A Cook County wrongful death lawsuit, recently amended, now names a former Chicago therapist and claims that years of alleged sexual misconduct drove a young woman to take her own life. The estate of 21-year-old Anabelle Hauter says the abuse started in 2016, when she was still a minor, and continued even after her formal therapy ended. The complaint targets the therapist, his former downtown employers and seeks both damages and accountability.
What the suit alleges
The civil complaint identifies Matthew Rounds as Hauter’s former therapist and alleges the misconduct began in 2016, when she was about 14 years old, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The suit states that Rounds treated Hauter while he was working as a clinical psychology intern at Insight Psychological Centers and at Chicago Psychological Health & Wellness Corp., and that their therapeutic relationship continued through 2020. Hauter’s estate amended its wrongful death filing last week to add Rounds as a defendant.
Allegations of exploitation and pattern
The amended complaint alleges that Rounds solicited sexual acts from Hauter and other girls and at times paid minors for sexual encounters, including meetings at a motel in Hammond, Indiana, according to FOX 32 Chicago. The lawsuit says some of these encounters continued after the formal therapy relationship ended in 2020 and that the alleged exploitation aggravated Hauter’s diagnosed major depressive disorder. “The consent piece is actually twofold in this case,” family attorney Erv Nevitt told FOX 32, arguing that a minor cannot consent and that a patient cannot consent to a sexual relationship with a therapist.
Clinics named and family reaction
The lawsuit also accuses the two clinics of sexual exploitation and of violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and the estate is seeking at least $50,000 in damages, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “They had the responsibility to ensure their therapists were properly trained, supervised, and vetted,” attorney Ervin Nevitt said in a statement to the paper. Insight Psychological Centers has said it will “respond through the legal process,” and reporting notes that the listed phone number for Chicago Psychological Health & Wellness Corp. was disconnected.
Employer response and case status
Rounds now works for Sagent Behavioral Health in Minnesota, which told reporters it placed him on leave after learning of the lawsuit and removed his biography from its website, according to FOX 32 Chicago. FOX 32 reports that no criminal charges have been filed at this time and that a status hearing in the civil case is scheduled for January. Nevitt said he and the family may assist law enforcement if criminal charges are pursued.
Legal context and professional ethics
Sexual or romantic relationships between counselors and current clients are barred under professional ethics rules, and the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics places strict limits on relationships with former clients, including multi-year guidance, according to the ACA Code of Ethics. Civil actions like this one can lead to licensing complaints and professional sanctions, and the estate’s filing also alleges federal statutory violations that could prompt broader legal review. If you or someone you know is affected by sexual abuse or suicidal thoughts, resources such as the 988 Lifeline are available for immediate help.
