He said he was never a member of the Jesters Court, but was at one time a member of El Hajj. Charles Smiley, D-Burton, also is named as a defendant in Singelis’ lawsuit. "We've done everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen," he said. Huston said that incident gave Jesters a bad name, and resulted in very strict policies against such behavior for members and Courts across the country. He referenced a 2005 FBI case, in which it was determined prostitutes were taken across the border into Canada for a Royal Order of Jesters national convention. 74, said he has been a Jester for about 15 years. Huston, a past director of The Royal Order of Jesters Court No. Link - also named as a defendant in Singelis’ lawsuit - denied knowledge of the alleged prostitution at Royal Order of Jesters meetings or events. Meyer Jr., who is named in Singelis’ lawsuit, declined to respond directly to the accusations, though he did say the organization intends to pursue a slander lawsuit against the former employee. "As nobody has been served in that matter to date, Elf Khurafeh Shriners cannot comment on it or the nature of any legal matter pending before the courts at this time," Swartwood wrote.įormer Potentate and current Recorder Clarence W. Swartwood, general counsel to Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple, Swartwood states that none of the members named in Singelis' lawsuit have yet been served with notice of the lawsuit.
More Shriners respond to accusationsIn a press release issued June 11 by Clio attorney Robert L. 74, who is not named in Singelis’ lawsuit. It sounds like sour grapes to me,” added Dick Bartlett, director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court No. “In my opinion, this is just his way of trying to make us look bad,” said Ronald Huston, an Elf Khurafeh member who is named in the lawsuit. Basner denies the claims made in Singelis’ lawsuit.
The letter is included in Singelis’ lawsuit. “I have received numerous complaints regarding these acts, from Nobles and non-members stating that not only is this unlawful it is against Shrine Law,” Singelis says he wrote in a letter to former Elf Khurafeh Potentate Alan Basner, the organization’s leader. 13, two subgroups chartered by Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple. The lawsuit states this illegal activity involved members of The Royal Order of Jesters Court No. He said he did not directly witness any acts of prostitution by the organization or its members, but said other members, as well as non-members, told him that Circus Park, where Elf Khurafeh’s offices are located, was being used for “illegal sexual activity” during a Shriner initiation ceremony. He said in a letter included in the lawsuit that sources told him prostitutes were hired and had sex with members of the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple during a Nov. Singelis, in his lawsuit, says he was terminated from his job as retaliation after he threatened to tell his story to “the appropriate governmental authorities.” He also said in the lawsuit he was told by fellow members of the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple to “shut his mouth,” and that he felt threatened by members of the organization. Shriners International, in a statement released June 11, noted the organization is aware of both lawsuits and is investigating the claims. Singelis also is a defendant in a lawsuit filed March 10 in Saginaw County Circuit Court by Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple that alleges he was involved in embezzling money from the organization. A spokesperson for the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple declined to comment on the claims. According to his lawsuit, Singelis was fired in March after he reported the alleged incident to leaders of both Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple and Shriners International, the overarching arm of the more than 140-year-old fraternal organization best known for its pediatric hospitals and circuses The claim in the lawsuit is denied by several members and officers of the Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple. Singelis is a former Shriner and former employee of Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple. 3, 2012, at the organization’s Circus Park facility in Vienna Township. In a lawsuit filed June 11 in Genesee County Circuit Court by Nicholas Singelis II, the Clio-based Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple, along with 11 members -commonly known as Shriners - are accused of allowing illegal sexual activities to take place during an initiation ceremony held Nov. One would think after the events a couple of years ago in New York they would be on the lookout for this kind of stuff, but alas, no.įrom the All Michigan website, by reporter Mark Tower: The Royal Order of Jesters again finds itself embroiled in a situation involving prostitution, this time out of Flint, Michigan.
0 kommentar(er)
