Sixth suit against military school settled

? A sixth lawsuit against St. John’s Military School alleging that students were abused by fellow cadets has been settled out of court.

Terms of the recent settlement with former cadet Benjamin Fryman, of Lexington, Ky., and his mother were not disclosed. Lawsuits involving three other former cadets are tentatively scheduled for trial in the fall, according to Saline County District Court records.

The lawsuits contend the boys were beaten by other cadets in May 2004 because of perceived infractions of cadet corps rules. Pat Neustrom, the Salina attorney representing the former cadets, alleged the beatings were due to a “culture of violence at the school and negligent supervision.”

The school subsequently revised policies, tightened admission standards and placed more emphasis on dealing with alcohol and drug abuse and anger management issues.