Orchard Lake School responds to lawsuits setting out series of allegations of sexual assault

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWN, Mich. In a lawsuit filed by a father and son, it is alleged that students at one Metro Detroit high school attacked the boy and forced him to participate in sexual games during a retreat in 2019.

The father, a longtime teacher at the St. Mary’s Preparatory High School in Orchard Lake, and his son, a student, have filed a lawsuit outlining a series of sexual games allegedly played by the school’s students’ athletes. According to the lawsuit, the other students attacked him when the boy refused to participate in the games.

‘The primary example as alleged in the complaint is naked bowling: where they throw soap and water across the floor of a shower room and then throw naked bodies at each other. All the boys up there. And they are left alone to do so, ‘said Bob Palmer, a lawyer for the father and son in the case against St. Mary is an officer.

“One of my clients did not want to participate and was attacked and grabbed in his room … they tried to drag him in and they conceded,” Palmer added.

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Both the father and son claim that the Orchard Lake Catholic school knew of the so-called naked games the boys played during the school’s annual “Kairos retreat” at the Colombiere Retreat Center in Clarkston – but allegedly did nothing about it. to stop. The lawsuit alleges that when the boy did not want any of the games, the other students dragged him out of his room and tried to rob him – which, according to attorney Palmer, was essentially sexual assault.

‘If everyone is naked and you throw naked bodies with exposed body parts at other people and if you grab someone in his room and all he’s wearing is underpants, and you grab his thighs and his stomach and him under the lids grab … I definitely think that’s what it is, ”Palmer said, describing the boy’s experience.

The alleged incident took place in the spring of 2019.

In a statement, St. Mary’s Prep said: ‘The administration immediately investigated the notification of these allegations, which was under the supervision of a member of our council. We are confident that as soon as this information is published, it will prove that the school has acted in a completely appropriate manner. ‘

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Palmer says when the boy’s father complained about the incident, he was fired from his teaching position at the high school.

‘It is ironic that the person who was assaulted is the son of the teacher. They’re both there, ‘Palmer said. “This is an interesting case because both have been greatly affected by this series of events.”

Stephen Gross, chairman of the Board of Regents for Orchard Lake Schools, replied:

‘While it would be inappropriate to comment on the dismissal of any employee, there are several false allegations in this lawsuit. We plan to present the truth in court. ”

More: Local 4 Defenders reports