Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind): 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. Oak Hill, legally the Connecticut Institute for the Blind, is a nonprofit, headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, that operates group homes, a school and other programs for people with disabilities. It is among the largest private providers of disability services in Connecticut.
If someone you love was injured or died in a group home or ICF operated by Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) 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.
Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) at a Glance
- Legal name: Connecticut Institute for the Blind, Inc. d/b/a Oak Hill
- Headquarters: Hartford, Connecticut
- Founded: 1893
- Ownership: Nonprofit
- Scale: About 70 group homes in Connecticut, plus Oak Hill School and affiliated programs
- Revenue: $116.1M (fiscal year 2025)
- Brands: Oak Hill; affiliates Gilead Community Services and Easterseals of Coastal Fairfield County
- Headline issues: $10M wrongful-death verdict affirmed on appeal in 2026; charges against a staffing agency over an unlicensed caregiver
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 Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind)?
Oak Hill, legally the Connecticut Institute for the Blind, is a nonprofit founded in 1893 and based in Hartford, Connecticut. It is led by President and CEO Barry M. Simon and governed by a volunteer board. It reported total assets of $97.9 million and liabilities of $25.2 million for fiscal 2025.
Oak Hill is not owned by private equity. It has subsidized its budget with endowment income and fundraising, and in 2018 it reported closing six group homes and four adult day programs amid state funding pressures.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1893 | Connecticut Institute for the Blind founded |
| 2016 | Death of Oak Hill resident Scott Case, leading to the wrongful-death case |
| Mar. 2024 | Waterbury jury returns a $10 million wrongful-death verdict |
| Sept. 15, 2026 | Connecticut Appellate Court affirms the verdict |
Revenue, Public Funding, and Finances
Oak Hill reported revenue of about $116.1 million for fiscal 2025 and a small operating deficit. The Oak Hill Foundation manages the organization's investments. CEO Barry M. Simon received about $389,000 in total compensation in fiscal 2025. A potential liability is the affirmed Case judgment of $10 million plus roughly $3.36 million in offer-of-compromise interest and post-judgment interest.
Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) Leadership
Barry M. Simon is President and CEO. Christine D. Leiby is CFO and Treasurer, and Gayle J. Wintjen is General Counsel. Dan Osborne leads the affiliate Gilead Community Services.
Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) 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 |
|---|---|
| Connecticut Institute for the Blind, Inc. d/b/a Oak Hill | ['Oak Hill', 'Gilead Community Services', 'Easterseals of Coastal Fairfield County'] |
Where Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) Operates
Oak Hill operates about 70 group homes across Connecticut, along with Oak Hill School and adult day programs. It is affiliated with Gilead Community Services and Easterseals of Coastal Fairfield County.
Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) Lawsuits, Government Findings, and Regulatory Record
Oak Hill's most significant documented matter is the Case wrongful-death case: a Waterbury jury found negligence and reckless disregard of a resident's rights in the 2016 death of Scott Case and awarded $10 million, which the Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed in September 2026. Separately, a staffing agency and two of its personnel, not Oak Hill employees, were charged after an unlicensed caregiver allegedly provided nursing care at Oak Hill facilities and a resident died in 2023; Oak Hill says investigations cleared it. Connecticut does not publish provider-level abuse and neglect substantiations.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wrongful-death verdicts | 1 |
| Related criminal matters | 1 |
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
- 2024 — Verdict (affirmed on appeal in 2026): Case v. Connecticut Institute for the Blind d/b/a Oak Hill (wrongful death). Scott Case, a 50-year-old resident of Oak Hill's Watertown group home, was found dead in May 2016. His BiPAP breathing machine had malfunctioned since mid-April 2016 and was not replaced despite a supplier's warning, and required half-hourly overnight checks were not performed. In March 2024, a Waterbury jury awarded $4 million in noneconomic and $6 million in punitive damages, finding negligence and reckless disregard of rights under Connecticut's Patients' Bill of Rights. With offer-of-compromise and post-judgment interest, the judgment totaled roughly $13.4 million. The Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed on September 15, 2026, primarily on procedural grounds after Oak Hill did not file a required written post-verdict motion. Amount: $10,000,000. Source
- 2023 — Criminal charges against a staffing agency and its personnel (allegations; not Oak Hill employees): Unlicensed-caregiver / Medicaid-fraud case involving a staffing agency. Connecticut's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit charged a West Hartford staffing agency and two of its personnel after an agency worker allegedly provided licensed-practical-nurse care without a license at multiple Oak Hill facilities. In 2023, a man at a Middletown Oak Hill facility died after a feeding-tube procedure performed by that worker, who allegedly delayed calling 911. The charged individuals were not Oak Hill employees; Oak Hill ended the agency contract in 2023 and says state and criminal investigations cleared it. These are charges; the outcome was not found. Source
Complaint and Harm Types in the Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) 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 Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind) 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:
- Connecticut Institute for the Blind, Inc. d/b/a Oak Hill
- Oak Hill
- Gilead Community Services
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 Oak Hill (Connecticut Institute for the Blind)
Who owns Oak Hill?
Oak Hill is the operating name of the Connecticut Institute for the Blind, a nonprofit founded in 1893 and based in Hartford, Connecticut. It is not owned by private equity.
What was the Oak Hill wrongful-death verdict?
In the Case case, a Waterbury jury in March 2024 awarded $10 million ($4 million noneconomic and $6 million punitive) over the 2016 death of resident Scott Case, finding negligence and reckless disregard of his rights after a malfunctioning breathing machine was not replaced and overnight checks were not performed. The Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed the verdict in September 2026.
Did the appeals court uphold the verdict?
Yes. On September 15, 2026, the Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed the judgment, largely on procedural grounds because Oak Hill did not file a required written motion to set aside the verdict within the deadline.
What was the unlicensed-caregiver case?
Connecticut's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit charged a West Hartford staffing agency and two of its personnel over an agency worker who allegedly provided nursing care without a license at Oak Hill facilities; a resident died in 2023 after a procedure by that worker. The charged individuals were not Oak Hill employees, and Oak Hill says investigations cleared it. These are unproven charges.
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.
- Oak Hill IRS Form 990 (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
- Oak Hill (official site)
- Connecticut Appellate Court opinion affirming the Case verdict (2026)
- Waterbury jury returns $10 million wrongful-death verdict (CT Law Tribune / Law.com)
- Mills & Cahill: $10 million verdict (plaintiff's counsel)
- Missed deadline seals $10 million death verdict (HRD America)
- Unlicensed-caregiver warrant coverage (ASRN / CT Insider)
- CT Mirror: SEIU strike against Oak Hill and other nonprofits (2023)
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.
