Philadelphia Court Postpones Initial Glen Mills School Abuse Trials, Orders Mediation Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

Philadelphia, PA — The first scheduled trials in the city’s wide-reaching litigation involving allegations of abuse at the now-shuttered Glen Mills Schools have been postponed indefinitely. This abrupt decision came just weeks before the cases were to be initially presented before a jury.

Judge Joshua Roberts of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas issued the halting order on June 14, impacting not only the inaugural trial that was set to commence on July 15 but also subsequent trials slated for August and October. The fourth trial, penciled in for December 9, still stands as scheduled for the time being.

According to Nancy Winkler, a prominent attorney representing the plaintiffs and serving as their liaison counsel, this judicial directive follows an instruction from the court to pursue mediation. Winkler stated via email that this development temporarily freezes the prepared trial schedule, though future trial dates will eventually require reassessment.

The lawsuit stems from serious accusations leveled against the personnel of Glen Mills Schools, a Delaware County institution that was once among the oldest reform schools in the U.S. In April 2019, the school was compelled to close doors permanently after the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services withdrew its operating license. This drastic action followed allegations and subsequent findings of employee misconduct, including physical and psychological abuse of students.

Accusations detailed in the master complaint lodged by the former students were severe, describing an environment rife with “brutal beatings,” sexual abuse, and a climate maintained through “fear, intimidation, humiliation, and violence.”

The mass tort, which consolidated approximately 250 cases by late 2020, represents just a fraction of the grievances that former attendees have levied against the school and its staff. Initially encompassing around 20 lawsuits when it was grouped into a mass tort in June 2020, the number of cases has since surged as more former students have stepped forward.

The plaintiffs not only seek justice for the alleged abuses but are also pursuing claims of fraudulent concealment, civil conspiracy, and various negligence against the school’s operators. Additionally, legal challenges extend beyond state boundaries as former students also engage in federal court actions. Last year, a class action lawsuit against an agency that provided educational services to Glen Mills reached a $3 million settlement, creating a compensation pool intended for an estimated 1,600 claimants.

Nonetheless, not all legal efforts toward class certification took successful routes. In May, U.S. District Senior Judge Harvey Bartle III denied a motion for class certification concerning Glen Mills, suggesting that individual lawsuits could prove a more “expeditious pathway forward.” This resonates with an earlier perspective by Winkler, emphasizing the diverse nature of the abuse suffered which potentially makes consolidated class action treatment unsuitable.

As these legal proceedings unfold, former students and observers await further developments, especially regarding whether mediation might yield an amicable resolution before any more trials can commence. The legacy of Glen Mills Schools and the outcome of these accumulated lawsuits will likely resonate as a sobering example of the challenges in administrating and overseeing juvenile reform institutions.