Allies, Inc.: Ownership, Violations, and Lawsuits
Michael Hill and the team at Michael Hill Trial Law investigate abuse, neglect, and wrongful-death cases involving group homes and intermediate care facilities (ICF/IIDs), and we represent families nationwide. The firm focuses on neglect and abuse in group homes, ICF/IIDs, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Allies, Inc. is a New Jersey nonprofit that operates group homes and day programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, within the Woods System of Care. It faces lawsuits alleging a sexual assault at a day program and a resident's diet-related death, and carries the state's lowest rating on critical incidents.
If someone you love was injured or died in a group home or ICF operated by Allies, Inc. or one of its brands, you may have legal options, and time limits can be short. Case reviews are free and confidential. Start your case or call (800) 659-2712.
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Ownership and financial figures are drawn from public filings, state and federal records, and news reporting; regulatory and lawsuit items are from government records and court filings, each cited at the end of this page. Lawsuits and criminal charges are allegations unless a court has ruled; state findings may be appealed.
Group Home & ICF/IID Case Types We Handle
The injuries and neglect we investigate in group homes and intermediate care facilities.
Allies, Inc. at a Glance
- Legal name: Allies, Inc. (within the Woods System of Care)
- Headquarters: Hamilton, New Jersey
- Founded: New Jersey nonprofit; part of the Woods System of Care
- Ownership: Nonprofit (501(c)(3))
- Scale: 88 licensed group homes in New Jersey (FY2026 state report card)
- Revenue: About $80.6M (FY ending June 2024)
- Brands: Allies, Inc.; Allies Homes Inc.
- Headline issues: Lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at a day program; wrongful-death lawsuit over a resident's diet; substantiated state abuse finding; state-required changes after a 2021 fire; lowest state rating on critical incidents
Group homes and ICF/IIDs are licensed and inspected mainly by the states and, for ICF/IIDs, by federal CMS — there is no federal five-star rating like the one for nursing homes. Counts below are from public records and are not a complete litigation history; they do not by themselves indicate the quality of any individual home.
What Group Homes and ICF/IIDs Are — and Why Harm Happens
A group home is a residential setting where a small number of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) live together with staff support. An intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID) is a federally certified, Medicaid-funded facility that must meet federal standards for active treatment, health care, and client protections. Many residents cannot fully protect themselves or reliably report what happens to them, which is exactly why staffing, supervision, and training decide whether people are safe.
The injuries that recur in these settings are rarely mysterious. They include falls and fractures; bedsores and pressure injuries; choking on the wrong diet texture; dehydration, malnutrition, and bowel obstruction and fecal impaction; medication errors; wandering and elopement; physical or sexual assault by staff or other residents; and, in the worst cases, wrongful death. The common thread is understaffing — a home that accepts residents it is not staffed or trained to care for makes the harm foreseeable.
Who Owns Allies, Inc.?
Allies, Inc. is a Hamilton, New Jersey nonprofit that operates within the Woods System of Care, a network created by Woods Services. Its FY2024 Form 990 lists trustees receiving large related-organization compensation that appears to flow from Woods-system roles, and a related entity, Allies Homes Inc., reports President and CEO Michael Haggerty's pay as related compensation ($467,039 in FY2025).
Michael D. Haggerty has been President and CEO since June 2020 and also holds executive roles with the related companies Woods and Legacy Health. The New Jersey Office of the Ombudsman reported his compensation as nearly double that of his 2018 predecessor.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Michael Haggerty becomes President and CEO (June) |
| 2021 | May group-home fire; state later requires new fire-prevention and shift-coverage procedures |
| 2023 | Affiliates with Abilities Solutions; operates within the Woods System of Care |
Revenue, Public Funding, and Finances
Allies reported roughly $80.6M in FY2024 revenue. In FY2021 and FY2022 it reported unusually large contributions (about $17.9M and $18.6M), versus $0.9M in FY2024; the source of those contributions was not determined and could include pandemic relief.
Allies, Inc. Leadership
Michael D. Haggerty has been President and CEO since 2020. Other executives include COO Philip Monetti, CFO Richard Manall, and Chief Compliance Officer Anne Kriegner. The board is chaired by Carolyn Reichenbach.
Allies, Inc. Brand Names and the Entity on the License
The name on a state license, inspection report, or court filing is often a subsidiary or brand. Families searching state records should look for these names:
| Family | Names you may see |
|---|---|
| Allies / Woods System of Care | Allies, Inc.; Allies Homes Inc.; affiliated with Woods Services and Legacy Health |
Where Allies, Inc. Operates
Allies operates group homes, day habilitation, children's intensive residential treatment, crisis stabilization, and IDD treatment homes in New Jersey. Its homes are licensed by the New Jersey Department of Human Services as Allies, Inc.
Allies, Inc. Lawsuits, Government Findings, and Regulatory Record
Allies carries active litigation and state findings. A 2026 lawsuit alleges a participant was repeatedly sexually assaulted at an Allies day program; a 2017 wrongful-death suit alleges a resident died after staff failed to follow her prescribed diet. Both remain unproven allegations. A 2023 New Jersey final agency decision affirmed an abuse finding against an Allies support manager over an unapproved restraint. After a May 2021 group-home fire the state required new fire-prevention and staffing procedures. On the FY2026 state report card, Allies received the lowest rating on reducing critical incidents and was cited for three or more substantiated serious abuse, neglect, and exploitation allegations in the year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| NJ report card overall stars | 2 of 3 |
| NJ report card critical-incident stars | 1 of 3 |
| Fiscal year | FY2026 |
This is not a complete litigation history, and the existence of a lawsuit or complaint is not proof of wrongdoing. A settlement is not an admission of liability. Findings by state agencies may be appealed.
Notable matters
- 2026 — Allegation (lawsuit filed): Lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at a day program. A guardian sued Allies, Inc. in New Jersey Superior Court (2026) alleging a 27-year-old incapacitated woman was repeatedly sexually assaulted by another participant at an Allies day program, in its vehicles, and elsewhere during program hours, and that supervision failed despite the attacker's known behavioral risks. The allegations have not been adjudicated; Charity Navigator issued a 'Proceed with Caution' advisory citing the suit. Source
- 2023 — Substantiated (New Jersey administrative finding): State abuse finding over an unapproved restraint. A New Jersey final agency decision (OAL HSL 07884-20, 2023) affirmed an abuse finding against an Allies support manager for an unapproved restraint of a resident at the Pump Branch group home in January 2021; the employee was ordered placed on the state's Central Registry of Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. Source
- 2017 — Allegation (lawsuit): Wrongful-death lawsuit over a resident's diet. The family of Jennifer DeKalb, who had an intellectual disability, a seizure disorder, and an eating-control disorder and died in 2017, sued Allies alleging staff were not trained on her prescribed diet and allowed her to binge on cookies and soda. Allies denied the negligence claims; the outcome was not located. Source
- 2021 — Regulatory action: State-required changes after a group-home fire. After a May 2021 fire at an Allies group home - during which, per press accounts, one caregiver was alone with four women because of staffing shortages - New Jersey required Allies to adopt a fire-prevention policy and stricter shift-coverage procedures. The fire was ruled accidental. A resident hospitalized after the fire later died of causes deemed natural. Source
- 2026 — State rating: Lowest state rating on reducing critical incidents. On New Jersey's FY2026 DDD Licensed Provider Report Card, Allies scored 2 of 3 stars overall and 1 star - the lowest - on taking appropriate steps to reduce the occurrence of critical incidents. The state reported Allies was cited for three or more substantiated serious allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in the year. Source
Complaint and Harm Types in the Allies, Inc. Record
Across the public records reviewed, these are the kinds of harm that recur — the same kinds our firm investigates in group homes and ICF/IIDs. If your loved one experienced any of these, it may support a claim:
Who May Be Legally Responsible
Because Allies, Inc. operates through separate state entities and brands — and because the parent company, the licensed operator, the employer of the staff, and in some cases the property owner may be different companies — a lawsuit may need to name more than one defendant. Names that have appeared in records involving these homes include:
- Allies, Inc.
- Allies Homes Inc.
- Woods System of Care
What to Do If You Suspect Neglect or Abuse in a Group Home or ICF
- Get medical care. Call 911 or go to the hospital for any serious injury, sudden decline, or unexplained bruising, fracture, or weight loss.
- Report it. Notify the home’s administrator in writing, the state or county developmental disabilities agency that receives incident reports, adult protective services, and law enforcement for any suspected crime.
- Find the licensed entity. Ask for the license or check your state’s provider lookup; the company on the license is often a state subsidiary or brand name rather than the parent company.
- Document everything. Take photos, write down dates, times, and names, and save texts and emails.
- Request records. Ask for incident reports, the individual service or program plan, medication administration records, and staffing schedules. Guardians and authorized representatives usually have access rights.
- Be careful with statements and documents. Do not give recorded statements to insurers or sign releases or arbitration agreements before talking to a lawyer. Deadlines can be short.
Why Families Bring Group Home and ICF Cases to Michael Hill Trial Law
These cases are won by lawyers who try them. Michael Hill and the team at Michael Hill Trial Law focus on neglect and abuse in group homes, ICF/IIDs, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities, and the firm has obtained record results, including $26 million, the highest recorded verdict against a nursing home in Ohio history. The firm’s main office is in Cleveland, Ohio; it practices nationwide, its attorneys are licensed in numerous states, and it works with affiliate firms across the country. The review is free, and you owe nothing unless we recover for you.
Start your free, confidential case review | Call (800) 659-2712
Frequently Asked Questions About Allies, Inc.
Is Allies, Inc. for-profit or nonprofit?
Allies is a New Jersey nonprofit, part of the Woods System of Care, with about $80.6M in revenue in its 2024 fiscal year.
What lawsuits has Allies faced over resident harm?
A 2026 lawsuit alleges a 27-year-old incapacitated woman was repeatedly sexually assaulted by another participant at an Allies day program, and a 2017 suit alleges a resident died after staff failed to follow her prescribed diet. Both are unproven allegations; Allies has denied the negligence claims in the diet case.
Has the state substantiated abuse at Allies?
Yes. A 2023 New Jersey final agency decision affirmed an abuse finding against an Allies support manager over an unapproved restraint, and the state reported Allies was cited for three or more substantiated serious abuse, neglect, and exploitation allegations in the year ending June 2026.
How does Allies rate on New Jersey's provider report card?
On the FY2026 DDD Licensed Provider Report Card, Allies scored 2 of 3 stars overall and the lowest rating - 1 star - on reducing the occurrence of critical incidents.
Can I sue a group home or ICF operator for neglect or abuse?
Generally, families may bring civil claims against a group home or ICF operator when neglect or abuse causes injury or death, and the parent company and the licensed entity may both be proper defendants. Deadlines, damage rules, and required pre-suit steps vary by state, and arbitration clauses and Medicaid liens can matter. A lawyer licensed in your state can explain your options. Michael Hill Trial Law offers free, confidential case reviews for families nationwide.
Who is legally responsible when someone is harmed in a group home?
Often more than one company. These operators frequently run each home through a separate local entity that holds the license, while the building may be owned by another company and staff employed by a third; for-profit owners and investors can sit above all of them. The right defendants depend on who held the license, who employed the staff, who managed care, and who owned the property at the time of the harm.
What if we signed an arbitration agreement?
Courts do not always enforce these arbitration clauses. Whether one applies depends on who signed it, the authority that person had, and the state's law. Keep a copy of everything you signed and have a lawyer review it before assuming you cannot bring a claim.
How do I check a group home or ICF's inspection and complaint record?
Group homes are licensed and inspected mainly by state developmental-disabilities and health agencies; ICF/IIDs are also certified and inspected under federal CMS rules. Use the state agency's provider lookup for the state where the home is located, and ask the agency for inspection reports and substantiated complaints.
About Michael Hill Trial Law
Michael Hill Trial Law represents families in group home, ICF/IID, nursing home, and assisted living abuse and neglect cases. The firm’s main office is in Cleveland, Ohio; it practices across the country, its attorneys are licensed in numerous states, and it works with affiliate firms throughout the United States. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, including a $26 million jury verdict for wrongful death, the highest nursing home verdict in Ohio history. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Learn more about group home and ICF/IID neglect cases, wrongful death, and physical and sexual assault, or meet our team.
Sources
Information on this page comes from government records, court filings, regulatory reports, company statements, and news reports, linked below. Lawsuits and criminal charges are allegations unless a court has ruled. Findings by state agencies may be subject to appeal.
- Allies, Inc. Form 990 (ProPublica)
- Allies Homes Inc. Form 990 (ProPublica)
- NJ.com - sexual-abuse lawsuit at Allies day program
- NJ DHS final agency decision HSL 07884-20 (abuse finding)
- NorthJersey.com - NJ group-home deaths (DeKalb)
- NorthJersey.com - 2021 fire and staffing
- NJ DHS DDD Licensed Provider Report Card (FY2026)
- Charity Navigator - Allies, Inc.
- Woods - Allies affiliate page
This page provides general information about a company that operates group homes and intermediate care facilities. It is not legal advice and does not mean that any particular home or employee did anything wrong. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last reviewed November 12, 2026.
