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A ruling Monday by the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will allow a lawsuit filed by Heartland Christian Academy to proceed to trial.
The state raided the rural school for troubled young people on Oct. 30, 2001, following a series of abuse allegations that included charges that misbehaving students were forced to stand in a pit and shovel manure.
All but five of the 120 kids on campus were removed. Three days later, a judge allowed them to return.
The two not-for-profits that operate Heartland were joined by 13 parents in suing more than a dozen juvenile court officers and state officials. Heartland alleged a “systematic, persistent and continuous campaign of harassment and intimidation” aimed at closing the academy.
The state denied the charges, and said discipline problems at Heartland were due to a lack of regulations on church-affiliated schools.
A court date for a hearing in the case has not been set.
A ruling Monday by the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals will allow a lawsuit filed by Heartland Christian Academy to proceed to trial.
The state raided the rural school for troubled young people on Oct. 30, 2001, following a series of abuse allegations that included charges that misbehaving students were forced to stand in a pit and shovel manure.
All but five of the 120 kids on campus were removed. Three days later, a judge allowed them to return.
The two not-for-profits that operate Heartland were joined by 13 parents in suing more than a dozen juvenile court officers and state officials. Heartland alleged a “systematic, persistent and continuous campaign of harassment and intimidation” aimed at closing the academy.
The state denied the charges, and said discipline problems at Heartland were due to a lack of regulations on church-affiliated schools.
A court date for a hearing in the case has not been set.
