture of abuse” at UHS facilities nationwide, where vulnerable children were not protected from predatory staff. The lawsuit alleges that hospital and company officials were legally obligated to report suspected abuse to law enforcement and remove employees accused of misconduct, but failed to do so.
The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages for emotional, psychological, and economic harm they say they continue to suffer.
Survivors have the right to be heard and supported. If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse or assault, learning your legal rights is the first step toward justice. Taking action is more than seeking compensation. It’s also about being heard, validated, and empowered to reclaim your life.
If you’d like to learn more about how a California sexual assault attorney can help, read our guide here. Another helpful resource article that can educate you on your rights is our Institutional Sexual Abuse Lawsuit guide.
