Judge awards $20M to victim of Christian camp counselor

A Christian County Circuit Court judge has issued a $20 million judgment against the former director of a religious summer camp who sexually abused dozens of minors.

Judge Laura Johnson ruled on March 20 that Peter D. Newman, formerly of Kanakuk Kamps in Taney County, had sexually abused the plaintiff, known in court as John Doe IX, from approximately 1999 when the victim was 7 years old until his early high school years.

The judge found Newman liable for invasion of privacy, childhood sexual abuse and negligence, ordering him to pay $10 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

This lawsuit is one of many stemming from Newman’s behavior at Kanakuk. Newman’s victims began coming forward in 2009 and soon numbered more than 50, prompting him to confess to having abused dozens of children. In 2010, Newman pleaded guilty to multiple criminal counts of statutory sodomy and child enticement. He was sentenced to two life terms plus 30 years. He is in state custody.

In this case, Newman did not attend the short bench trial on Feb. 7, nor did any attorney appear on his behalf, court records show. The plaintiff successfully petitioned for a writ compelling his presence and testimony but requested that the writ be withdrawn after deciding not to call Newman as a witness, according to the plaintiff’s lead attorney, Craig Heidemann.

Heidemann, of Douglas, Haun & Heidemann in southwest Missouri, said the trial took less than half a day, and that only part of it was open to the public. He said he asked for $150 million in his closing argument, but he viewed the $20 million judgment as praiseworthy.

“I can say that the team representing the plaintiff feels that the judgment amount was adequate to send a message to the defendant and anyone else that if you sexually abuse a child, there will be consequences,” Heidemann said.

When the plaintiff filed his action in October 2015, he included as defendants Kanakuk Heritage, Inc., and Kanakuk Ministries, along with Kanakuk Kamps President Joe T. White of Branson. Against these defendants, he alleged negligence, intentional failure to supervise, invasion of privacy, premises liability and constructive fraud.

The plaintiff dismissed these defendants with prejudice on the eve of the trial. Heidemann declined to comment on whether any settlement was reached. The Kanakuk entities were represented by Keith A. Cary and Christopher Sorenson of Franke Schulz & Mullen in Kansas City. They did not respond to interview requests.

It remains unclear whether the plaintiff will be able to collect the damages from Newman. Three insurance companies — National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Lexington Insurance Company and AIG Specialty Insurance Company — have filed for declaratory judgment in federal court.

In their complaint, to which they attached multiple documents from the civil case, they claim that no coverage is available for Newman under the umbrella, commercial general liability and sexual-misconduct liability insurance policies the Kanakuk entities had purchased during Newman’s tenure. They argue, among other things, that Newman was not acting within the scope of his employment when he abused the campers, and that the victims did not report the abuse in a timely fashion under the policy terms.

In her judgment, Johnson found that Newman met his victims in his position at Kanakuk, though “much of the sexual abuse” occurred during “Extra-Kamp” ministry, meaning outside of summer camp. With Newman, an ordained Christian minister, these activities included small-group Bible studies in his personal hot tub and informal activities on Kanakuk grounds. Newman groomed John Doe IX over time, and after each episode told him such behaviors were Christian and intended to “prevent sinning.”

Johnson chose not to recite “the unfathomable details” of the abuse against John Doe IX in her judgment “to avoid re-victimizing” the plaintiff.

She described Newman as a “prolific, serial sexual abuser of children” who “robbed [John Doe IX] of his innocence and of a normal childhood for the sole and grotesque purpose of [his] own sexual perversions and pleasure.”