Lawsuit against Mile Two Church, Legacy Christian Academy opens in court Friday | 24CA News
A much-anticipated case involving a Saskatchewan church-run faculty will lastly hit Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench on Friday.
A $25-million class motion lawsuit in opposition to the provincial authorities and Mile Two Church, who operated Legacy Christian Academy situated in Saskatoon, will formally be heard in court docket on July 7.
Dozens of former college students have alleged that bodily and sexual abuse occurred on the faculty previous to 2005.
The assertion of declare launched by former college students Caitlin Erickson and Coy Nolin on Aug. 9, 2022, says corporal punishment was used as a correctional device and that this was mirrored within the publications of Mile Two Church Inc.
It additionally claims that workers, brokers and representatives of Mile Two Church Inc. engaged in sexual relationships or sexual fondling of scholars or churchgoers.
The lawsuit has but to be licensed by the courts and the allegations haven’t been confirmed.
Twenty-one particular person defendants are named within the lawsuit alongside Mile Two Church, most of whom are former workers and board members of the college or the church.
Three of them have already been charged by police in relation to the allegations and are at the moment earlier than the courts.
Former athletic director Aaron Benneweis was the primary to be charged and is dealing with expenses of sexual assault and exploitation. Former principal Duff Friesen is dealing with eleven counts of assault with a weapon. Former faculty director John Olubobokun is dealing with 12 counts of the identical expenses.
None of the allegations in opposition to the people have been confirmed in court docket.
Former college students have requested the province to re-evaluate why it funds the college as former college students declare the college’s insurance policies don’t align with the Human Rights Code of Canada.
The lawsuit additionally claims that the province hasn’t mandated correct curriculum to this faculty, in addition to different Qualified Independent Schools.
Last November, a biology textbook from the college that was a part of the ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) curriculum and SAICS (Saskatchewan Association of Independent Church Schools) obtained scrutiny after it was discovered stating that dinosaurs and folks co-existed with one another, utilizing the theme of dragons all through historical past to assist that idea.
The faculty additionally provided the equal of a post-secondary class with out approval to take action, in line with inside authorities emails obtained by means of a freedom of data request.
In an announcement to Global News in June, the Ministry of Education stated: “The Education Act, 1995 makes provision for the registration of independent schools. This provision allows parents/guardians to educate their children in accordance with their conscientious beliefs, which may include faith-based education, and provide them with a legitimate exemption from a public or separate school.”
“The Government of Saskatchewan believes in the importance of supporting parental choice and the ability to access faith-based education in Saskatchewan.”
After felony complaints got here ahead in regards to the ministry’s oversight of Saskatchewan Qualified Independent Schools, Ombudsman Saskatchewan investigated and launched an early decision report on May 31 with suggestions for the ministry.
“The Ministry acknowledged that it lacked reporting and investigation guidelines for addressing complaints related to registered independent schools,” the report said.
“Our office made the following recommendation to the Ministry of Education: The Ministry of Education create and implement a complaints handling policy and procedure based on Ombudsman Saskatchewan Best Practices.”
The report said that the Ministry of Education has utilized the ‘best practices’ and supplied a draft of its grievance dealing with coverage and process to the investigators.
Global News reached out to the ministry for remark.
The case will open in court docket on the morning of July 7 at Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench earlier than Justice Naheed Bardai.
According to court docket paperwork, an software was put ahead by Mile Two Church asking to delay the requirement to file any defenses till after the lawsuit is formally licensed by the court docket.
A defendant has additionally requested the court docket for extra particulars in regards to the case earlier than the lawsuit is green-lit by the court docket.
On Friday, the court docket will argue whether or not defenses could be delayed and if plaintiffs should reply to the demand for particulars from defendants earlier than the lawsuit is licensed.
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