MSD Lawyers sues Simonds Detox over death of 21-year-old patient

By AI, Created 10:18 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Heidi Coen, the mother of Issac Charlton, who died after five days at Simonds Detox in Granada Hills. The case alleges staff misconduct, weak safeguards and a preventable overdose inside the facility.

Why it matters: - The lawsuit alleges a preventable death inside a licensed detox facility, raising questions about patient safety, staff conduct and oversight in California addiction treatment programs. - The case seeks general, special and punitive damages, plus restitution of treatment fees, burial and funeral costs, and injunctive relief. - The complaint also names the property owner, Simonds Detox CEO Karine Torosyan, and seven licensed medical and clinical professionals affiliated with the facility.

What happened: - Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP filed a wrongful death lawsuit on May 7, 2026, in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Heidi Coen, the mother of Issac Charlton. - Charlton was 21 when he was admitted to Simonds Detox in Granada Hills in May 2025. - Five days after his formal admission, staff found Charlton unresponsive in his room. - The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined Charlton died from the combined effects of fentanyl and diazepam. - The complaint says a Simonds employee communicated with Charlton before and during admission and offered to supply controlled substances. - The complaint also says the same employee died of an overdose involving fentanyl, diazepam and clonazepam about six months later, on November 6, 2025.

The details: - The complaint says text messages show a staff member offered Charlton Valium and other substances before and during admission. - The complaint says the staff member told Charlton to hide their communications from other employees. - The complaint alleges Simonds performed only limited drug and alcohol testing during Charlton’s stay. - Nursing staff documented sedation, lethargy, delayed responses and impaired functioning, according to the complaint. - The complaint says those symptoms did not trigger heightened monitoring or intervention. - The complaint alleges Simonds did not enforce written policies banning non-prescribed substances inside the facility. - The lawsuit asserts eight causes of action: wrongful death sounding in negligence, wrongful death sounding in professional negligence, survivorship, violation of the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protective Act, negligent hiring, retention and supervision, unfair competition, false advertising and premises liability. - The case was filed as Case No. 26CHCV01833 in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles.

Between the lines: - Arash Sadat, MSD Lawyers’ founding partner and lead counsel, called fentanyl entering a detox facility a preventable “never event.” - Sadat said the case reflects broader failures in some California rehab facilities and argued many deaths in those settings are preventable. - The allegations, if proven, would point to multiple breakdowns at once: employee misconduct, policy failures, weak monitoring and poor supervision.

What’s next: - The defendants will respond to the complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court. - The court case is likely to focus on facility policies, staff communications, monitoring records and whether Simonds followed required safety procedures. - Heidi Coen is represented by Arash Sadat, Camron Dowlatshahi and Ruchika Diaz of Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP. - MSD Lawyers lists contact information and social media at LinkedIn and Instagram.

The bottom line: - The lawsuit turns a single patient death into a broader test of whether detox facilities are doing enough to keep illicit drugs and unsafe staff conduct out of treatment programs.