WWASP Sues Reporter

[Kiwi]

http://http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Feb/02042004/utah/135541.asp

Group of schools sues reporter, alleging slander
 
By Matt Canham
The Salt Lake Tribune

An embattled collection of schools for troubled youths struck back Tuesday against a reporter it claims defamed its reputation by falsely telling parents that school officials abused their children.

St. George-based World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) seeks unspecified damages in the federal civil suit filed against United Press International reporter Thomas Houlahan.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, alleges Houlahan called Maryland-native Laura Boatright in July 2003 telling her he had investigated WWASPS for the past eight months and knew about supposed abuse involving her son at The Academy at Ivy Ridge, in Ogdensburg, N.Y.

Ivy Ridge is one of seven behavior modification schools associated with WWASPS in the United States. The association also has two schools operating outside of the country.

Boatright declined to comment Tuesday.

WWASPS alleges Houlahan made similar calls to other parents of students and did so knowing the claims were false.

"I don't know what Mr. Houlahan's agenda is, but it seems to me that he is blatantly trying to interfere in our business," WWASPS President Ken Kay said Tuesday.

Houlahan and UPI declined to comment.

In May, Costa Rica officials closed the association's Dundee Ranch Academy, saying the school violated the children's civil rights.

Kay claims his organization has been maligned by reporters too willing to believe the stories of troubled teens with chronic lying problems.

[Anonymous]

On 2004-02-04 07:06:00, Kiwi wrote:

"http://http://www.sltrib.com/2004/Feb/02042004/utah/135541.asp



Group of schools sues reporter, alleging slander

 
By Matt Canham

The Salt Lake Tribune



An embattled collection of schools for troubled youths struck back Tuesday against a reporter it claims defamed its reputation by falsely telling parents that school officials abused their children.



St. George-based World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) seeks unspecified damages in the federal civil suit filed against United Press International reporter Thomas Houlahan.



The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, alleges Houlahan called Maryland-native Laura Boatright in July 2003 telling her he had investigated WWASPS for the past eight months and knew about supposed abuse involving her son at The Academy at Ivy Ridge, in Ogdensburg, N.Y.



Ivy Ridge is one of seven behavior modification schools associated with WWASPS in the United States. The association also has two schools operating outside of the country.



Boatright declined to comment Tuesday.



WWASPS alleges Houlahan made similar calls to other parents of students and did so knowing the claims were false.



"I don't know what Mr. Houlahan's agenda is, but it seems to me that he is blatantly trying to interfere in our business," WWASPS President Ken Kay said Tuesday.



Houlahan and UPI declined to comment.



In May, Costa Rica officials closed the association's Dundee Ranch Academy, saying the school violated the children's civil rights.



Kay claims his organization has been maligned by reporters too willing to believe the stories of troubled teens with chronic lying problems."

This suit's a loser.  WWASPS and its leaders are public figures, they're going to have to prove Houlahan knew what he was saying was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

No court is going to find a reporter believing the stories of "troubled" teens who have been in these schools to be "reckless disregard for the truth."

I know that's what WWASPS would *like* the court to find, but the burden of proof for suits of this type where public figures are involved is very high, and WWASPS saying its survivor accusers are all "lying" isn't going to meet that burden of proof.  No way in hell.

I'm not a lawyer, this isn't specific legal advice, etc.  What I am is a bit of an amateur law buff, and suits of this type virtually always lose and tend to only be brought in the attempt to intimidate critics into silence.

Anybody can sue anybody else for anything.

Actually having a case is a whole 'nother ball of wax.

Unless they can prove some of the Houlahan's sources were just posing as former students and had never really been students at WWASPS schools and that Houlahan should have known they had never been students, WWASPS has no case.

Either they're too insulated from the outside world to realize they have no case, or the case is a cynical attempt to intimidate.  I don't know which.

[Anonymous]

My question is, why didn't the teens tell this parent about what the abuse?  Why did the reporter have to tell the parent?  It seems the problem here is that he is repeating hearsay.   If he is a reporter ethics would say report the news, don't become a part of it.

[Anonymous]

Is any of this relevant?

http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?topic=3008&forum=9

[Anonymous]

More from the archives:

http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?topic=4297&forum=9

[Kiwi]

My question is, why didn't the teens tell this parent about what the abuse? Why did the reporter have to tell the parent?

Because the teens can't talk freely with their parents.  We all know that (apart from those whose heads are stuck resolutely in the sand).

It seems the problem here is that he is repeating hearsay. If he is a reporter ethics would say report the news, don't become a part of it.

He is ethically trying to get the point of view of all concerned.

[Anonymous]

Let me try and answer your question by relating my experience in a behavior modification program (not affiliated with WWASP) adn why I did not tell my parents about it or anyone for that matter for almost 25 years.

When I was in the program, the motivation is to ultimately get out.  If I got some good from the program, then so be it, but the nmotivating factor was to get out and by graduating, not running.   Couple that with the steadfast rule that was drilled into us each and every day (15 months for me)" what you see hear, do here, see here, remains here".   I saw many many children started over for talking about what they saw while on their phases.  

As I said, I spent 15 months in the program, 12 to 20 hours a day, 7 days a week.   The re-education and thought reform process takes it toll and by the end of the 15 months and even for many years I actually thought my time at the program and the things I "learned" were actually helped me AND I convinced myself that the ends in my case justified the ends.  When I got out, I was just darn glad to be free.  I didn't want to think about what happened.  I wanted to be as far away as possible.  Every time I did try to talk about it my family would say "look at what you've done with your life because of the program".  They only wanted to say how wonderful the program was. How can a young adult or child fight that attitude?  It was enough trying to put my life back together.    I pushed down the pain and harmful memories for years...got on w/my life the best I could.  Serious traumatic situations sometimes take a long time to manifest themselves.

I have female friends that were raped.  One particularly close friend told me about a rape that happened to her almost 30 years ago.  I was the first person she had ever told.  The thought never crossed my mine that she was not telling the truth 'cause it took so long to tell someone.

Having experienced a harmful behavior modification program and experienced the way children are treated in this country, I would tend to believe the kids.  

So I hope I shed some light on why a person might not tell their parents or the police or any other authority right away. Tho, I wonder if you really wanted to know or are you just some wwaspy supporter trying to just post your justification crap.   Even if you are, I hope anon, that you consider what I wrote, cause it's the truth.

Straight Survivor
St. Pete, 1978 - 1980

 Not any more.

[Anonymous]

http://wwaspsrebuttal.com/wwasps_interview.html

[Anonymous]

While searching the Internet using key words Ivy Ridge Academy, I stumbled across this link which I believe may relate to an earlier discussion.  Anybody have any better luck finding any news articles about Ivy Ridge written by this particular reporter?  

http://www.helpyourteens.com/news/impor ... wasps.html

[Anonymous]

wow - so all of them are lying.  Thank God - I thought there was something wrong with the WWASP places.

[Anonymous]

On 2004-02-04 11:00:00, Anonymous wrote:

"While searching the Internet using key words Ivy Ridge Academy, I stumbled across this link which I believe may relate to an earlier discussion.  Anybody have any better luck finding any news articles about Ivy Ridge written by this particular reporter?  



http://www.helpyourteens.com/news/impor ... wasps.html"

Here is a link to a website that also came up in the search using key words "ivy ridge academy".

http://www.orwelltoday.com/teenstortured.shtml

[Anonymous]

http://www.orwelltoday.com/teenstortured.shtml

Wow, recognize any of the names mentioned on this website?  Personally, I was pretty shocked to read a parent drugged her daughter prior to having her escorted.  I sure hope that is not standard procedure b/c it seems like the teenager ought to have the right to know what kind of drugs they are taking.  Any feedback on this?

[Anonymous]

Anon you said:

So I hope I shed some light on why a person might not tell their parents or the police or any other authority right away.

So then who told the reporter about the abuse?  Someone had to tell the reporter.  If the kids told the reporter about the abuse then why could they have not been the ones to tell the mother?

[Anonymous]

Well, just attending a regular high school can be an abusive experience for kids who were bullied and treated like they were pond scum by other students.  Do these kids always tell their parent or even another adult about their experience? Some do, some don't.  Those that do usually find their situation improves with proper parent/school intervention.  Those that don't can end up being pushed too far and losing control (e.g. the school-related shootings in San Diego, Oregon, Colorado, Arkansas, etc.).

[Anonymous]

The article says:

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, alleges Houlahan called Maryland-native Laura Boatright in July 2003 telling her he had investigated WWASPS for the past eight months and knew about supposed abuse involving her son at The Academy at Ivy Ridge, in Ogdensburg, N.Y.

This is where the reporter has opened himself up to a law suit.  Who told this reporter about the abuse?  Was it teens?  Was it those that witnessed the abuse?  Who ever it was, they were the ones who should have been talking to this parent, not the reporter.  

My question is, why didn't the teens tell this parent about the abuse? Why did the reporter have to tell the parent? It seems the problem here is that he is repeating hearsay. If he is a reporter ethics would say report the news, don't become a part of it.

No one has answered this question.

Has this reporter ever spoken with Amberly, Sue, or any other Trekker?