Second Suit Filed in Federal Court Against AFIC and Panio Alleging Abusive Treatment and Fraud

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Second Suit Filed in Federal Court Against AFIC and Panio Alleging Abusive Treatment and Fraud

Posted on Oct 26, 2012 in Blog by Reinan Law

The Law Offices of JM Reinan, PC, on behalf of the James family, has filed a suit in Federal Court against the Adolescent and Family Institute of Colorado (“AFIC”), its owners Alexander Panio, Jr. and his wife, Mary Panio, along with individual AFIC employees and its medical director.  This is the seventh suit the Law Offices of JM Reinan, PC has filed against AFIC and Alexander Panio, Jr., and the second suit filed in Federal Court.

 

The James’ lawsuit alleges “abusive, fraudulent and harmful” treatment at AFIC that led the family’s son, then 17 years old, to attempt suicide.  The suit further alleges that when Mrs. James contacted the AFIC therapist in charge of her son’s care to inform the therapist that her son was threatening suicide, the therapist instructed Mrs. James to go ahead and let him go through with it.  The abusive treatment alleged in the suit includes, among other things, repeatedly calling the minor child derogatory names, persistent use of profane and inappropriate language, and use of improper tactics and methods to divide and destroy the James family.

 

The suit further alleges that Alexander Panio, who calls himself a doctor and has others refer to him as “Dr. Panio”, is in fact not a doctor, and the PhD he purportedly obtained was purchased from an unaccredited diploma mill, which is now defunct.

 

There are multiple claims for relief brought in the suit, including violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”); violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”); negligence, including battery and lack of informed consent; breach of fiduciary duty; unauthorized practice of medicine; fraud; and civil conspiracy.

 

To read about this lawsuit in further detail, click on the link below:

 

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/12/51226.htm