An Iowa woman is suing a residential treatment facility, claiming a staff member sent her messages of a sexual nature while she was a minor.
The woman, identified in court documents only as “Jane Doe,” claims she lived at Orchard Place in Des Moines, a residential treatment facility for juveniles, from May 20, 2019, to August 19, 2019. The lawsuit does not mention her age at the time, but notes that she was a minor and was receiving mental health treatment at the facility.
The lawsuit alleges that Cody Lee Loew worked at the Orchard Place dorms during Doe’s stay and that the two engaged in “sexual and illicit non-sexual communications through text messages, phone calls, and Snapchat messages.”
Loew allegedly broke off contact with Doe after her release, plunging her into a severe depression that led to therapy, medication, and failing two semesters of high school.
The lawsuit, filed in Polk County District Court, alleges Orchard Place was negligent by failing to adequately train and supervise its employees and allowing Loew to “exploit, bully and sexually abuse” Doe. Doe’s lawyers said Tuesday they do not believe the abuse was physical in nature and was essentially limited to hazing and cyber activities.
In a written statement in response to the lawsuit, an Orchard Place spokesperson said, “We cannot discuss confidential matters. However, our commitment at Orchard Place is and will remain to the care and safety of the children in our care. We emphasize safety training and meet regularly with staff to ensure protocols are followed and that children feel safe and supported.”
Inspection reports for Orchard Place show that the state has found no violations related to staff conduct or sexual abuse since Doe was first admitted in May 2019.
