Lawsuit alleges abuse, coverup at Suffolk County group home for disabled residents
The lawsuit, filed by the family of a former resident identified as “J.P.,” accuses Life’s WORC, a nonprofit that operates group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities, of systematic abuse and negligence.
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A Suffolk County group home is at the center of a disturbing new lawsuit alleging that workers physically abused, over-medicated, and improperly restrained a resident with autism — and then attempted to cover it up.
The lawsuit, filed by the family of a former resident identified as “J.P.,” accuses Life’s WORC, a nonprofit that operates group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities, of systematic abuse and negligence. It also names eight current and former employees as defendants.
According to the complaint, J.P. was subjected to repeated beatings while living at the East Islip facility. One image submitted as evidence shows him with a black eye. The lawsuit further claims he was placed in a straitjacket-like restraint and given excessive medication that left him in a zombie-like state, drooling — allegedly to make him easier to manage.
J.P. was hospitalized at one point due to the effects of the medication, according to attorneys.
News 12 first aired exclusive video footage in 2023 that allegedly showed one of the defendants abusing J.P. That same footage is now a key piece of evidence in the civil case.
Life’s WORC responded to the lawsuit with a written statement:
“J.P.’s parents entrusted him to our care until just yesterday. We categorically deny any allegation of wrongdoing and withhold further comment for the moment rather than engage in speculative accusations.”
This is not the first time Life’s WORC has faced scrutiny. In 2019, a former employee pleaded guilty in a separate case involving abuse of another resident.
While some of the employees named in the lawsuit were reportedly fired, the suit claims at least one individual remains employed at Life’s WORC — and has even been promoted.
J.P. has since been moved to a different care facility.
