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WORLD August 17, 1999 VNN4521 Related VNN Stories ISKCON Abuse Victims Coerced To Sign Away Rights To Sue? BY NRSMHADEVA DASA USA, Aug 17 (VNN) — The following document has apparently been given to victims of gurukula abuse as a condition for receiving grants from ISKCON. As can be seen in the document below, the victims are told that this agreement itself must be kept confidential and that failure to do so would result in losing their grants. Not only do victims have to sign away their rights to sue for damages of which they are already aware, but ISKCON is requiring that they also sign away the right to claims of which they are *not* aware at the time of signing. How many times do these children have to be raped by ISKCON? CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WHEREAS [name] ("Claimant") alleges certain legal claims for damage against various independent entities related to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness ("ISKCON") which allegedly arose out of his/her attendance and/or residence in certain independent ISKCON related schools, gurukulas, and/or asramas, and WHEREAS Claimant alleges certain legal claims for damage against various independent ISKCON related entities arising out of his membership in said entities, and WHEREAS various individual members and independent ISKCON related entities wish to resolve these alleged claims, and WHEREAS these various individual members and independent ISKCON related entities believe that, regardless of the legal strength or weakness of Claimant's claims, s/he is a valuable member of the Krishna Consciousness movement to whom debt of gratitude and care is owed; NOW THEREFORE the (various individuals, etc. "Settlers") wish to settle Claimant's alleged claims against any and all ISKCON related entities and/or individuals and Claimant also wishes to settle any alleged claims s/he may have against any and all ISKCON related entities and or individuals arising out of the matters described in this document. For this reason, the parties mutually agree as follows: 1. This agreement is not an acknowledgment on the part of any party as to the validity of the claims alleged by Claimant. 2. The parties agree that the terms of this Settlement Agreement shall be confidential. If Claimant discloses the terms of this agreement, s/he shall forfeit his/her rights under this agreement and any and all claims s/he may have against any ISKCON related entity or individual. However, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, Claimant shall be permitted to disclose only that his/her alleged claims have been settled. 3. The parties further agree that if any ISKCON related official discloses the terms of this agreement, the entire amount of the agreement shall immediately become due and owing to Claimant (less any payments already made), however his/her waiver of all claims against any and all ISKCON related entities and/or individuals shall remain in effect. 4. The Settlers jointly and severally agree to pay the following sums to Claimant under this agreement: [ ] 5. In the event that Settlers fail to make the required payments to Claimant within thirty days of the time said payments become due, Claimant shall be entitled to demand immediate payment of the full sum owing under this agreement for that calendar year, less any payments already made. In any such event, Claimant's waiver of claims against any and all ISKCON related entities and/or individuals shall remain in full force and effect. 6. In exchange for the covenants and benefits conferred upon Claimant herein by the Settlers, Claimant does hereby absolutely and forever release ISKCON as well as any and all ISKCON related entities and affiliates, including but not limited to, the Governing Body Commission, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, and their agents, employees, attorneys, assignees, and successors in interest, from any and all claims, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, reckoning, obligations, costs, expenses, liens, actions, and causes of action, of every kind and nature, contingent or fixed, including without limitation any claim, action or cause of action that has been or could have been asserted by Claimant against ISKCON and/or its related entities and affiliates, arising out of Claimant's participation and involvement in any school, asrama, gurukula, temple project, or program sponsored, operated, sanctioned, controlled, or supervised by ISKCON and/or its related entities and/or affiliates. 7. Claimant specifically agrees that this waiver of claims extends to all claims which s/he may have, including claims which may be unknown to him at the time of the signing of this agreement. 8. This agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties, their successors and assigns. 9. This writing constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. If any provision of this agreement shall be found invalid by a court of law, the parties specifically agree that the rest of the agreement shall remain in full force and effect. 10. Any modification of this agreement must be in writing and signed by all parties. 11. This agreement is formed and shall be interpreted under the laws of the State of Signed this day of , 1999. Witness ............... Claimant Witness ............... Settlers Related VNN Stories  Comment on this storyContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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