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ST. LOUIS - Heartland Christian Academy opened its federal lawsuit Tuesday, claiming that state officials violated its rights through a harassment campaign and the removal of 115 students in a surprise raid.
"The goal was not to protect kids," said Al Johnson, the attorney for the northeastern Missouri boarding school, in referring to state employees and juvenile workers. "The goal was to shut down Heartland," he told a jury in St. Louis.
Peter Dunne, the counsel for defendant Michael Waddle, chief juvenile officer for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, insisted that the officials were justified. "They had the best interests of the children in mind," he said.
Heartland, which runs a school for troubled youths, filed the suit in 2006, seeking unspecified damages. The plaintiffs include school officials as well as students and their families. The...