Universal Health Services: Lawsuit against Spring Mountain Treatment Center Alleges Repeated Sexual Assaults by Staff Member

May 11, 2026

A newly filed lawsuit accuses Universal Health Services and its Spring Mountain Treatment Center in Las Vegas of failing to protect a teenage patient from repeated sexual abuse by a staff member. The woman, identified in court records as “F.D.,” says she was just 16 years old when she was admitted for treatment in 2004 and remained at the facility for about a year. According to the complaint, a staff member repeatedly entered her room at night and assaulted her, while threatening to prolong her stay if she reported the abuse.

The lawsuit alleges that the abuse was part of a broader “culture of exploitation” within facilities operated by Universal Health Services, one of the nation’s largest behavioral health corporations. Attorneys for the plaintiff argue that the company prioritized profits over patient safety by cutting staffing, supervision, training, and oversight while increasing admissions and lengths of stay. The suit includes claims of negligent hiring and supervision, emotional distress, and battery.

The case follows other allegations involving Spring Mountain and comes years after the U.S. Department of Justice reached a $117 million settlement with Universal Health Services over allegations involving patient safety failures and improper billing practices. Advocates say the lawsuit raises continuing concerns about abuse, accountability, and conditions inside youth psychiatric and residential treatment programs.

(Source: Las Vegas Review Journal, May 11, 2026)