In the latest twist in a two-year lawsuit against Kanakuk Ministries, the plaintiffs claim a recent settlement was reached under fraudulent circumstances.
In 2011, a North Texas family, represented by Linda Turley of the Turley Law Firm, filed a lawsuit against Kanakuk for physical and mental pain related to their son's sexual abuse at the hands of employee Pete Newman. The case has been winding its way through the U.S. District Court system since and was slated for an August jury trial in Dallas.
On April 29, Turley filed notice of a settlement with U.S. District Judge Joe Fish, who is scheduled to sign off on the agreement May 29. But the plaintiffs want to make sure that any agreement allows their son to be able to tell his story.
To that end, the plaintiffs have fired Turley and are seeking new counsel.
In an exclusive interview with CultureMap, Joe Alarcon said that his family's case has never been about money. It's about getting out the truth about Kanakuk.
Although the case was originally filed under pseudonyms, the plaintiffs decided to use their real names once their son turned 18. Joe and Brandi Alarcon, along with their son, Ashton, are suing Kanakuk Ministries as well as its founder and president Joe White. (Editor's note: CultureMap does not name victims of sexual crimes unless specifically asked to do so.)
The Alarcons were seeking damages for negligence and psychological suffering. Newman abused Ashton while he attended summer camp from 2005 to 2007, often under the guise of bible study and sexual purity exercises.
The crux of the case centers on the allegation that White, a nationally renowned Christian leader, swept reports of sexual misconduct under the rug for years before Newman was arrested.
The suit claims that White knew of Newman's proclivities as far back as 1999, when the then-camp counselor was placed on probation for riding four-wheelers in the nude with campers. In 2003, the suit says, Newman was once again cited for nudity, this time for streaking across the campgrounds.
In an exclusive interview with CultureMap, Joe Alarcon said that his family's case has never been about money. It's about getting out the truth about Kanakuk.
"We are a godly family and we know that God has great things for Ashton," he said. "We pray that we have the opportunity to share our story and use it to bless others."
Joe said his family's journey has not been easy and has often been long and lonely. Turley's representation only served to increase Ashton's injury.
"I never would have thought that the person you hire to help you would end up hurting you," Ashton said.
Turley did not respond to a request to be interviewed for this story.
In a May 18 email to Linda Turley, Joe Alarcon did not mince words about his feelings toward the settlement.
"During mediation we felt like we were lied to, harassed and as a result signed the agreement under fraudulent circumstances," he wrote.
He informed her that she was "fired for cause" on May 21 by email.
Also on May 21, Turley filed a request for an "attorney ad litem" to represent the interests of Ashton separate from his parents, whom Turley alleged were in conflict with their son.
Joe and Ashton Alarcon deny that allegation.
"It's not a conflict between me and my family. It's a conflict of attorney-client relations," Joe said.
Chief among his concerns is the potential for Ashton not to be able to tell his story, which his family would not have agreed to if properly informed. Joe said his family feels betrayed by Turley, who was supposed to be their advocate against Kanakuk and its abuses of their son.
"It's sad on all kinds of levels," he said.
Kanakuk sends buses to NorthPark Center to transport children to Missouri for camp.
Spa Castle is revealing renovations. Photo courtesy of Spa Castle