GreaseSpot Cafe > WayDale Documents >
Lawsuit Section
Wapakoneta
Daily News - 9/20/00
Former
Way president stripped of clergy title
By WILLIAM LANEY
Staff Writer
NEW KNOXVILLE -- L. Craig Martindale, the former president of
The Way International who resigned April 20 following
allegations of sex and abuse involving The Way members, has
been stripped of his clergy title by the religious
organization's board of trustees.
Rico Magnelli, public relations coordinator for The Way,
confirmed the board decision this morning and added that
Martindale is seeking "secular employment."
He did not elaborate.
The Evening Leader of St. Marys has received several telephone
calls regarding a statement apparently issued by The Way
International officials imposing sanctions against Martindale.
According to the phone calls and a Web site called WayDale,
Martindale has been stripped of his clergy title, has been
dropped from the active Way Corps, is no longer on staff at
The Way International, will no longer be allowed to live at
the organization's national headquarters in New Knoxville and
has been put on "spiritual probation."
WayDale is a Web site of former members of The Way who have
become disgruntled with the organization.
According to one source, The Way board members reached the
decision on Thursday, and faxed messages were sent to regional
and state offices nationwide. Then, The Way officials were to
make the announcement to followers. The last announcement
reportedly was made at at 12 a.m. today.
"The board of trustees have considered these matters very
seriously at length and made our decisions because it was the
right thing to do," Magnelli said is a prepared statement
Tuesday. "We have had to respect everyone's interest
here. This is all we are prepared to say on the matter at this
time, as we don't believe it warrants public discussion."
Magnelli said the matter would not be discussed further
because of pending litigation in Shelby County Common Pleas
Court. Martindale and other officials of The Way International
have been named as defendants in two separate civil lawsuits
filed in Common Pleas Court in Sidney.
The Allens filed a suit in April seeking up to $2
million in punitive damages from Martindale and the New
Knoxville-based religious organization for alleged breach of
contract, assault and intentional infliction of emotional
distress, fraud in a fiduciary capacity, defamation of
character and civil conspiracy. Their suit also alleges The
Way and its leadership engaged in a "pattern of corrupt
activity" as defined by the Ohio Revised Code
"including, but not limited to acts of theft, fraud,
coercion, assault and rape."
Ms. Parker filed a similar suit in early June alleging she
was subjected to breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty,
fraud, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, racketeer
influence and corrupt organization. Her lawsuit is seeking
$25,000, as well as punitive damages, attorney's fees and any
other awards determined by the court.
In the complaint, Parker, who was recruited by The Way in the
winter of 1978 and became an employee of the organization,
alleges The Way and its leadership breached their contract
with her by "creating impossible working conditions
including, but not limited to, requiring (Parker) to submit to
sexual assault as a condition of continued employment"
with the organization.
Parker also claimed in the complaint that The Way misused its
fiduciary relationship with her "so as to cause the
failure of (Parker's) marriage, to coerce (Parker) into taking
obscene photographs of Defendant Rev. Martindale and to posing
for similar photographs."
Parker further claimed The Way leaders shared confidential
information about the female members of The Way, including
herself, with other members of The Way.
|