Sweat lodge lawsuit settled

By: Associated Press//May 17, 2011//

By: Associated Press//May 17, 2011//

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Judge Warren Darrow observes attorney Truc Do (right) as she cross examines Dr. A.L. Mosley, Coconino County Medical Examiner, at the Superior Court in Camp Verde, Ariz., on May 6 during the trial of James Arthur Ray, who conducted a 2009 sweat lodge ceremony after which Liz Neuman died. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Deirdre Hamill) — Judge Warren Darrow observes attorney Truc Do (right) as she cross examines Dr. A.L. Mosley, Coconino County Medical Examiner, at the Superior Court in Camp Verde, Ariz., on May 6 during the trial of James Arthur Ray, who conducted a 2009 sweat lodge ceremony after which two Milwaukee natives died. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Deirdre Hamill)

Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP) – The owners of an Arizona retreat where a self-help author’s sweat lodge ceremony turned deadly have settled a lawsuit brought by the victims’ families and other participants.

An attorney for two of the plaintiffs, Ted Schmidt, tells The Associated Press that the parties reached the agreement last week. A judge has to sign off on it, but that’s considered a formality.

The lawsuit had alleged that Michael and Amayra Hamilton’s conduct led to the deaths of Kirby Brown, Milwaukee native James Shore and Liz Neuman, and caused injury to others.

The settlement includes no admission of liability on the part of the Hamiltons.

The man who led the ceremony, James Arthur Ray, is on trial for manslaughter in the deaths. He has pleaded not guilty.

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