Wyoming Troubled Teen Ranch Agrees to $2.3 Million Settlement Over Allegations of Forced Labor

A federal judge recently approved a $2.3 million settlement in a class action lawsuit against Trinity Teen Solutions, a program for troubled teens in Wyoming, concluding four years of legal battles. The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that the now-defunct ranch coerced young women into performing forced labor while claiming to provide support for mental health and behavioral issues. Women who attended the program reported being made to undertake arduous tasks such as repairing barbed wire, castrating animals, and laying irrigation pipes. They also alleged that injuries were ignored, and disappointing compliance resulted in humiliating punishments.

While attorneys representing Trinity Teen Solutions chose not to comment, the settlement specifies that the program and its owners do not admit to any wrongdoing. The ranch maintained in court documents that its practices were legal, framing chores and physical activities as integral components of their program. According to a 2022 investigation by NBC News, former clients of Trinity Teen Solutions sought to report their concerns to state officials and the police, expressing their experiences through social media and consumer review sites. Despite these reports, state authorities permitted the ranch to retain its operating license, and no criminal charges were filed against its owners.

The settlement is available to anyone who was placed at Trinity Teen Solutions between November 2010 and 2022 and had to perform “agricultural labor,” impacting over 250 individuals. However, those accepting the settlement must agree to a nondisparagement clause, preventing them from speaking negatively about the ranch or its owners online, although they can share truthful accounts of their experiences. Lead plaintiff Amanda Nash expressed relief over the settlement, emphasizing her desire to advocate for others who suffered similarly. Conversely, Anna Gozun, another former attendee, rejected participation due to the nondisparagement agreement and the lack of accountability from Trinity Teen Solutions’ owners.

Gozun felt disheartened and believed the settlement failed to offer genuine justice. The scrutiny of the troubled teen industry has been intensifying as former attendees have spoken out about abusive practices at these privately operated facilities, which traditionally operate without federal oversight unless they receive government funding. Following high-profile advocacy efforts, including one led by Paris Hilton, Congress mandated a study of the troubled teen industry to address these growing concerns.