STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF KALAMAZOO
TENIA GOSHAY, PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE
OF CORNELIUS FREDERICKS,
DECEASED
Plaintiff,

Case No.
Hon.

v.
LAKESIDE FOR CHILDREN d/b/a
LAKESIDE ACADEMY; LAKESIDE ACADEMY;
SEQUEL YOUTH SERVICES OF
MICHIGAN, LLC; SEQUEL TSI
HOLDINGS, LLC; SEQUEL YOUTH
AND FAMILY SERVICES, LLC; SEQUEL ACADEMY
HOLDINGS, LLC; and SEQUEL YOUTH SERVICES, LLC
Defendants.
Jonathan R. Marko (P72450)
MARKO LAW, PLLC
Attorneys for Plaintiff
1300 Broadway Street, Fifth Floor
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 777-7529 / (313) 771-5785 – Fax

COMPLAINT AND JURY REQUEST
NOW COMES Plaintiff, Tenia Goshay, Personal Representative of the Estate of
Cornelius Fredericks, Deceased, by and through her attorney, Marko Law, PLLC, and
states in support of her complaint as follows:

1

 INTRODUCTION
Cornelius Fredericks was known by his family members as a “boy’s boy: hyper and
rambunctious, with a penchant for playing jokes and pranks, and ultimately was known as
a sweet boy.” Unfortunately, Cornelius’s family lost their boy at a young age while he was
in the care of a residential facility that ironically markets itself as dedicated to preparing
young men and women for a positive future. Ultimately, the private entities responsible for
the management and oversight of this residential facility were the ones responsible for
taking away the positive future they were supposed to help Cornelius achieve.
The loss of Cornelius Fredericks’s life at the young adolescent age of sixteen was
due to the improper and wrongful use of restraints by staff members at Lakeside Academy
in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In fact, video from Lakeside Academy even shows a staff
member placing his/her weight directly on Cornelius’s chest for nearly ten minutes as
Cornelius lost consciousness. Cornelius’s scream of “I can’t breathe” was not enough to
get the staff members to stop the excessive restraint. The excessive use of restraints and
the lack of concern for Cornelius’s life draw an eerily similar comparison to that of George
Floyd’s death. Floyd died less than a month after Cornelius Fredericks at the hands of four
police officers, one of whom kneeled on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes despite Floyd’s
screams that he could not breathe.
Not only has the country seen a trend in the exposure of such excessive restraints,
but the use of these excessive restraints was a common theme at Lakeside Academy. The
facility had over thirty investigations conducted by the Department of Health and Human
Services since the year 2016. These investigations focused on violations regarding facility
2

 and premises maintenance, staff qualifications, discipline, behavior management, resident
restraint, and sufficiency of staff. Even more important to note is that within the six months
prior to Cornelius Fredericks’s death, the Defendants named in this action had six separate
violations pertaining to their employees’ improper use of de-escalation techniques, some
of which pertained to improper restraints. The documented history and repeated
investigations of Defendants’ improper use of restraints on residents should have put the
Defendants on notice that change was needed.
Additionally, not only were Defendants negligent regarding the use of restraints on
residents, but Defendants were completely negligent in responding to the coronavirus
pandemic. Only after Cornelius Fredericks was transported to the hospital, as a result of
entering cardiac arrest from the improper restraint used on him, was it discovered that he
was positive for coronavirus. It would later be discovered that close to forty other residents
and nine staff members at Lakeside Academy were also positive. Yet, despite the adverse
impact that coronavirus has on an infected person’s ability to breathe, Defendants used tear
gas on the Lakeside Academy residents. Defendants used an agent known to restrict
people’s breathing on residents with a virus that already makes it hard to breathe.
The outright reckless and negligent behavior of the Defendants cannot go
unaddressed. Plaintiff seeks justice through this civil rights case.
JURISDICTION AND PARTIES
1.

Plaintiff, Tenia Goshay, is the personal representative of Cornelius
Frederick’s estate, and is a resident of Wayne County, State of Michigan.

3

 2.

Cornelius Frederick, now deceased, was a 16-year-old boy who resided in
Kalamazoo, Michigan, under the care and custody of the Defendants.

3.

Defendant Lakeside is a Michigan corporation that owns and/or operates
and/or conducts business in the County of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan.

4.

Defendant Lakeside Academy is a Michigan corporation that owns and/or
operates and/or conducts business in the County of Kalamazoo, State of
Michigan.

5.

Defendant Sequel Youth Services of Michigan, LLC is a Michigan
corporation that owns and/or operates and/or conducts business in the
County of Ingham, State of Michigan.

6.

To the best of Plaintiff’s knowledge and understanding Defendant Sequel
TSI Holdings, LLC is an Iowa corporation that owns and/or operates and/or
conducts business in the County of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan.

7.

To the best of Plaintiff’s knowledge and understanding Defendant Sequel
Youth and Family Services, LLC is a Delaware corporation that owns
and/or operates and/or conducts business in the County of Kalamazoo,
State of Michigan.

8.

To the best of Plaintiff’s knowledge and understanding Defendant Sequel
Academy Holdings, LLC is an Iowa corporation that owns and/or operates
and/or conducts business in the County of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan.

4

 9.

To the best of Plaintiff’s knowledge and understanding Defendant Sequel
Youth Services, LLC is an Iowa corporation that owns and/or operates
and/or conducts business in the County of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan.

10.

The amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional minimum for this
Honorable Court, exclusive of interest, costs and attorney fees, and the
matter is otherwise within the jurisdiction of this Court.
FACTS

11.

Plaintiff, by reference, incorporates the preceding paragraphs as though
fully set forth herein.

12.

As a ward of the state, Cornelius Fredericks was housed by the State of
Michigan at Defendant Lakeside Academy, which is located at 3921
Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008.

13.

Prior to July 2007 Defendant Lakeside Academy was known under the
name “Lakeside for Children.”

14.

In July 2007, Lakeside for Children entered into a management agreement
with Defendant Sequel Youth and Family Services, and the Defendant
residential facility was renamed Lakeside Academy.

15.

On April 29, 2020, the staff at Lakeside Academy used an improper
restraint on Cornelius Fredericks, which subsequently caused Cornelius to
enter cardiac arrest.

16.

Even though Cornelius Fredericks yelled, “I can’t breathe!”, Defendant
continued improperly restraining him, killing him.
5

 17.

After entering cardiac arrest, Cornelius Fredericks was transported to
Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and placed on life support.

18.

On May 1, 2020, only 30 hours after entering cardiac arrest as the result of
the improper restraint, Cornelius Fredericks died at Bronson Hospital.

19.

The use of wrongful and improper restraints by Defendants’ staff is not a
novel occurrence.

20.

The Department of Health and Human Services has a laundry list of
complaints that it has investigated and addressed regarding employees of
the Defendants improperly managing situations with residents at Lakeside
Academy.

21.

Since 2016, Defendants had at least thirty violations investigated through
the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding
facility and premises maintenance, staff qualifications, discipline, behavior
management, resident restraint, and sufficiency of staff.

22.

Additionally, since 2016, Defendants had to terminate at least eight
employees due to the employees’ improper use of restraints and/or failure
to use proper de-escalation techniques, and/or improper supervision of
residents.

23.

Furthermore, since 2016 Defendants had to suspend and/or place on
administrative leave at least seven employees for improper use of restraints
and/or failure to use proper de-escalation techniques, and/or improper
supervision of residents.
6

 24.

Within the six months prior to the death of Cornelius Fredericks,
Defendants had six separate incidents of violations pertaining to
employees’ improper use of de-escalation techniques.

25.

Subsequent to Cornelius Fredericks arriving at Bronson Hospital on April
29, 2020, it was discovered that Cornelius was positive for coronavirus.

26.

The other residents and staff at Lakeside Academy were tested for
coronavirus after it was discovered that Cornelius was positive, and nearly
forty other residents and nine staff members tested positive for the virus.

27.

Despite the fact that coronavirus was running rampant through Defendants’
residential facility, Defendants used tear gas on the residents, which is an
agent known to restrict people’s breathing.

28.

Defendants knew or should have known that coronavirus also restricts an
infected person’s breathing, and consequently, residents with the virus
would be severely impacted by the use of a chemical agent that worsened
that condition.

29.

Defendants now face the revocation of their license for Lakeside Academy
by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services as a result of
the wrongful restraint of Cornelius Fredericks, which subsequently resulted
in his death.

30.

Defendants owed common law and statutory duties to Cornelius Fredericks
for his care and safety while he was residing at Lakeside Academy and
under Defendants’ care and control.
7

 31.

The Defendants’ voluntarily assumed duties for Cornelius Fredericks’s care
including, but not limited to, the following:
a.

Exercise reasonable care and ordinary care for his safety and
well-being;

b.

Provide trained and qualified employees, staff and/or agents to
deliver safe and reasonable care for Cornelius Fredericks’s
safety and basic needs;

c.

Hire, train, retain, and supervise all employees, staff and/or
agents who would provide direct and indirect supervision to
Cornelius Fredericks while he was a resident at Defendants’
facility;

d.

Assure that employees, staff and/or agents treated Cornelius
Fredericks at all times with respect and dignity;

e.

Conduct full and complete investigations whenever complaints
of abuse or neglect or negligence were brought to Defendants’
attention; and

f.

Provide the standard and quality of care and services that
Defendants represented they would provide in marketing and
informational materials and to the State of Michigan.

32.

Defendants breached all of the above listed common law, statutory, and
voluntarily assumed duties owed to Cornelius Fredericks while he resided
at Lakeside Academy.
8

 33.

Defendants had actual and/or ostensible knowledge of their employees’
and/or staffs’ and/or agents’ treatment and care of Cornelius Fredericks and
of other residents at Lakeside Academy.

34.

As a direct and proximate result of the negligent and/or grossly negligent
and/or intentional acts and/or omissions committed by Defendants and their
employees, staff and/or agents, decedent suffered the following injuries and
damages:
a.

Physical pain and suffering;

b.

Severe emotional trauma, fright, shock, mortification;

c.

Premature death;

d.

All damages allowed under the Wrongful Death Act including
economic damages and loss of society and companionship;

e.

Exemplary damages; and

f.

Others to be discovered through the course of litigation.
COUNT 1
NEGLIGENCE & GROSS NEGLIGENCE

35.

Plaintiff, by reference, incorporates the preceding paragraphs as though
fully set forth herein.

36.

Defendants owed certain duties to the residents of Lakeside Academy, and
Cornelius Fredericks in particular, to provide a safe residential living
facility.

9

 37.

Defendants’ breached this duty by recklessly using excessive force in
restraining Cornelius Fredericks on the date of April 29, 2020, and the other
breaches described above.

38.

Defendants are vicariously liable under respondeat superior for the actions
of its actual / ostensible agents.

39.

Defendants’ actions were grossly negligent and undertaken in a reckless
disregard for whether injury would result.

40.

These actions are the most immediate cause, as well as the proximate cause
of Plaintiff’s injuries.

41.

Defendants’ negligence/gross negligence has caused various egregious
damages to Plaintiff.

42.

Defendants’ negligence/gross negligence as set forth above resulted in the
wrongful death of Cornelius Fredericks and creates a claim pursuant to
MCL 600.2922.
COUNT II
DIRECT NEGLIGENCE

43.

Plaintiff, by reference, incorporates the preceding paragraphs as though
fully set forth herein.

44.

Defendants had a special relationship with its residents, as well as with its
employees, which created a duty whereby Defendants were required to
provide a safe living environment to the residents, and Cornelius Fredericks
in particular, and to act in a prudent and safe manner.
10

 45.

Defendants breached the duties owed to their residents, and Cornelius
Fredericks in particular, by negligently hiring, supervising, training, and/or
monitoring Defendants’ employees.

46.

Defendants knew or should have reasonably expected to know that failure
to control the aggressive and tortious conduct of their employees would
result in injuries to a resident, including Cornelius Fredericks.

47.

As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ negligence and/or gross
negligence, Cornelius Fredericks was killed and caused various egregious
damages to Plaintiff.

48.

Defendants’ direct negligence as set forth above resulted in the wrongful
death of Cornelius Fredericks and creates a claim pursuant to MCL
600.2922.
DAMAGES

49.

Plaintiff, by reference, incorporates the preceding paragraphs as though
fully set forth herein.

50.

The wrongful acts and/or omissions, neglect and/or fault of Defendants and
their agents/employees as set forth above resulted in the wrongful death of
Cornelius Fredericks.

51.

This wrongful death claim is cognizable under MCL 600.2922.

52.

Decedent’s estate incurred medical, hospital, funeral, and burial expenses
for which Defendants are liable.

11

 53.

Plaintiff, Tenia Goshay, as Personal Representative of the Estate of
Cornelius Fredericks, Deceased, seeks all economic and non-economic
damages allowed under the Michigan Wrongful Death Act, MCL 600.2922.

54.

As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ conduct, Plaintiff has been
damaged in the manner outlined above.
CONCLUSION
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court grant

Judgment in her favor in an amount that good conscience dictates and against Defendants
in an amount to be determined by the jury.

Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Jonathan R. Marko
Jonathan R. Marko (P72450)
MARKO LAW, PLC
1300 Broadway Street, Fifth Floor
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Phone: (313) 777-7529
Fax: (313) 771-5785
jon@markolaw.com
Date:
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on June 22, 2020, I presented the foregoing
paper to this Court’s ECF System which will send notification
of such filing to the above listed attorneys of record.
/s/ Marissa A. Williams

12

 JURY REQUEST
Plaintiff, by and through counsel, hereby requests a trial by jury in the abovecaptioned matter.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests this Honorable Court grant
judgment in favor of Plaintiff against Defendants, in an amount the Court or jury deems
just and fair, plus interest, costs, and attorney fees.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Jonathan R. Marko
Jonathan R. Marko (P72450)
MARKO LAW, PLC
1300 Broadway Street, Fifth Floor
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Phone: (313) 777-7529
Fax: (313) 771-5785
jon@markolaw.com
13

 Date: June 22, 2020
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on June 22, 2020, I presented the foregoing
paper to this Court’s ECF System which will send notification
of such filing to the above listed attorneys of record.
/s/ Marissa A. Williams

14