The Friends of Cyrus lawsuit currently pending in federal court is D.P. et al v. Friends of Cyrus, Inc. et al, a personal-injury and Americans with Disabilities Act case filed in July 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by three plaintiffs against the group-home provider, its affiliated entity Friends of Cyrus II, Inc. (doing business as Lifetime with Cyrus), and four individuals. The case is in active discovery and settlement talks. A separate criminal matter in 2025 charged one of the provider’s caregivers with assaulting an autistic client at a Medford Township day program.
The Federal Lawsuit Against Friends of Cyrus
Plaintiffs identified as D.P., Mary Ann L., and Peter J. P. filed the complaint on July 12, 2024 (No. 3:24-cv-07734). Judge Robert Kirsch is presiding, with Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni handling discovery and settlement.1PACER Monitor. DP et al v. Friends of Cyrus, Inc. et al
The complaint is classified as “Torts – Personal Injury – Health Care” and brings a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101. Named defendants are Friends of Cyrus, Inc.; Friends of Cyrus II Inc.; and four individuals: Husam Sam E. Abdallah, Kamelia Kameli, Abayomi Okunnubi, and Daren Singhani, along with unnamed facility administrators and John and Jane Doe defendants. Autism Home Services, Inc. was added as a defendant in a December 2025 filing.1PACER Monitor. DP et al v. Friends of Cyrus, Inc. et al
The publicly available docket does not describe the specific injuries or mistreatment alleged, beyond the healthcare personal-injury classification and the ADA claim. Kamelia Kameli is the cofounder and CEO of Friends of Cyrus II.2Friends of Cyrus. Executive Team Daren Singhani is identified in federal provider records as a CEO and authorized official of Friends of Cyrus II.3NPI Database. Friends of Cyrus II The docket does not specify the roles Abdallah and Okunnubi held; Abdallah filed an answer in September 2024. All defendants are represented by Colleen M. Ready of Margolis Edelstein.1PACER Monitor. DP et al v. Friends of Cyrus, Inc. et al
Where the Case Stands
Formal discovery was stayed at the initial pretrial conference in November 2024 so that settlement-related discovery could go first. A Discovery Confidentiality and Protective Order was signed in September 2025, and plaintiffs subpoenaed the New Jersey Department of Human Services Office of Program Integrity and Accountability for its complete file on the matter.1PACER Monitor. DP et al v. Friends of Cyrus, Inc. et al
At a May 18, 2026 telephone conference, the court directed the parties to continue depositions and discovery and to advise by June 30, 2026 whether they were prepared for a settlement conference. If the case does not settle, the court will schedule the remaining discovery.1PACER Monitor. DP et al v. Friends of Cyrus, Inc. et al
The 2025 Caregiver Criminal Case
A separate matter that readers often confuse with the civil lawsuit is a 2025 criminal case. Fuller P. Williams, 45, of Burlington City, was arrested on July 29, 2025 after a Medford Township Police investigation that began in June 2025.4Pine Barrens Tribune. Caregiver Charged With Abusing Patient at Medford Township Facility
According to the criminal complaint, Williams struck a man with autism with a thin cord, causing multiple linear bruises and wounds to the victim’s back and buttocks, then failed to report the incident or seek medical care. Other staff found the injuries after reviewing surveillance footage and called police.56ABC. Medford Township Police Arrest Caregiver for Alleged Abuse at Friends of Cyrus Adult Day Services Program Williams was charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a disabled adult and the disorderly persons offense of simple assault, and was released after his first appearance in Burlington County Superior Court. As of August 2025, the case was pending presentation to a grand jury.6NJ.com. Caregiver Assaulted Autistic Patient, NJ Authorities Say
Kamelia Kameli said in a statement that the organization takes “all incidents and allegations of abuse very seriously” and is “committed to prompt reporting and full cooperation with the authorities in all investigations.” Neighbors of the Medford Township facility told reporters they had contacted local and state officials about concerns at the location roughly a year before the criminal charges were filed.56ABC. Medford Township Police Arrest Caregiver for Alleged Abuse at Friends of Cyrus Adult Day Services Program
State Report Card Findings
New Jersey’s Office of Program Integrity and Accountability publishes report cards on licensed group home providers, and recent scores for Friends of Cyrus II have been low. For the April 2023 through March 2024 period, the organization received the lowest possible rating (“H”) in three categories: compliance with health and safety standards; freedom of residents from serious allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and steps taken to reduce the occurrence of critical incidents. Its overall score was also at the lowest tier.7New Jersey Department of Human Services. DDD Licensed Provider Report Card – Section: April 2023 Through March 2024
The 2024 calendar-year report card showed the abuse-and-neglect metric rising from “H” to “HH” and the overall score improving to “HH,” but the organization continued to receive the lowest mark for health and safety compliance and for reducing critical incidents.8New Jersey Department of Human Services. DDD Licensed Provider Report Card – Section: January 2024 Through December 2024 The most recent report card, covering July 2024 through June 2025, showed 26 homes, 86 residents served, the lowest rating for health and safety compliance, and an overall score of “HH.”9New Jersey Department of Human Services. DDD Licensed Provider Report Card – Section: July 2024 Through June 2025
An Earlier, Unrelated Federal Case
The D.P. case is not the first federal lawsuit against the provider, but the earlier one was unrelated to resident care. In November 2020, Francis Fowlkes filed a Title VII employment discrimination suit against Friends of Cyrus, Inc. and Friends of Cyrus II Inc. in the District of New Jersey (No. 2:20-cv-17471). The court administratively terminated the case on April 16, 2021 pending settlement, and the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal on May 21, 2021. Settlement terms were not disclosed in the docket.10CourtListener. Fowlkes v. Friends of Cyrus, Inc.
New State Law on Group Home Accountability
Both matters sit against a shifting regulatory backdrop. New Jersey’s Community Care Program spends nearly $3 billion a year on services for people with developmental disabilities, with roughly two-thirds going to private providers. Providers receive between $250,000 and $500,000 per resident per year. Until recently, the state had no authority to impose civil penalties on group home operators for safety or quality violations, and most abuse and neglect investigations were conducted by the provider agencies themselves.11New Jersey Office of the Ombudsman. NJ’s Disability Watchdog Warns That Next Governor Will Inherit Group Home System in Crisis
In January 2026, Governor Phil Murphy signed S3750, which gives the state authority to fine poorly performing group homes for the first time. Under the new law, effective in July 2026, operators face $10,000 fines for second and subsequent health and safety violations. The legislation also created a new offense of “administrative neglect” for operators who fail to properly train or supervise staff, and a companion bill established a Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee.12NJ.com. NJ Just Made History With Law Protecting People With Disabilities in Group Homes