A federal judge says St. John’s Military School in Salina must turn over most of the information sought by plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging a culture of abuse at the school.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Gale also said Tuesday the school’s position in refusing to identify students branded with hot metal during the past five years “borders on the absurd,” and ordered it to disclose that information.

The lawsuit by 11 former cadets and their families alleges that a program allowing higher-ranking cadets to discipline students encourages physical and mental abuse.

St. John’s has vehemently denied the existence of a culture of abuse and has vowed to fight the lawsuit.

Neither side immediately responded to emails Tuesday seeking comment.