CBS 2 Exclusive: Hazing Allegations At Local Academy

CBS 2 New York ^ | May 11, 2005 | Marcia Kramer

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CBS 2 Exclusive: Hazing Allegations At Local Academy

* Million Dollar Lawsuit Filed By Parents Of Cadet

May 11, 2005 6:12 pm US/Eastern NEW YORK (CBS) There are new allegations of hazing at the New York Military Academy. The well-known school located in Cornwall-On-Hudson is also being sued for $13 million dollars by the parents of one student who says he was brutalized there.

The lawyer for a New York military academy cadet reportedly beaten and abused there says he has uncovered more evidence of attacks on students by upperclassmen at the 116-year-old school. He says he has an affadavit from a student who told him he was attacked by a gang there last month.

“One of the assailants stomped on the cadet’s head with his boot and as a result, the cadet had an enormous boot print on the side of his head,” says Andrew Laskin, an attorney.

Laskin represents Michael and Karen Sawyer, the parents of a 15-year-old cadet who allegedly was beaten and abused several times a day every day until he left last January. They charge he was threatened with death if he reported it to authorities.

Laskin charges that the beatings and abuse also pre-date cadet Sawyer’s arrival at the academy. Some reportedly were carried out by two students who are being charged criminally in the Sawyer case.

“There were beatings. There were threats,” says Laskin.

Meanwhile, another lawyer, Ronald Hoffman, told CBS2 he served notice on the academy on April 14th saying he intends to sue for damages because his 14-year-old client was abused for over a year.

His allegations include: · The cadet’s finger was severed · He was hung from a bunk · He was beaten with a padlock in a sock · And while sleeping was wrapped in his mattress and beaten.

A spokeswoman for the academy charged that Attorney Laski is on a fishing expedition and refused top respond to his charges.

“I can’t respond to a million allegations,” said Barbara Mallone, the academy’s director of communications.

Laskin says its not a fishing expedition.

"They don’t want a any of this to get out there," says Laskin.

The academy says the current litigation "is a matter for the courts."

Since the case was filed, the commandant of the academy, Sergeant Major Richard Ashton, has resigned for "personal reasons."

The two students charged criminally in the Sawyer case remain on suspension and are getting their course work sent to th

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I am personally close to the facts of this case.

Fact: CBS has worked with the plaintiff's attorney to attempt to try this case in the court of public opinion.

Fact: CBS'S Marcia Kramer actually drove to the school with her cameraman and Andrew Laskin, the attorney, in her car so he could hand deliver a deposition on camera to school officials so Ms. Kramer would have a story.

Fact: Ms. Kramer has staged sympathetic interviews for the attorney and plaintiff, but will offer no equal time for the military academy, and only calls the afternoon her reports will air, giving the academy no time to resond.

Fact: Ms. Kramer purposely takes Ms. Malone's, spokeperson for the Academy, comments completely out of context misquoting her for the sake of embarressing the academy.

Fact: Mr. Laskin secretly taped a Sgt Mgr Ashton and excerpts from the tape were edited and aired on Ms. Kramer's show in an effort to embarress the Academy.

Fact: Mr. Laskin has stated that it is his self stated mission to close the 116 year old military school

Fact: Mr. Laskin circulates press releases to the media chock full of lies, distortions, misrepresentations, and unfounded allegations which the media than represents as fact.

Fact: Mr. Laskin and his allies in the media hate the military and are trying to close this place of employment for many retired military, including West Point graduates, army Colonels, and a Navy Officer, as well as non commissioned officers, because they hate the military and this school which employs military personnel who are retired an on small pensions is an easy target in a geographical region with a particularly liberal media atmosphere. V's wife.

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Ping. Military School under attack by CBS. Please add to your ping list.

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Additionally, every spurious allegation in this article is untrue. As with any school, there are occasional dustups, but nothing that even approaches the outrageous lies being manuafactured by this attorney and CBS. Further, three local area schools recently disclosed: bomb threats, physical beatings, and a Columbine like plot, none of which was reported to the police or parents. New York Military Academy has an honor code of conduct. It has policies in place and does not tolerate misbehavior, nor does it lie or obfuscate. CBS is trying to close its doors. V's wife.