Independence care home resident alleges sexual assault by fellow resident in lawsuit
The parent of a resident in an Independence care home filed a lawsuit on behalf of their adult child in Jackson County Court on Friday, alleging that the resident was sexually assaulted by another resident in April of 2023.
Denoted in court documents as V.K., the survivor, described in the court documents as a person with special needs, was a resident at Northstar Community Supports in Independence when the alleged assault took place.
Northstar Community Supports is operated by Northstar Residential Care, Inc., which provides social services and day programs for adults with autism and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Through her parent M.D., V.K. alleges that Brian Runyon, also a Northstar resident at the time, cornered her in Northstar’s music room on April 27, 2023, where V.K. commonly spent most of her day. V.K. alleges that Runyon physically forced her to perform oral sex on him, according to the lawsuit.
Though he was also a Northstar resident, the lawsuit alleges that Bryan Runyon was not mentally impaired to the same extent as V.K., as he was physically and cognitively able to hold a job in the past. The lawsuit further alleges that Runyon was previously terminated from a job due to sexual misconduct, a fact that M.D. and V.K. allege was known by Northstar staff.
Representatives for Northstar Residential Care were unable to comment on Friday on the pending lawsuit. Attorneys for V.K. were also unavailable for comment Friday.
The lawsuit accuses Northstar Residential Care of negligence, as well as liability in failing to keep V.K. safe on site.
M.D. and V.K. are seeking a jury award in the amount of $25,000 according to the lawsuit. The parent and child will next appear in court on January 6, 2025, at 8 a.m, for a conference hearing.
