(WWJ) They describe it a house of horrors. More young women are coming forward in a lawsuit against Vista Maria.
Vista Maria was a Dearborn Heights-based non-profit organization, serving as a residential treatment center for vulnerable young women and girls.
For over a century, it was known as the state’s largest treatment facility for girls, offering foster care and adoption services, mental health treatment, and specialized care for survivors of human trafficking.
A lawsuit, filed by former residents and some family members on their behalf, accuses Vista Maria and its staff of psychological and physical abuse, along with unsafe conditions and negligence.
All were placed there as minors; many through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and through court orders, according to the lawsuit.
This suit is the first in a series of lawsuits to come against the facility, according to one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, Moose Scheib, of the Moose Law Firm.
In an interview Tuesday with WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Vitale, Scheib said he's seeking justice for the survivors after what he claims were decades of "systematic abuse."
"They weren't there because, you know, they were criminals, even though this was a lockdown facility." Scheib said. "Some of them either had problems with their parents, or their parent was an alcoholic, or there was some kind of abusive situation in the household, or they were in the foster care system. They came to Vista Maria with hope..."
"I can't imagine. you know, somebody going to a place at 12, 13 years old, and thinking that they're going to have some kind of hope in their life, and it ends up being just another cycle of abuse," Scheib said.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and asserts multiple counts, including assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, violation of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, gross negligence, and negligent hiring and supervision.
Speaking with Vitale, Scheib relayed some of what his clients say they endured.
"Just to give you one story of the kind of evil nature... One of the girls was being restrained, and she accidentally knocked over a cleaning bottle that was on, you know, the security desk when they were restraining her. So, after they put her in the restraint, the security guard opened up the cleaning bottle of chemical and spilled it on this girl's head."
Scheib said he's seeking justice for the survivors.
"I can't imagine. you know, somebody going to a place at 12, 13 years old, and thinking that they're going to have some kind of hope in their life," Scheib said. "And it ends up being just another cycle of abuse."
The residential treatment portion of Vista Maria closed in December 2025. At that time, nearly 130 employees were laid off. At that time, Vista Maria said the layoffs were due to “social, systemic, and regulatory factors.” It first announced its decision to make a “thoughtful shift in how we serve Michigan’s youth.”
Vista Maria has largely declined to comment about the lawsuit, but did issue the following statement after the filing: “We are aware a media availability was held mentioning a possible dispute involving Vista Maria. At this time, we cannot comment further as we have no specifics. Our focus remains on fulfilling our mission and supporting the youth and families we serve.”
Any additional survivors who attended Vista Maria can go to https://moose.law/ for information.
