Aliya Health Group Files Suit Against Former Owner of Facility Cited in FTC Complaint

LAKEWOOD, N.J., June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aliya Health Group has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the prior owner of a now-closed treatment facility that was briefly affiliated with its network. The legal action seeks to hold Robert Stempler and his affiliated entities accountable for fraud, breach of contract, and failure to disclose material information during the sale of the facility.

The facility, formerly operated by Malibu Detox & Residential Treatment Center, LLC, was acquired by Aliya in 2023. The lawsuit alleges that the previous operators failed to disclose that an FTC investigation was active and reviewing unethical marketing practices initiated under Mr. Stempler, including deceptive Google advertising — conduct that is now the subject of a separate Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforcement action filed against Stempler and others.

"We acquired the facility in good faith, with a focus on clinical quality and ethical care," said Dave Johnson, CEO of Aliya Health Group. "The sellers concealed key facts from us. Their conduct severely damaged the facility's reputation and made it impossible to restore trust. We are taking this step to hold them accountable."

The FTC complaint which describes the transaction makes clear that the deceptive conduct occurred before the facility was acquired by Aliya. Despite Aliya's efforts to invest in the facility and operate it to the highest standards, the lingering impact of the prior operators' misconduct led to the closure of the location in 2024.

Since that time, Aliya has implemented a series of organizational and compliance improvements to reinforce its commitment to transparency and ethical care, including appointment of a new CEO, CMO, and senior marketing leadership team in 2025, each with a track record of integrity and leadership in behavioral health, securing LegitScript certification across all centers, ensuring marketing compliance across platforms, and engaging a third-party compliance firm to perform regular audits of all paid media and advertising activities.

"We want to be absolutely clear: Aliya is proud of its record of compliance and does not condone or participate in deceptive marketing practices," Johnson added. "Our mission is rooted in transparency, ethics, and delivering the highest quality of care. We are proud of the standards we've set across our national network — and we will not allow prior bad actors to tarnish that work."

About Aliya Health Group
Aliya Health Group is a national network of behavioral health treatment centers providing ethical, evidence-based care for individuals and families impacted by addiction and mental health challenges.

Contact:
Aliya Health Group
[email protected]

SOURCE Aliya Health Group