Wartluft v. Milton Hershey Sch.

354 F. Supp. 3d 584
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedDecember 7, 2018
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 1:16-CV-2145
StatusPublished

This text of 354 F. Supp. 3d 584 (Wartluft v. Milton Hershey Sch.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wartluft v. Milton Hershey Sch., 354 F. Supp. 3d 584 (M.D. Pa. 2018).

Opinion

Christopher C. Conner, Chief Judge

Plaintiffs filed the instant action against defendants the Milton Hershey School and the Hershey Trust Company, as Trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust (collectively, "the School"), alleging federal and state claims in the wake of the tragic suicide of their daughter, Abrielle Kira Bartels ("Abrielle"). In this opinion, we will revisit our August 10, 2017 decision, which improvidently dismissed several of plaintiffs' tort claims pursuant to the gist of the action doctrine.

I. Factual Background & Procedural History

Julie Ellen Wartluft (formerly Julie Ellen Bartels) and Frederick L. Bartels, Jr. (collectively, "plaintiffs") are the natural parents and administrators of the estate of the decedent, Abrielle. (Doc. 29 ¶ 1). Prior to her death, Abrielle was a student of the School, which is a private, nonprofit institution that offers cost-free education to low income children from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. (Id. ¶¶ 2, 16). The School also provides residential accommodations for students, housing them in group homes with supervisory "houseparents." (Id. ¶¶ 21-26). Abrielle enrolled in the School in August 2004 at the age of five. (Id. ¶ 16). At the time of enrollment, Abrielle had "great social needs related to her family structure and home life," as her immediate family members suffered from severe mental health problems and substance abuse. (Id. ¶¶ 59-60). Prior to Abrielle's admission, plaintiffs executed the School's "Enrollment Agreement," a three-page *588document setting forth terms and conditions of enrollment including, inter alia , attendance, conduct and discipline, student dating, school-provided health care, release of personal information, visitation, textbooks, and religious services. (See Doc. 11-1 at 6-8).

Plaintiffs aver that Abrielle excelled and thrived during her nine years at the School. (Doc. 29 ¶¶ 16, 18). They describe Abrielle as a "model student," twice being named middle school "Student of the Month" and consistently achieving honor roll status. (Id. ¶¶ 17-18). She was also a member of the swim team and an "anti-bullying" organization. (Id. ¶ 18). Abrielle's likeness was even utilized by the School in marketing materials. (Id. ¶ 28). According to plaintiffs, Abrielle planned to graduate from the School, attend college, and then join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (Id. ¶ 18).

Abrielle began eighth grade at the School in August 2012. (Id. ¶ 69). That year she allegedly was subjected to several incidents of bullying and experienced other stressors, including her father's likely incarceration for a second DUI offense and another student falsely accusing her of making physical threats. (Id. ¶¶ 70-72). In the face of these challenges, Abrielle's emotional well-being began to deteriorate. (Id. ¶ 70). In April 2013, as a result of the accusations of threatening behavior, Abrielle was removed from her student home and committed to the School's Health Center, an "on-campus hospital-type facility." (Id. ¶¶ 73-74). After release from the Health Center, Abrielle's School psychologist, Benjamin Herr, M.D. ("Dr. Herr"), learned that she had recently expressed a desire to kill herself-a claim that Abrielle denied when questioned. (Id. ¶ 77). On May 1, 2013, Abrielle was again admitted to the Health Center for overnight observation after she expressed self-harm ideations and disclosed past self-harm conduct to her houseparents. (Id. ¶ 78). During her psychological examinations in the following weeks, Abrielle indicated that family difficulties, including her father's job loss, alcohol abuse, and potential loss of visitation rights, were animating her depression and thoughts of self-harm. (Id. ¶¶ 79-81, 83-84). Abrielle also expressed anxiety and discomfort regarding an upcoming visit to her father's residence in light of his alcohol problems and the volatility of his relationship with his female companion, whom Abrielle referred to as her "stepmother." (Id. ¶¶ 80-82).

Throughout May 2013, Abrielle underwent multiple admissions to the Health Center for suicidal ideations, depression, and anxiety. (Id. ¶¶ 83-88). She frequently reported during treatment that family concerns and instability were the driving forces behind her mental health issues and that she preferred to remain on campus rather than return to her father's home for holiday breaks. (Id. ) On Dr. Herr's recommendation, Abrielle underwent inpatient treatment at an off-campus mental and behavioral health care facility from May 28 to June 5, 2013. (Id. ¶¶ 88-89). During inpatient therapy, Abrielle repeated the stressors of family mental health, discord, and substance abuse as the impetus for her self-harm and suicidal ideations. (Id. ¶ 89).

Abrielle's serious mental health problems continued when she returned to the School, necessitating further treatment and admissions to the Health Center. (Id. ¶¶ 91-92). On June 10, 2013, School physicians recommended that Abrielle again be treated at an inpatient mental health facility as soon as possible. (Id. ¶ 93). Abrielle was admitted to a different inpatient mental health care facility the following day, beginning a nine-day course of psychotherapy. (Id. ¶ 96).

*589Plaintiffs allege that, despite knowing that Abrielle's depression and suicidal ideations were driven largely by her unstable family life, the School directed that she be discharged from inpatient care back to her family home rather than to her campus residence under the care of her houseparents. (Id. ¶ 101). According to plaintiffs, the School was operating under an official or unofficial "shadow policy," which mandated that students be expelled after two mental health hospitalizations in outside facilities, even if those hospitalizations were recommended by School medical staff. (Id. ¶ 108). Dr. Herr purportedly explained this two-hospitalization policy to Abrielle's mother before and during Abrielle's second inpatient hospitalization. (Id. ¶ 114). Dr. Herr also informed Abrielle of the policy, causing her to be "devastated" and "terrified of being thrown out" of school. (Id. ) When a psychologist at the inpatient mental health care facility learned of the policy, she "expressed grave concern" to Dr. Herr about the effects of such a policy on Abrielle. (Id. ¶ 115). On June 19, 2013, the day Abrielle was discharged from her second inpatient hospitalization back to her father's home, Dr. Herr informed Abrielle that there was a "significant likelihood" that she would be expelled. (Id. ¶¶ 118, 144).

Plaintiffs aver that, prior to Abrielle's second inpatient discharge, the School had performed an "enrollment review"-a closed-door, internal process by School administrators that essentially was a precursor to expulsion. (Id. ¶¶ 124-28). On June 20, 2013, the day before middle school graduation, the School informed Abrielle that it was rescinding her invitations to the graduation ceremony and her houseparents' graduation barbeque. (Id. ¶ 130). The School further barred her from returning to campus and from attending ninth grade. (Id.

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Bluebook (online)
354 F. Supp. 3d 584, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wartluft-v-milton-hershey-sch-pamd-2018.