Survivor Alleges Kids Were Forced to Dig Their Own Graves and Eat Vomit at Hellish New York Boarding School as Officials Turned a Blind Eye
A former student of the now-closed Family Foundation School in Hancock, New York, has filed a federal civil lawsuit alleging years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as systemic failures by school leadership and local authorities.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Brooklyn, seeks at least $10 million in damages and names former school officials, members of the Argiros family, the Village of Hancock, local police, and other defendants.
Many of the allegations outlined in the complaint have not been proven in court, and the civil case remains ongoing.
Lawsuit Alleges Pattern of Abuse
According to the complaint, students at the boarding school were allegedly subjected to abusive treatment and degrading disciplinary practices during their time at the institution.
The former student claims that children were routinely mistreated, isolated, subjected to humiliating punishments, and forced to perform labor unrelated to their education.
The lawsuit further alleges that students were required to work on private property owned by the school's operators, performing maintenance, construction, farm work, and household tasks without compensation.
The plaintiff argues that these activities primarily benefited the school's owners rather than serving any educational purpose.
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Abuse Allegations Against Former Staff Member
The lawsuit also details allegations involving former music teacher Paul Geer.
According to the plaintiff, Geer allegedly sexually abused him during a school-related trip to Canada in the early 2000s.
The former student states that after reporting the alleged abuse to school leadership, no meaningful action was taken and he instead faced disciplinary measures.
Geer was later prosecuted in federal court on separate criminal charges involving the sexual abuse of students.
In 2025, he was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison after being convicted.
His criminal conviction is separate from the newly filed civil lawsuit.
Claims Against Former School Leadership
The lawsuit alleges that school administrators failed to protect students despite receiving reports of misconduct.
The plaintiff claims that complaints about abuse were ignored and that a culture of fear discouraged students from reporting what they experienced.
Former school leader Michael Argiros has denied being aware of the alleged abuse during his time overseeing the institution, according to court filings and previous deposition testimony.
At the time of publication, neither Argiros nor his legal representatives had publicly responded to the latest lawsuit.
Allegations Against Local Authorities
The complaint also accuses local officials of failing to properly investigate reports of abuse over many years.
The plaintiff alleges that the school's influence within the local community contributed to inadequate oversight.
Officials from the Village of Hancock and the local police department have not publicly commented on the allegations contained in the lawsuit.
The allegations against government entities remain unproven and will be addressed through the court process.
About the Family Foundation School
The Family Foundation School operated for decades as a private boarding school for teenagers experiencing behavioral or substance-related challenges.
The institution marketed itself as a therapeutic educational environment for families seeking structured programs for their children.
The school permanently closed in 2014 following years of criticism, investigations, and legal disputes.
In the years since its closure, several former students have come forward with allegations concerning their experiences at the institution.
Civil Case Continues
The federal lawsuit remains in its early stages.
As the litigation proceeds, both sides will have the opportunity to present evidence, respond to allegations, and argue their positions before the court.
No findings have yet been made regarding many of the claims contained in the newly filed complaint.
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Editorial Note
This article is based on allegations contained in publicly filed court documents, prior criminal court records, and publicly available reporting. The allegations described in the civil lawsuit have not been proven in court. All defendants are entitled to respond to the claims, and the litigation remains ongoing.
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