Gurukuli Youth Abuse Claims Very Important Notice About JUNE 30, 2003, DEADLINE for filing claims re the Iskcon Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

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His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the
Hare Krishna Movement

An offer of compensation via chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings to ISKCON Gurukulis who agree NOT to sue ISKCON. David Liberman (05-01-03)

RE:    TURLEY SUIT / GURUKULI & OTHER YOUTH ABUSE CLAIMS

URGENT  - VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE RE JUNE 30, 2003, DEADLINE FOR FILING CLAIMS  IN BANKRUPTCY COURT

Dear Prabhus:

            There is new and very important information regarding the Turley Suit / Gurukuli abuse claims.    The bankruptcy court has established JUNE 30, 2003, as the last day that those who believe they have claim must file their Proof of Claim Forms.   It is important to note that Proof of Claims forms must be RECEIVED by both the California and West Virginia Bankruptcy Courts by JUNE 30, 2003, and not simply mailed on that date.   Any claims received by the courts after June 30, 2003, will be disallowed, and the claimants may be forever barred from receiving compensation.   These rules are set by the bankruptcy court, so please carefully read the Legal Notice at the end of this article in order meet all the requirements.

In an effort to find and contact all who may have claims, including any students who may have been abused in Krishna gurukulas in the 1970's and 1980's, the Legal Notice is being posted on websites such as this one.  Additionally, on April 30, 2003, the Legal Notice was published in various international newspapers.   These Legal Notices are part of the Chapter 11 Reorganization Plan that will be submitted to Federal Bankruptcy Courts in West Virginia and California by the eleven Krishna temples that filed for Chapter 11 in March, 2002.

As many of you may know, in June, 2000, the Dallas law firm of Windle Turley filed a $400 million lawsuit on behalf of 91 plaintiffs in the US. Federal Court in Dallas, Texas.   The defendants included the eleven temples that have filed for Chapter 11, as well as a number of individuals.  That suit was dismissed by the federal court in September, 2001, but was re-filed in Texas state court in October, 2001.   

The millions of dollars sought in that lawsuit could close many of Krishna’s temples, and consequently punish innocent devotees and congregational members who had nothing to do with the allegations.   By filing Chapter 11, the eleven temples hope to balance the legitimate needs of any of the gurukulis and youth that may have been abused, without depriving devotees, families and members of their place of worship.

One of the primary purposes of the Chapter 11 is to determine the extent of the claims against the Temples, including abuse claims, and to provide compensation for youths that may have been abused, but who chose not to sue the organizations. The Chapter 11 plan the eleven temples will submit to the court will provide for payments to any young person who may have suffered abuse -- whether or not they participated in the Texas lawsuit. 

Another goal of the Chapter 11 is to provide a cost effective method of determining legitimate claims, so that more money can be used for distribution to those claimants, rather than on an expensive and drawn-out lawsuit and appeals.  Thus, the temples are working on reorganization plans to present to the bankruptcy court that will provide meaningful compensation for anyone found to have a valid claim. The judge will then make the final decision to determine the capacity of these temples to pay based on the Court's analysis of the ISKCON temples' assets.   It is anticipated that this process will provide the fairest solution for all. 

However, since time is limited in which to be included as a claimant, all who believe they are eligible to make a claim must immediately do the following:

1.   Read the Legal Notice of Deadline for Asserting Claims that is included at the bottom of this article. The court requires that the Notice be written in certain legal language that you may not be familiar with.  Therefore, be sure read it very carefully and make certain you understand it.

2.   Obtain Proof of Claim forms – one for the California Bankruptcy Court and one for the West Virginia Bankruptcy Court.   All claimants need to file in both courts, regardless of where the alleged abuse occurred. These forms can be obtained in any of the following ways:

(a)       Download a copies of the Proofs of Claim in PDF format here by clicking here.  

(b)        Go to the website www.HareKrishnaClaims.com

(c)         Write to HareKrishna@rdwlawcorp.com and request the forms.

(d)        Write to the office of the bankruptcy attorneys to the attention of:  Yves Derac, Robinson, Diamant & Wolkowitz, APC, 1888 Century Park East, Suite 1500, Los Angeles, 90067.

3.     File the California Proof of Claim form in the California Bankruptcy Court and the West           Virginia Proof of Claim for in the West Virginia Bankruptcy Courts.

4. Serve (mail) a copy of both Proof of Claim forms to both Yves Derac and Arch W. Riley at the addresses stated in the Legal Notice.

Remember:   BOTH the California and West Virginia Bankruptcy Courts must RECEIVE your Proof of Claims forms by  JUNE 30, 2003, or your
claim will be disallow by the Court.

   HARE KRISHNA

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SAN FERNANDO DIVISION
&
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
WEST VIRGINIA  

If you or your parents were followers of Krishna Consciousness and you attended a Krishna/Iskcon temple, program or one of the gurukula boarding schools or other Krishna schools or facilities in the 1970s through the 1990s, you may hold potential claims for:  (a) personal injury, including, but not limited to, physical, mental, sexual or emotional abuse, negligence or battery; or (b) conspiracy (“Tort Claims”).  IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HOLD TORT CLAIMS OR ANY OTHER CLAIMS AGAINST THE DEBTORS OR ANY OTHER KRISHNA OR ISKCON ORGANIZATION AND/OR KRISHNA/ISKCON FACILITIES, PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THE U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT HAS ESTABLISHED JUNE 30, 2003 AS THE LAST DAY TO FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.  If you fail to timely file a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court, any claim you may hold may be disallowed and you may be forever barred from receiving any distribution.  Parties asserting Tort Claims or other claims (“Tort Claimants”) must obtain a Court approved Tort Claimant Proof of Claim Form by written request upon Yves Dérac at Robinson, Diamant & Wolkowitz, APC 1888 Century Park East, Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90067, Fax No. (310)277-7584, or   All Proofs of Claims must be timely filed and received no later than June 30, 2003 by the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, and Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.  A copy of the proof of claim must be served upon Yves Dérac at the address set forth above and upon Arch W. Riley, Jr., Esq. at Bailey, Riley Buch & Harman, L.C., 53-14 St., Riley Building, Suite 900, Wheeling, West Virginia 26003.

Any Claim including:

Set up Web Site specifically for Bankruptcy Cases and post Notices of Bar Date

Concurrently saturate with News Releases

PR Campaign = Additionally, will issue 1-2 press releases indicating that a Bar Date set and any parties that believe they have claims against the Debtors must file a Proof of Claim.

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