Jury rules against Tulsa church and school over lawsuit concerning former coach

A Tulsa County District Court jury ruled against Grace Fellowship Church in a lawsuit that accused the church leaders of reckless disregard for the safety of children. <br/><br/>The church will have to

Friday, October 22nd 2004, 1:49 pm

By: News On 6

A Tulsa County District Court jury ruled against Grace Fellowship Church in a lawsuit that accused the church leaders of reckless disregard for the safety of children.

The church will have to pay at least $845,000 to children molested by Coach Aaron Thompson[pictured right], who is serving prison time for molestation. The jury ruled the church was reckless in its handling of suspicions that Thompson was molesting children.

Pastor Bob Yandian was one of the defendants the jury ruled against.

After the jury ruled against the church - both sides settled on a separate but secret settlement of punitive damages.

The case settled the claims of five boys Thompson admitted molesting while he coached at Grace Fellowship.