Full news article re-printed below

The Sidney Daily News posted an article reporting on our law suit. It is  inaccurately put together in places (Even the article heading "Couple sue Way for 2 million" is inaccurate), but it's something to read. 

As announced previously, we will have our complete complaint here online as soon as we get our "conformed copy" back from Shelby County. Maybe tomorrow, possible as late as early next week.

The Way and Craig Martindale have statements attributed to them in this article. 

I obviously am not going to debate or refute statements made by The Way or by Martindale. I will be leaving my testimony and the testimony of other supporting witnesses for Ohio's courtrooms where it will make most impact.

The article is at: http://www.sdnccg.com/headlines.asp

In case this article is no longer online - we are including a reprint:

Sidney Daily News, Sidney Ohio (web address http://www.sdnccg.com)  - no specific author was credited for this article.

Sidney Daily News - 04/06/00

---- reprint begins here ----

Couple sue Way for $2 million

Alleging emotional distress, defamation and breach of contract, two former followers of The Way International have filed a lawsuit against the religious organization in Shelby County Common Pleas Court.

Way officials acknowledge a sexual affair but no illegal actions on their part.

Mrs. Allen and Mr. Allen, who listed a Dartmouth, Mass., address on an Internet site they maintain, claim they suffered humiliation, embarrassment and other stress at the hands of The Way officials and employees. They are seeking $2 million in damages on a claim of breach of contract and any other damage a jury may decide at trial.

Named as defendants are The Way officials Loy Craig Martindale, Rosalie F. Rivenbark, John R. Reynolds, Donald E. Wierwille, Howard R. Allen, Ramond Bidon and 50 other unidentified people associated with The Way, 5555 Wirewille Road, New Knoxville. Martindale has been The Way president, and Rivenbark and Reynolds are trustees.

Coercion claim

The suit alleges that between 1996 and 1999, Martindale and Bidon attempted to "coerce" Mrs. Allen into engaging in sexual activity with Martindale. Because of the control The Way officials had over the couple, Mrs. Allen was "incapable of consenting" to such activities, but she was "sexually victimized," the lawsuit alleges.

A response released by Martindale states: "Mrs. Allen and I had an affair that ended at least two years ago. When confronted about this approximately one year ago, I immediately admitted it to my wife and the (Way) Board of Trustees, with full apologies and remorse. I also apologized to Mr. Allen and offered whatever help I could to heal the mistakes that had been made."

Martindale added that he has been forgiven by his wife and the board and "they have helped me correct my errors of logic and behavior."

Martindale has served as president of the board of trustees since October 1982, replacing the founder, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille.

Martindale and the board have mutually agreed that he will take a leave of absence from his teaching responsibilities, according to a statement from The Way Board of Trustees.

A spokesman for The Way had no comment today about the length of the leave and whether Martindale is continuing as president.

Abandoned family

According to the lawsuit, the Allens were employees of The Way for many years and were employed by the Way Corps organization. In order to adhere to the principles of The Way, the married couple abandoned their family and friends, quit previous jobs, declared bankruptcy, underwent training and agreed to become full-time employees. They agreed to defer any compensation in exchange for their services.

The lawsuit claims The Way officials breached a contract by "creating impossible working conditions, including requiring them to submit to sexual assault as a condition of employment."

Their Internet site, called "WayDale," indicated they left The Way on March 23, 1999.

‘Mark and avoid’

On March 24, 1999, a clergyman informed the couple that they had been designated "mark and avoid" by The Way officials, the lawsuit indicates. The Way officials also informed other members of this designation, and it was done to damage their reputations. Other members are told to no longer associate with these "followers," who are "debased, denigrated, accused of being lower than low, untrustworthy, dishonest, dangerous to himself and others, disparaged," the lawsuit claims.

The defendants were involved in a conspiracy and misused their fiduciary relationship with the couple to defraud them of money, the lawsuit claims. The plaintiffs claim damages of more than $5 million each in addition to the breach of contract claim. The lawsuit also alleges The Way engaged in "a pattern of corrupt activity" against the couple under state racketeering laws.

The couple are represented by California attorney Lawrence Levy and James E. Burns of Cleveland.

On the WayDale site, Mr. Allen claims they were subjected to "fraud, exploitation, humiliation, slavery and sexual assault" from The Way officials. They filed the complaint as part of their rehabilitation and well being, he wrote.

Martindale stated, "The lawsuit filed by the Allens makes outrageous and untrue claims and grossly mischaracterizes the relationship I had with Mrs. Allen, which was mutually consensual."

The trustees stated: "The Way International retained Baker and Hostetler L.L.P. of Cleveland, Ohio, to investigate the claims made in the Allens’ lawsuit after it was threatened about a month ago. They were given free reign to interview privately whomever they chose to speak with and they did. They found no basis for the claims that have been made in the lawsuit. The Way International simply does not function in the way the Allens have asserted.

"We believe that the lawsuit is part of an organized campaign to destroy The Way International. We will aggressively defend these claims and will vigorously pursue all legal remedies that we have.

"We will have no further comment on this litigation until it is concluded."