In documents filed today in U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, attorneys for Kanakuk Kamps and CEO Joe White asked for a delay in the trial of the sexual abuse civil suit against them, saying that the current June 2013 setting would cause a hardship for operation of Kanakuk Kamps.
The motion asks that the court date be set back to August 12, 2013.
A June 3,2013, trial date would create a significant conflict for and cause hardship to the Kanakuk Defendants and the operation of Kanakuk Kamps. Kanakuk Kamps' primary camp season lasts from June until the first week of August. Kanakuk Kamps has few full-time employees and the majority of these full-time employees are directors or assistant directors of the various summer camps.
Many of these camp directors, including Joe White, are expected to be called as witnesses in this case. It would be almost impossible for Kanakuk to operate its summer camps without these directors present. A trial date of August 12,2013, would allow for Kanakuk to complete its summer camp operations as well as allow for Kanakuk employees to be available to testify at a trial if called.
The Kanakuk Defendants are aware that John Doe I (the sexual abuse victim of former Kanakuk Kamp director Pete Newman) is a high school student and that a summer trial setting is the most convenient time for him.
For that reason, the Kanakuk Defendants request that the Court order a definitive trial date instead of placing this case on the four week rolling docket. Setting the case for a preferential trial beginning August 12, 2013, should allow for the trial to be completed before John Doe I begins the school year and will also allow for Kanakuk and its employees to complete the 2013 summer camps without the interruption of a trial. Last, one of the counsel for Kanakuk Defendants' will be on vacation the second week of June 2013 and a four week rolling docket would force him to cancel that vacation.
The lawsuit was filed by the high school student's parents. The following information about it is taken from an earlier Turner Report post:
When their son was sent to the camp, the lawsuit said, Pete Newman, the camp director, sexually molested him, "appearing nude with an erection in a hot tub for Bible studies with (the boy) as Newman masturbated himself, he masturbated (the boy) and had the boy masturbate him."
The abuse also included games of naked truth or dare, and having the boy spend the night in Newman's living quarters, where he was sexually abused.
"At other times, Defendant Newman's inappropriate behavior and sexual abuse of (the boy) occurred in the presence of other Kanakuk Kamp personnel." The child was in the camp during the summers of 2005-2007. The lawsuit also names Kanakuk Ministries, Kanakuk Kamp, and every other name by which Kanakuk has been called as defendants.
"Newman used his position at Kanakuk Kamps as a means to abuse children such as John Doe I (as the boy is referred to throughout the petition) by developing the children's trust and friendship. This, coupled with Newman's mantle of authority as a dircctor of Kanakuk Kamps, allowed Newman to sexually abuse and molest multiple boys through masturbation, oral sex, and sodomy."
13 comments:
WOW, it would not be convenient for Kanakuk and Joe White. However expecting the kid to return to school right after the trial is ok.
When are they going to start thinking about the kids?
And then their attorney may have to cancel his vacation. sounds like Kanakuk needs a new attorney. SERIOUSLY.
If they really cared about this kid, they would not do things that are going to create things harder for him.
ROSS, what are your thoughts? In your opinion does this show the arrogance of Kanakuk and lack of concern for the kid? He is the victim and he is going to need time to recover.
They are assuming that this case is not going to affect this kid nor his ability to function. That is pretty stupid.
So, the all-powerful Joe White can't make other plans with over 18 months notice?
I have tried, since the beginning of all this, to read every word with objectivity...trying my best to be fair to the Kanakuk leadership. But with every day, my trust has slipped. Every time I read something like this, it causes me to question WHO it is that they really are protecting...and it seems that the answer is THEMSELVES. I hope I am wrong. There are parents out there with documents in hand that Kanakuk would not want brought forth. Why will they not just own these mistakes that led to all this? It seems they just think that the folks out there with the "written proof" will just keep quiet forever.
Dear 6:15. Your feedback is so correct. To anyone with information that could help bring all of this to light please contact Linda Turley or Steven Shulte at the turley law firm. 1-800-692-4025. or 214-691-4025.
Unfortunatley this may be the only way to protect the kids in the future. The reality is time and time again Kanakuk shows priority to their business. Even at the risk of harming kids.
This last request to move the court date because it is more convenient for them is another example of how they could care less of the kid. they are worried about thier pocket book and vacations, while this kid has to worry about trying to go back to school and think about his future.
They could not even sacrafice one summer for the future of this boy.
I, for one, hold proof. And I am watching them to see if they will own any of this before I hand it over to attorneys. They need to be publicly honest if they want all these papers not to surface.
1:02. Up until now they are refusing to hand over certain documents, insist on everything be sealed and getting the truth will only come from exposising them. Please pray about your situation. Information that you refer to is what is needed to expose the truth.
And the grim reality is that unless brave individuals choose to take that step, they (Kanakuk and Joe White) will only be held accountable to what can be proved.
Sad but very true.
Do no expect any apologies from them, nor admitance about their part. Again, please consider contacting the attorneys so they can make sure it is brought to light, they are held accountable and give explanation to what you hold in your hand.
Your braveness will also help answer any questions and frustrations you have with them. If what you hold is insignificant, the courts will dismiss it, however if it is something that is significant the courts will make sure Joe accounts for it.
PLEASE those of you who have any information to help this boy and the others on that list and any in the future that will be ignored!! m Don't let the BIG money of Joe White stop you from helping the boys harmed. THANK YOU
has the court made a decision on Kanakuk's requested postponement?
not that has been reported. Nor has the second request to dismiss or change venue has been addressed.
Clearly, none of you have been to Kanakuk. The directors, including Joe White give selflessley of their time all summer. Hearing Joe White speak is the highlight of the term for any camper or counselor for that matter. Joe White cares about one thing: bringing kids to Jesus. His concern over the disruption of camp is not from selfish gain but a desire to help camp function properly and reach the monst kids possible. I agree that this kid deserves his day in court. But as an attorney, requesting a change of trial dates due to a work conflict is not uncommon. Parties on all sides of the trial do this and find a time that works best for everyone, sometimes even the judge.
One problem Lauren. Records also indicate that both sides agreed to the scheduling order which BOTH REQUESTED AND AGREED for the trial date to be set between june and july of 2013. 6 weeks after the judge approves the requests made by both parties, they file this request.
Looks like you are in law school and if any party wants the courts to take into consideration vactions or whatever, it has to be stipulated from the beginning. Entering this request months after they agreed to the date is issue. They cannot do that. That is law 101.
This goes back to the point that they do not think things through. This is not surprising. They fly by the seat of the pants and then want everyone to give them grace because they over looked something. When are they going to accept responsibility for their actions?
They had their opportunity, they passed and now they are crying. BOOHOO.
Futhermore they requested the court date to be set when this boys starts his SENIOR year in HIGH SCHOOL. Did they take that into consideration when they made this last request. the answer NOOOO. They say that thought of that which is even more insulting.
They know he has to start school and yet they do not care. Let him take on the biggest battle of his life, go through the trauma then start school immediatly.
The problem is they requested a date when school also starts.
So screw Joe White. Let him suffer like everyone else has had to.
While 3:46 is unnecessarily ad hominem against lauren, I think 3:46 is right that Kanakuk is wrong to delay. If kanakuk wanted to avoid a mid-summer trial, they should never have allowed a scheduling order to be entered in the first place, considering that they knew the camp would be operating in July of 2013. This isn't a new complication - they should have tried to get an August trial date back at the time of the scheduling conference.
Hey, Anonymous 1:02 - if you "hold proof" of some bad act of kanakuk (or even of Pete), I think it would be wise to give it to the lawyers for both sides, rather than talking about it on a forum. For justice to be done, everyone needs access to the evidence, and talking about it on this forum won't help anyone get justice for what was done.
Acting like you have an instrument of blackmail on an anonymous forum helps exactly nobody.
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