In a harrowing case that highlights the vulnerability of minors in institutional care, a resident of Illinois has filed a lawsuit alleging severe abuse while under the care of state-supervised programs. Robert QT Bettis, acting as his own attorney, lodged the complaint on April 2, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Michael Johnson, Dr. Fedra Najjar, and The Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment Unit (CATU).
Bettis's lawsuit accuses these defendants of violating his constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 due to the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse he suffered while in foster care and residential treatment programs. The plaintiff recounts a traumatic series of events beginning on July 21, 2014, when he was transferred from Maryville Academy to UIC-CATU following an attempted suicide triggered by previous assaults. He alleges that during his time at Maryville Academy’s St. George Program in Des Plaines, Illinois, he was sexually assaulted by peers and physically abused by staff members.
The complaint details an incident where Bettis was choked by a staff member after defending himself from an attack. Following this event, he was hospitalized but later returned to face further mistreatment. Despite filing grievances and requesting transfers to avoid continued abuse—requests that were denied—Bettis claims that no effective measures were taken to protect him or address his concerns.
Bettis also accuses Dr. Fedra Najjar of forcing him back into environments where abuse persisted despite his objections and refusal to take medication at UIC-CATU. He describes ongoing derogatory treatment and assaults upon returning to St. George 200 Program. The management at Maryville Academy is accused of negligence for failing to prevent known abuses.
Michael Johnson is named for failing in his duty as UCAN Foster Case Manager to ensure Bettis's safety within these facilities. The cumulative neglect allegedly inflicted significant physical and psychological harm on Bettis, infringing upon his Fourteenth Amendment rights.
In seeking justice, Bettis requests compensatory damages exceeding $10 million for injuries sustained alongside punitive damages against individual defendants where applicable. He also seeks injunctive relief mandating policy changes to safeguard minors' rights within such institutions and requests coverage for legal fees should he retain counsel.
The case is presided over by Judge Franklin U. Valderrama with Magistrate Judge Jeannice W. Appenteng assisting in proceedings under Case ID: 1:25-cv-03578.