Location: Massachusetts
I was in a rehab program a little over a year ago when this occurred.
It was a Sunday around 2 PM.
There was a rumor that somebody had some type of weapon or “sharp object” in their possession- which everybody (clients) thought was odd because there was absolutely no reason for the staff to think or assume this.
There was about 20 men ages 18- 65 in my unit of the rehab facility. I am 24 now, and was 22 when this occurred The staff ONLY strip searched just under half of us, maybe nine out of the total of 20 clients.
The first client came out of his room panicking and in distress saying out loud that they made them remove all of his articles of clothing, including his underwear. He was in disbelief. And so were the rest of us and myself. I thought there was no way they made him remove absolutely all clothing.
I quickly read the client handbook with the rules and regulations of the facility. It stated that the most that they could do when it came to searches was a “pat-search” which had been included a doctors order either typed or written- which I kept in the forefront of my mind, waiting for them to pull me into your room.
When it was my turn, I was pulled into my room at a facility. There was three of the day shift staff and two security guards at the door watching me undress. There were no doctors or nurses there. They said to me that there was a safety concern, and I had to remove my clothing to prove I had no weapons on me I attempted to tell them that based on the handbook all they could do is the pat search which they then said that because of this “emergency situation“ they had the right to do this and they had to with no other option. I removed my shirt then they told me to remove my pants then they told me to remove my underwear at this point.
I told them that they cannot legally do this and they insisted it had to be done. I then feel obligated to remove my underwear so I did they told me to spin around and lift up my genitals. I was naked for about 10 seconds. And then got redressed, left my room, returned to the crowd of clients and confirm that they were telling people to remove all clothing. One strip searching them again, they strip searched about nine of us out of 20 and they even referred to this as an in “strip search“.
The following day when the doctor came in, that was assigned to our unit. I pulled her aside into a room and asked her what made her give this doctors order that apparently she faxed from home, which is what the staff had told me she told me to my face that she never sent an order for such a thing and that it was completely wrong, and the staff from the previous day were completely at fault.
This causes great distress to specifically a few of the clients which made them cry and remember previous traumas. I need legal advice on if this is case worthy or a settlement of compensation what law was broken here? Would this be considered sexual harassment? Please reply with any legal advice you may have and I really appreciate you reading this far down.