Court oversight of Jensen Lawsuit comes to end, but fight for better care has not
October 2020
By Jane McClure
A decade-long legal battle regarding the mistreatment of adults with disabilities at two state-run facilities in Minnesota has concluded, but U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank warns that the fight for improved care isn't over.
The judge emphasizes that if mistreatment recurs at the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center and the St. Peter Forensic Mental Health Program, state officials could face further consequences. Frank urges state officials to collaborate with disability rights advocates, stating that the settlement could become an "entirely empty promise" otherwise, potentially leading to more lawsuits against the state.
The judge scolded the Minnesota Department of Human Services for delaying and objecting to responsibilities established in a 2011 settlement. The lawsuit began in 2009 when three families filed a suit on behalf of their adult children with disabilities, focusing on the Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) facility in Cambridge. The legal battle evolved into a class action involving over 300 families, addressing issues such as the use of restraints and seclusion at METO.
The $3 million settlement reached in 2010 led to METO's closure, the end of mechanical restraints at state facilities, and the initiation of work on Minnesota's Olmstead Plan, aiming to integrate people with disabilities into their communities. Despite progress, disability advocates express frustration over the years of court oversight and hope for more comprehensive reforms.
Court oversight comes to end, but fight for better care has not | Access Press