The Troubling Truth About the Exploited Teen Industry: Caleb Cunningham Shares Insights

In Paris Hilton’s documentary "This is Paris," she bravely shared her personal story of being sent to a boarding school in Utah that turned out to be abusive and traumatizing. Hilton's experience sheds light on a much larger issue of troubled teen camps that use unethical and abusive practices under the guise of providing therapy, recreational camp amenities, and care.

But Paris Hilton’s case is only one of many survivor stories that have come to light in recent years. The truth is that these institutions are doing anything but actually helping these children. So why is the government aiding in funding their operations?

On this episode of Cut to the Chase: Podcast we discuss the troubling issue of the "exploited teen industry," which includes various institutions such as wilderness camps, boarding schools, and reformatory schools that claim to help troubled teens but have been found to engage in deceptive marketing practices and abuse. 

Our host, Gregg Goldfarb, invites attorney Caleb Cunningham to the show to talk about the harm caused by these facilities, including sexual abuse, torture, and even death, and the lack of regulation that allows these abuses to continue.

In this episode:

• We highlight and bring awareness about the need for parents to be careful and informed when considering these facilities for their children.

• Cunningham discusses the legal actions being taken against the industry and what lawyers should know to properly represent clients in these cases.

• The financial incentives behind the industry, including public funds and private equity investments, the connection between government funding, and their promotion.

It is imperative that we continue to raise awareness about this issue and demand accountability from those responsible for the mistreatment of vulnerable youth. No one deserves to endure the kind of abuse and trauma that Paris Hilton and many others have experienced.

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

Link to Pap’s show on Exploited Teens: https://youtu.be/hI5vD5C4AEo 

Unsilenced’s website: https://www.unsilenced.org/
The map identifying these facilities: https://www.unsilenced.org/facility-map/   
Facility database: https://www.unsilenced.org/program-archive/
Levin Law website: https://www.levinlaw.com/exploited-teen-lawsuits 

Meet the Guest:

Caleb Cunningham is an associate attorney at Levin Papantonio Rafferty specializing in mass torts. He graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Information Sciences and obtained his Juris Doctorate from The University of Alabama School of Law. After practicing in Mobile, Alabama, he moved to Tuscaloosa for an in-house counsel position before becoming a prosecuting attorney in Missouri. Mr. Cunningham secured convictions on a range of cases, including a double murderer, a serial sexual offender, a child rapist, and a violent domestic abuser. He joined Levin Papantonio Rafferty, where he is able to use his ample courtroom experience and help a greater number of people. Mr. Cunningham is a member of several Bar Associations and has been recognized for his dedication to his community. 

Caleb can be contacted via email [email protected] and telephone [phone].

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This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.