Douglas Lay March 31, 2022
In light of Joy Taylor’s recently published book, A View from the Pews: The Inside Story of a Broken Church, about the alleged sexual abuse cover-up by pastor Steve Wingfield, I would like to share a more detailed update on the civil lawsuit brought against Wingfield and his entire church by a victim (John Doe 2) of the convicted child molester, Brandon Milburn.
L to R: Milburn, Strandell, Wingfield
Three Counts
The lawsuit includes three counts:
The first count is Intentional Failure to Supervise clergy Against FCCF and Wingfield
The second count is Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Against Defendants FCCF and Wingfield.
The third count, brought only against Steve Wingfield, is Negligence Per Se Against Defendant Wingfield.
Including Pastor Steve Wingfield, First Christian Church of Florissant includes four staff members:
Kyle Shelnutt, Keynen Schad, Magge Gray, and Ruth Wingfield;
three current elders:
Eugene Storjohann, Dave Walkup, and Keith Vehlewald;
the following deacons:
Lisa and Rick Hodge, Corey Stuehmer, Pam Nettles, Tommy Kilwin, Maggie and Ron Gray, Jerry Smith, Chris Evans, Mark Finn, Brad Ellis, Chantelle Evans, Nic Harris, Tim Smith, Clay Ewers, Terrance Aldridge, Kitty Streiler, Katie Bendyk, Becky Kammeier;
the following teachers:
Jerome Carroll, Gayle Wilkinson, Katie Bendyk, Becky Kammeier, Jerry Smith, Charlie and Jennifer O’Hearn;
and an undermined number of members.
(For full disclosure, I joined the church in 1999. However, in 2015, I was served with a cease and desist letter, including a no-trespass order, revoking my permission to enter the church property and Wingfield's home property. Six days later, I was served, along with three others, a civil lawsuit by Wingfield and the church. So, I never voluntarily left the church or cancelled my membership).
March 14, 2022
The defendants filed three motions. The first motion was to eliminate all punitive damages requested in all three counts. The judge ruled that their motion was granted without prejudice. The judge did allow the plaintiff's lawyer, however, to amend the original petition (the law suit, including the request for punitive damages) within fourteen days (by March 28, 2022).
The defendants' lawyers filed a second motion to dismiss the second count. The judge denied their motion. The second count is still active.
The third motion was to dismiss the third count. The judge granted their motion with prejudice. The third count is now permanently dismissed.
So as of the 14th, the second count was still brought against Wingfield and the church, the third count against Wingfield was permanently dropped, while the request for punitive damages was possibly still open, waiting for the plaintiff's lawyer to resubmit a petition for punitive damages for the first two counts.
It is unclear if the first count has been dismissed or is still active.
March 25, 2022
The plaintiff's lawyer submitted the amended petition from March 14th.
March 28, 2022
The defendants' lawyers submitted their answers and defenses to the amended petition.
So, as of the 28th, Wingfield, the church, and John Doe 2 were waiting the judge’s ruling concerning the amended petition and the answers to the amended petition.
The Next Court Appearance
On Monday, April 25, 2022, the judge has requested a Case Management Conference at the St. Louis County Court House at 8:45 in room 385. This required meeting is set before a jury court date can be decided. The purpose is to try to settle some or all of the issues pertaining to the case before it can go to trial.
In Summary
Parts of the original civil lawsuit are still proceeding against Wingfield and FCCF.
The lawsuit is still proceeding to a jury trial.
Both parties are waiting for a final decision from the judge concerning punitive damages.
The lawsuit is asking for damages for aggravating circumstances either in addition to punitive damages or in place of punitive damages.
This summary is drawn from the information posted only on Case Net and only from the original petition. This summary is in no way an official legal document. I am not a lawyer.
This summary in NO way officially represents the plaintiff, John Doe 2, the defendant, Steve Wingfield, or the defendants, First Christian Church of Florissant.
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