A $13 million settlement has been authorized by a Michigan Court of Claims judge for a class action lawsuit concerning an unannounced active shooter drill that sowed terror at a child psychiatry hospital in Northville Township. This settlement is in response to a December 2022 incident at the now-closed Hawthorn Center, where staff and patients were not informed of the drill, resulting in chaos and a massive police response, according to ClickOnDetroit.
During the drill, an announcement was made claiming that two armed men were inside the facility, a statement that set off widespread panic among the fifty children and staff present. The lawsuit detailed how those involved had to scramble to protect themselves, with many hiding, barricading doors, and frantically contacting loved ones. As part of the settlement, the children will each receive about $60,000, and staff members will receive varying amounts, as reported by AP News. Local law enforcement, unaware of the simulation, deployed with body armor and high-powered weapons to confront the alleged threat.
Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), which ran the Hawthorn Center, has agreed to the multimillion-dollar settlement but has not admitted to any wrongdoing. State Sen. Michael Webber criticized the lack of accountability from both the MDHHS and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration. "While I hope the patients and families affected by this situation can find some solace of relief through this settlement, there is a disturbing pattern of the governor’s administration failing to take seriously the horrific incidents patients are facing within our state’s crumbling mental health system," Webber told The Detroit News.
Despite the harrowing experience, the MDHHS maintains that settling was in the best interest of all those involved. In a statement, spokesperson Lynn Sutfin expressed the department's regret for the negative impact on patients, staff, and the community, also commending the employees and law enforcement for their swift response. "We regret that our patients, staff and community were negatively affected by the unfortunate incident in December 2022," Sutfin said, as per The Detroit News.
