Religious News - Lawsuits filed over sweat lodge

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Lawsuits filed over sweat lodge

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (UPI) -- Two lawsuits were filed Friday in Arizona over a New Age sweat-lodge ceremony that left three people dead and sickened others.

James Arthur Ray, the New Age guru who led the "Spirit Warrior" retreat in Sedona, and his company, James Ray International, were named as defendants, The Arizona Republic reported. Michael and Amayra Hamilton, who own the retreat center, were also named.

The suits were filed in Coconino County.

The sweat-lodge ceremony was the climax of a five-day retreat for which participants had paid thousands of dollars. About one-third of the participants collapsed, with two dying at the scene and one, Liz Neuman, 10 days later in a hospital.

Neuman's family are the plaintiffs in one lawsuit, while the other was filed by Sidney Spencer, who survived.

The plaintiffs say Ray should have warned the participants that spending time in the sweat lodge could be dangerous, especially after fasting for 36 hours. Investigators have suggested the sweat lodge, which was a temporary structure, was overcrowded.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/31/2009

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