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WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A lawsuit filed by a father and son alleges that students at a high school in Metro Detroit assaulted and forced the son to participate in sexualized games during a 2019 retreat.
The father, a longtime teacher at St. Mary’s Preparatory High School in Orchard Lake, and his son, a college student, have filed a lawsuit describing a series of sexualized games allegedly played by the school’s student athletes. The lawsuit alleges that when the son chose not to participate in the games, the other students attacked him.
“The main example cited in the complaint is nude bowling, where they smear soap and water all over the floor of a shower room and then throw naked bodies at each other. All the guys up there. And they are left alone to do that, ”said Bob Palmer, father and son attorney in the case against St. Mary’s officials.
“One of my clients refused to participate and was actually attacked in his room, grabbed … they tried to drag him in and they gave in,” Palmer added.
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Both father and son claim that the Orchard Lake Catholic school was aware of the so-called naked games the boys played at the school’s annual “Kairos retreat” at the Colombiere Retreat Center in Clarkston – but reportedly have nothing done to stop it. The lawsuit alleges that when the son refused to participate in the games, the other students dragged him out of his room and tried to pull him out – which, according to lawyer Palmer, was essentially sexual assault.
“When everyone is naked and you throw naked bodies with bare body parts at other individuals, and when you reach for someone in his room and he only has underpants on, and you grab his thighs and his. Belly, and him under the back. Grabbing blankets… I think that’s it, ”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: “Immediately upon learning of these allegations, the government opened an investigation, overseen by a member of our Board. We are confident that once this information is made public, it will prove that the school acted in a fully appropriate manner. “
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Palmer says that when the son’s father complained about the incident, he was fired as a high school teacher.
“It’s kind of ironic that the person who was abused is the teacher’s son – they are both,” said Palmer. “It’s an interesting case because they were both greatly affected by this chain of events.”
Stephen Gross, Chairman of the Board of Regents for Orchard Lake Schools, responded:
“While it would be inappropriate to comment on an employee’s dismissal, several false allegations are made in this lawsuit. We intend to present the truth in court. “
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