Maharishi Mahesh Yogi MORE ABOUT TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION Group Claims TM Movement Is a Cult Court Awards Money to Man Who Said He Didn't Learn to Fly Go to The 1960s Go to Chronology Go to Main Menu

Man Who Said He Didn't Get
To Fly Awarded $138,000

U.S. District Court jury here ordered two Transcendental Meditation organizations yesterday to pay almost $138,000 to a man who contended said the organizations falsely promised he could learn to fly.

The World Plan Executive Council-United States and the Maharishi International University of Fairfield, Iowa, were held liable for fraud and negligence by the federal court jury.

The jury awarded Robert Kropinski $137,890 but refused to grant the punitive damages he had sought in a $9 million lawsuit.

Kropinski, 36, contended he suffered psychological and emotional damage during his 11-year association with Transcendental Meditation.

He testified that he was given false promises including that twice-daily practice of chanting a single sound, would reduce stress, improve his memory, reverse the aging process and promote good health.

Jurors in the month-long trial before U.S. District Judge Oliver Gasch heard testimony about Transcendential Meditation followers reading books with their eyes closed and attempting to fly through a technique known as self-levitation.

The suit alleged that students learned only to "hop with the legs folded in the lotus position."

Mike Tompkins, a spokesman for the organizations, said the groups were deciding whether to appeal the verdict.