Closure of the Haasenburg homes to be heard in court
Around ten years after the closure of the Haasenburg GmbH youth homes, the Cottbus Administrative Court is hearing the operator's appeal against the withdrawal of the operating license today. The 8th Chamber has scheduled an oral hearing. The lawsuit is directed against the Brandenburg Youth Ministry, which had ordered the withdrawal of the operating license in December 2013. According to the court, it remains to be seen whether a verdict will be announced on Thursday.
After self-harm and suicides occurred in the homes from 2005 onwards, the state youth welfare office initially imposed conditions, according to the court. In the summer of 2013, allegations then arose that residents in the homes were being harassed and humiliated by educators. This led to the closure of the three Haasenburg homes in Unterspreewald, Müncheberg and Schwielochsee, where young people from all over Germany were housed, at the end of 2013.
The operator initially defended itself against the closure in summary proceedings. This action was dismissed by the Cottbus Administrative Court in January 2015. According to the spokesperson, it was essentially based on the investigation report by an independent expert commission. An appeal by the operator to the Higher Administrative Court was also unsuccessful. The closure will now be heard in the main proceedings.
The operator argued that the withdrawal of their operating license for the Haasenburg homes negatively impacted their educational efforts, expressing concerns about the future of their educational programs. Furthermore, the closure of the homes in Social Affairs also affected families whose children were residing there, potentially leading to disruptions in their living situations.
Source: www.dpa.com
