Ananda Church will not have to pay punitive damages
[May 2, 1998]

According to the San Jose Mercury News [April 29, 1998], "The San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Lawrence Stevens ruled the Ananda Church of Self-Realization won't have to pay $1 million in punitive damages assessed against its former leader, J. Donald Walters." Ex-Ananda member Anne-Marie Bertolucci charged church leaders of sexual exploitation, and a jury awarded her $330,000 from the church, $265,000 from Walters, and $30,000 from another minister. The News reported, "The church has said it is worth only about $1 million and that trial-related costs have brought it to the brink of financial collapse."