PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — In a troubling revelation, a local lawyer and a substance abuse clinic have been found to have seriously failed their clients, engaging in what health authorities have identified as widespread corrupt practices. This came to light following the arrest of 36-year-old Brett Ryan for DUI this year, after which he was referred to a treatment center that allegedly did little to address his serious addiction problems.
Ryan’s case is just one example of a pattern allegedly involving the Rainier Recovery Centers and a specific defense lawyer. State health investigators have shut down Rainier’s facilities in Lakewood, Puyallup, and Gig Harbor, accusing CEO Jeremiah Dunlap of using unlicensed counselors and falsifying records. Dunlap, in a legal agreement, did not contest these allegations, which detailed a collusion with a law firm aimed at maximizing the clinic’s profits at the expense of client care.
The law firm involved, led by veteran DUI defense attorney Barbara A. Bowden, reportedly referred numerous clients to Rainier Recovery. Former employees and public records suggest that these referrals were often not in the clients’ best interests but were designed to minimize legal penalties and treatment obligations, thereby enhancing the law firm’s appeal to potential clients facing DUI charges.
Inside sources, including four former Rainier Recovery employees, described an intake process compromised by a failure to properly assess patients’ needs. They allege that under directives from Dunlap, patient assessments were altered to reduce the level of care provided. Alyssa Keane, a former director of operations at Rainier, confessed to changing patient assessments based on these instructions, erroneously trusting Dunlap’s apparent experience.
This manipulative practice was reportedly aimed at maintaining a lucrative flow of clients from Bowden’s firm to the clinic, effectively prioritizing financial gains over patient health. State investigators corroborated these accounts in a November enforcement order, explicitly criticizing the arrangement for being financially driven.
The consequences of these actions have been dire for families and individuals seeking help. Judy Russo, Ryan’s mother, lamented the clinic’s inadequate handling of her son’s case, which she believed contributed to his rapid relapse into substance use. Her frustration highlights a significant breach of trust and a failure in duty of care expected from both legal and medical professionals.
Ryan’s minimal sentence and the subsequent resumption of his substance use exemplify the potential human cost of such corrupt practices. He was assessed incongruently as having “no significant problem,” received a nominal sentence, and endured minimal oversight, all of which proved grossly insufficient given his history of substance abuse.
This case also casts a shadow over Bowden’s career. This isn’t the first scrutiny of her professional practices; a decade ago, she was linked to several corrupt treatment clinics investigated and subsequently shut down by state officials. Despite multiple attempts to contact her for comments, Bowden has not responded.
Further details on the systemic issues within Rainier Recovery, the specifics of the legal and operational linkages with Bowden’s law office, and additional personal accounts from affected families are expected to be disclosed in continued investigations.
Overall, this case reflects troubling vulnerabilities and potential for exploitation in systems meant to serve individuals grappling with legal and health crises. Family members of those affected and the wider community are left questioning the integrity of the systems they turn to for help.
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