World harvest church lawsuit
Kelowna Pastor, Harvest Church face 2 lawsuits alleging grooming, sexual assault
Warning: this article discusses allegations of religious and sexual abuse of minors and may be upsetting to some readers. For back, call or text VictimLinkBC at 1-800-563-0808.
A pair of lawsuits were filed in the Supreme Court of B.C. on April 29, against Arthur Charles Lucier, Kelowna Harvest Fellowship and Kelowna Harvest Ministries International with allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct.
The legal action comes weeks after Lucier, who at the time of publication is listed as an "apostolic overseer" with Harvest Ministries, told his congregation on March 30, that he would be stepping down from his role at the Kelowna Harvest Church as the "enemy" was bringing up past sins.
The plaintiffs, Ayla Thompson and Jasmine Hall allege that Lucier used his role and position as Minister at the Kitimat Harvest Ministries, now known as the Kelowna Harvest Fellowship, to groom and commit sexual assault, when they were vulnerable youths between 2001 and 2015, and 2001-2009, respectively.
The plaintiffs were 14 and 11 years old and
In World Harvest Church v. Grange Mutual Casualty Company, slip opinion 2016-Ohio-2913, decided on May 12, 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court enforced an abuse exclusion in a commercial insurance policy, finding no coverage for damages awarded against an employer found liable for its employee’s physical abuse of a child in the care, custody or control of the employer.
Factual and Procedural Background
In 2006, Michael and Lacey Faieta filed suit against World Harvest Church (“WHC”) and its employee, Richard Vaughan, alleging that Vaughan beat their two-and-a-half-year-old son while the child was attending WHC’s daycare center. WHC settled the Faietas’ lawsuit for $3.1 million and sought to have its commercial carrier, Grange Mutual Casualty Company (“Grange”), reimburse it for a portion of the settlement. Grange denied WHC’s insurance claim, and WHC filed suit.
The commercial insurance policy included a corporal punishment endorsement that provided coverage for injuries that result from the corporal punishment of a student administered by or at the direction of the insured. The policy also had an “Abuse or Molestation Exclusion̶
Praying For A Ponzi Scheme: A Peculiar Sacrament Of Ill-Gotten Gains, Church Donations, Written Reservations, And Declining Insurance Coverage
Reverend Ernest is the pastor of a local church. One fine Sunday morning, as the collection plates are passed, a member of his congregation deposits a substantial gift.
Reverend Ernest is the pastor of a local church. One fine Sunday morning, as the collection plates are passed, a member of his congregation deposits a substantial gift. In counting the morning’s tithes later that day, Rev. Ernest finds the gift – a check, payable to the church, for $1 million. “Land o’ Goshen!” he exclaims. Now, the community missions about which the church has long dreamed can become a reality. Rev. Ernest takes a long look outside, giddy with excitement, already devising an addition to the church to house a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or thrift store to benefit impoverished children.
A few days later, a visitor comes to Rev. Ernest’s office. Far from one of his flock, she is a court-appointed receiver, chasi
World Harvest Church loses appeal over insurance coverage in boy's beating
A Columbus megachurch is not entitled to collect $1 million from its insurer toward a $3.1 million settlement with the parents of a 2-year-old boy beaten by a daycare worker, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled today.
The justices unanimously rejected a bid by World Harvest Church to collect the amount from Grange Mutual Casualty Co. following a lengthy battle in Franklin County courts.
An abuse and molestation exclusion in Grange's insurance policy with the church on Gender Road bars coverage of the damages, Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor wrote in the court's opinion.
Church lawyers had argued that the boy's injuries inflicted in 2006 did not stem from abuse, but rather from excessive corporal punishment.
The justices overturned the Franklin County Court of Appeals, which had found that Grange was responsible for providing coverage for damages and legal fees.
Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.Michael and Lacey Faieta were banished from World Harvest Church after they claimed their son had been injured by daycare worker Richard Vaughan.
They sued in 2006, contending the
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Abuse and molestation exclusion precludes insurance coverage for church’s child abuse incident
DAN TREVAS
Supreme Court
Public Information Office
Published: June 2, 2016
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled recently that an abuse and molestation exclusion in a commercial insurance policy bars coverage for damages awarded against an employer found liable for an employee’s physical abuse of a child in the care, custody, or control of the employer.
A unanimous Supreme Court found Grange Mutual Casualty’s insurance policy exclusion does not allow coverage to World Harvest Church for a 2006 incident regarding the beating of a 2 1/2-year-old child in its daycare center. The church settled a lawsuit with the child’s parents for $3.1 million and sought to have Grange reimburse it for a portion of the settlement.
Writing for the court, Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor concluded the 10th District Court of Appeals incorrectly found Grange responsible to cover a portion of the “vicarious liability” claims against World Harvest, more than $642,000 of the parents’ attorney fees, and nearly $230,000 in postjudgme