METO class action law Suit

Important notice for those who were secluded or Restrained while at METO

In 2008, the Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities released a public report entitled “Just Plain Wrong”. In the report the agency detailed the excessive use of restraints and law enforcement style devices at the Minnesota Extended Treatment Program.

In 2009 a Federal Class Action lawsuit was filed on behalf of individuals who had been subjected to seclusion or restraint. Attached is information for former residents of METO, their guardians or interested person, on how to file a claim.

Click here for the METO Class Action Settlement - Summary in PDF format
Click here for the METO Class Action Settlement - Summary in Word format

Click here for the August 4 Letter to Resident, Guardian, Contact [METO]

Click here for the METO Settlement Agreement Highlights

• On September 18, 2008, this agency issued a year-long investigative report on the excessive use of restraints and law enforcement style devices on residents at a state run treatment program for the developmentally disabled. For at least one of the residents, this meant being restrained 299 times in one year.  Below is the announcement and the report:

  • Click here for the Ombudsman's Office Report Announcement.

  • Click here for the full report - Just Plain Wrong.

  • Click here for comments.

• Koochiching County - An Ombudsman Review of One Family's Request for Help - October 4, 2006
• The Ombudsman Office has an essay published in the William Mitchell Law Review 2005-2006 entitled "Are we Failing our Children and their Families? Children's Mental Health and the Misuse of the CHIPS Process".
• Mental Health - A System in Crisis, 2003 HTML PDF
• A Review of Conditions at South Center Manor - an Intermediate Care Facility for Mental Retardation in Center City, 2003 PDF
• Why do we wait? A Mental Health Report, 1999 HTML PDF
• Department of Human Services Review Boards (HRB), 1997  HTML PDF 

Documents

• Sex Offenders in Nursing Homes - Testimony before the Minnesota Senate Joint Committee, 2004 HTML PDF
• Techniques to Resolving Issues Yourself, 2004
• Ombudsman Comments on Care of Persons with Developmental Disabilities as a result of the Series by the Star Tribune entitled Voiceless and Vulnerable, 2001 PDF

Office Brochures

• Ombudsman Office Brochure, PDF - Updated 03/12 - This is a three fold, 8.5  x 11 brochure describing our Office and the services we provide.
• Death and Serious Injury Brochure - PDF  - Updated 03/12 - This is a three fold, 8.5  x 11 brochure discussing mandatory reporting of deaths and serious injuries to our Office.
• Civil Commitment Training and Resource Center - PDF - Updated 07/09 - This brochure gives information about what services the Civil Commitment Training and Resource Center offers.
• Mental Illness and Community-based Treatment: Alleviating Neighborhood Concerns Brochure - PDF - Updated 07/09 - This brochure addresses some of the common questions raised about mental illness and community-based treatment.
• Information for Individuals and Families about Suicide Prevention.
  Legal Size Brochure (8.5x14) - PDF - Updated 03/2012
  Standard Size Brochure (8.5x11) - PDF Updated 03/2012
  
  • National Institute of Mental Health - Suicide Prevention Information

Biennial Reports

• Biennium Report to the Governor, 2008 - 2009 PDF
• Biennium Report to the Governor, 2006 - 2007 PDF
• Biennium Report to the Governor, 2004 - 2005 PDF
• Biennium Report to the Governor, 2002-2003 PDF
• Biennium Report to the Governor, 2000-2001 PDF
• Biennium Report to the Governor, 1998-1999 HTML PDF

Related Resources

• Civil Commitment Fact Sheets
• Forms
• Medical Alerts, Bulletins and Updates 

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