In a consequential legal development unfolding in Missouri, Andrew Summersett, a 37-year-old Colorado resident, has initiated a lawsuit against Kanakuk Kamps, a prominent Christian summer camp organization, and their insurance provider, ACE American Insurance Co., alleging fraud and a cover-up related to his reported sexual abuse by a former camp director.

Summersett's lawsuit, filed in Taney County Circuit Court, presents grave accusations against Pete Newman, a former director at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Missouri. Summersett, who attended the camp from age 7 to 18 and later worked as a nanny for camp leaders, recounts instances of sexual abuse by Newman beginning in 2001 during a camp recruitment trip in Texas and continuing in 2002 at the Branson facility.

According to legal filings, Summersett disclosed the abuse to Kanakuk Kamps officials in 2009, but allegedly encountered dismissal and efforts to silence him by senior figures within the organization. Allegedly, Andrew Braner, then a camp director in Colorado, discouraged Summersett from pursuing the matter, urging him to "not make a mess of this" and to desist from speaking out.

The lawsuit further contends that despite awareness of Newman's predatory behavior, Kanakuk Kamps and ACE American Insurance Co. purportedly concealed the full scope of Newman's offenses for years. It asserts that Kanakuk drafted a letter in 2010 intended for dissemination to 8,000 camp families, acknowledging Newman's misconduct, yet chose not to send it based on advice from their insurance carrier.

Summersett, represented by attorneys Robert Thrasher and Guy D’Andrea, seeks damages and a jury trial to hold Kanakuk Kamps and the insurance provider accountable for what he alleges was a calculated effort to cover up Newman's actions. He aims for the lawsuit to challenge any notions of infallibility surrounding Kanakuk Kamps, providing a platform for other victims to step forward and commence their healing journeys.

The legal action also implicates Kanakuk President Joe White, alleging he was informed about Newman's inappropriate conduct as early as 2006, which White has previously denied in media statements. Kanakuk Kamps, established in 1926, has faced previous legal challenges and media scrutiny regarding allegations of staff members exploiting children under their supervision.

This case highlights the critical need for transparency and accountability within organizations entrusted with the care and safety of minors. Summersett's legal team argues that Kanakuk Kamps may have prioritized financial considerations over child welfare, fostering an environment where individuals like Newman could allegedly abuse their positions of authority under the guise of Christian ministry activities.