A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for next Thursday in the ongoing lawsuit between the Christian Life Center church in Layton and four former employees of Layton Christian Academy that the church is accusing of fraud and embezzlement.

The suit, filed last month, accuses Greg Miller, Karen Miller, Jared Miller and Lexie Miller of diverting student tuition money meant for LCA into personal bank accounts and planning to use proprietary information gained from working at LCA to open a school in Florida geared toward attracting international students, among numerous additional alleged financial transgressions.

In the meantime, 2nd District Court Judge Michael Edwards on Monday granted a temporary restraining order and a motion for limited expedited discovery filed by the church and its attorneys against the four members of the Miller family, along with the two limited liability companies the Millers used to allegedly divert student tuition money into personal bank accounts.

The restraining order bars the four family members from associating with any educational institution geared toward bringing international students to the United States, contacting any of Christian Life Center’s international student referral contacts, contacting current or prospective Layton Christian students, claiming any current association with the church or school, or defaming the church or school.

The court ordered Greg Miller, who was formerly the head of school at LCA, to “immediately” surrender his laptop to the church and its lawyers so they can make a copy of the laptop’s hard drive.

In the initial lawsuit, attorneys representing the church argued it needed a copy of Miller’s hard drive because they claimed it has all necessary information — financial, student info, contacts, etc. — to keep Layton Christian Academy open. The attorneys argued LCA wouldn’t be able to “operate or remain in existence, even in the short run,” if it didn’t have access to information on Miller’s laptop.

The court also ordered the defendants to produce a list of bank accounts and financial records they used in relation to Venture International Academy, Eagle Elite Club Sports “or any other activity” detailed in the lawsuit.

The court didn’t grant a motion by lawyers representing the church to take four-hour depositions of each of the Miller family members. Lawyers representing the Miller family didn’t return the Standard-Examiner’s request for comment on Tuesday.

Newsletter