Sidney Daily News 05/01/00

Trial date set in Way suit

A November trial date has been established in Shelby County Common Pleas Court in a lawsuit filed by a couple that is suing The Way International.

Mrs. Allen and Mr. Allen are suing The Way, 5555 Wierwille Road, New Knoxville, for breach of contract and other allegations. They are seeking $2 million on the breach-of-contract complaint, although they claim a total of $56 million in damages.

Following a recent pretrial conference, Judge John D. Schmitt set Nov. 15 as the date for a jury trial.

Former employees of The Way, the Allens claim they suffered humiliation, embarrassment and stress at the hands of The Way officials, and that officials attempted to "coerce" Mrs. Allen into engaging in sexual activity with the Rev. L. Craig Martindale, former president, between 1996 and 1999. The Allens left The Way in March of last year.

Martindale is named a defendant in the lawsuit along with the Rev. Rosalie F. Rivenbark. Last month, Martindale resigned as The Way president and was replaced by Rivenbark. Martindale claims he and Mrs. Allen had a consensual affair.

Attorneys for The Way have filed motions seeking to remove allegations of fraud in a fiduciary capacity, civil conspiracy and racketeering, claiming the lawsuit did not specify when the alleged fraud occurred. Other motions seek to remove the amount of damages sought by the Allens, require the couple to include their address on the complaint, and to name other defendants currently identified as "John Doe" defendants. 

The Allens claim the "mark and avoid" designation that officials of The Way use allegedly to inform members and employees not to associate with certain people defamed them. The Way denies this allegation.

On their Web site, WayDale.com, the Allens indicated they would not comment on the case except during a trial. The site offers "insider" information about The Way operations that the Allens say is provided by current and former members.