Erickson v. Narconon International, Narconon Northern California, Dan Manson, Stacey Payne, Brett Lengstorf et al

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Diane Erickson and Paul Erickson
v.
Narconon International, Narconon Northern California, Brett Lengstorf, Dan Manson, Stacey Payne, et al

Filed under: California, Narconon of Northern California, Narconon Watsonville, Redwood Cliffs, United States, Vista Bay (Watsonville), Watsonville, CA

Court: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz / New Mexico District Court, Bernalillo County, Albuquerque
Case Number: CA: CISCV149221 NM: CISCV149221
Date: September 21, 2004
Plaintiff's Attorney(s): Sanford Cipinko
Defendant's Attorney(s): In New Mexico - For Narconon International, Narconon of Northern California, Dan Manson, Stacey Payne: Gregory L. Biehler. In California - For Narconon International: Allen Ruby; for Narconon of Northern California: Warren Gilbert, Steven Manchester; for Dan Manson: Stephen E. Carlson; for Stacey Payne: Stephen E. Carlson, Ava Marie Paquette; for Brett Lengstorf: Unrepresented
Disposition: Settled

Summary:

This exceptionally disturbing case was filed in California Superior Court at Santa Cruz on June 9, 2004. The plaintiffs had contracted with Narconon to provide in-patient treatment for the wife. When the wife arrived at Narconon, she was put into detoxification at what was called the “withdrawal cabin” which was some distance from the main facility. While the plaintiff was sleeping, a staff member who was a former student and recent graduate of the program entered the cabin, insisted on giving her a “touch assist”, and, after a chase that took place outdoors, ultimately raped her.

Additional Info:

Originally, the plaintiff did not know the full name of the employee, but he was added by name, Brett Alan Lengstorf, to an amended complaint on January 28, 2005. On December 20, 2005, the New Mexico District Court received and accepted a "Petition to the Second Judicial District Court to Authorize the Issuance of Subpoenas on Behalf of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz.

The California Superior Court Amended Complaint includes claims for Damages against Defendants for Negligent Hiring, Negligent Supervision, Failure to Adequately Train Staff, Negligence, Sexual Assault and Battery, False Imprisonment, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Conspiracy, Loss of Consortium, Breach of Contract, Intentional Misrepresentation, Constructive Fraud and Punitive Damages. The case was settled on January 20, 2006.

There is a docket for the case listed at the Santa Cruz Superior Court Case Inquiry. There was an Initial Complaint filed on June 9, 2004, a 1st Amended Complaint filed on September 21, 2004 (which we have), a 2nd Amended Complaint filed on March 28, 2005, and a 3rd Amended Complaint filed on July 25, 2005. We would like to have the Initial Complaint, and the 2nd and 3rd Amended Complaints.

Information about obtaining these records is outlined at Santa Cruz Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records, with a PDF listing the Fee Guidelines.

An update on alleged rapist Brett Alan Lengstorf is located at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/ toward the bottom of the page. It says: "Narconon staffer and alleged rapist Brett Alan Lengstorf. Like most staff, Lengstorf was himself a Narconon graduate. Six weeks after the rape, he was arrested in Santa Cruz County for possession of crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. He died in 2005." Some more info is here: Archived copy of Montana Department of Corrections Correctional Offender Information Sheet and here: Archived copy of a Santa Cruz Sentinel news article.

Local Link(s) to Lawsuit Documents:

http://narcononreviews.net/documents/narconon_lawsuits/Lawsuit-California-CV-149221-2004-09-21-Erickson.pdf

Alternate Link(s) to Lawsuit Documents:

http://www.lermanet2.com/reference/Narconon-Rape.pdf

More information about these Narconon locations:
California, Narconon of Northern California, Narconon Watsonville, Redwood Cliffs, United States, Vista Bay (Watsonville), Watsonville, CA