Scientology and law#Court cases

{{Main|Scientology status by country}}

One goal of the Church of Scientology is to be recognized as a religion or a tax-free charity, which has met resistance from several governments, with Scientology taking to the courts with varying results. For example, Scientology's path to legal recognition as a religion in New Zealand took 48 years and several lawsuits.{{cite press release |title=IRD recognises Scientology church as charity |publisher= Human Rights Without Frontiers International |date=December 27, 2002 |url=http://www.hrwf.net/html/newzealand2002.HTM |access-date=2006-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031023064114/http://www.hrwf.net/html/newzealand2002.HTM |archive-date=October 23, 2003}} In 1999, the United Kingdom rejected an application for charity status and the attendant tax benefits.

{{cite web |website=Charity Commission |date=November 17, 1999 |url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/registration/pdfs/cosfulldoc.pdf |title=Decision of the Commissioners on the application by the Church of Scientology (England and Wales) for registration as a charity |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623095446/http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/registration/pdfs/cosfulldoc.pdf |archive-date=June 23, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2006}} Scientology applied for Canadian tax-exempt status in 1998,J. Saunders & T. Appleby, Scientology Seeks Tax Receipt Status, The Globe and Mail, January 19, 1998, A1, A6. was rejected in 1999,{{cite newsgroup|title=Charity status reported turned down|author=Gregg Hagglund|date=November 14, 1999|newsgroup=alt.religion.scientology|message-id=130919992016161959%elrond@cgo.wave.ca|url=http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.religion.scientology/msg/38e3bce5f8b9dbbb|access-date = 2006-08-09}} and is not registered as a charity as of 2009.[https://apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/sec/SrchLogin-e?login=true Canada Revenue Agency Charity List]{{dead link|date=May 2019}}{{cbignore}} In Austria, the organization withdrew its application to register as a "religious confessional community".[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71367.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2006], U.S. State Department

Some governments have labeled the church as a cult. German{{cite web |url=http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/archives/background/scientology.html |title=Scientology and Germany, Understanding the German View of Scientology |publisher=German Embassy in Washington, D.C. |access-date=2006-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813194020/http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/archives/background/scientology.html

|archive-date=August 13, 2006 }} and Belgian government entities have accused Scientology of violating the human rights of its members and therefore called it a "totalitarian cult" and a "commercial enterprise". In 1995, a parliamentary report in France classified it as a "dangerous cult".French National Assembly [http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/rap-enq/r2468.asp Report of the Board of Inquiry into Cults] (December 22, 1995, in French, [http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html English translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708133154/http://www.cftf.com/french/Les_Sectes_en_France/cults.html |date=July 8, 2011 }} available) In Russia, the government had refused to consider Scientology for registration as a religious organization, which became the subject of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia.

Critics state that the ultimate aim of Scientology lawsuits is to destroy church opponents by forcing them into bankruptcy or submission, using its resources to pursue frivolous lawsuits at considerable cost to defendants. In doing so, they draw particular attention to certain controversial statements made by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard, in the 1950s and 1960s.

{{cite news | first=Joel | last=Sappell |author2=Welkos, Robert W. | url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062990x-story.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421025309/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-scientology062990x,0,138179,full.story | url-status=live | archive-date=April 21, 2008 | title=On the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes | work=Los Angeles Times | date=June 29, 1990 | access-date=2007-08-13}}

{{cite web |url=http://sptimes.com/2006/webspecials06/scientology/Scientology_Special_Report.pdf |title=Scientology: An in-depth profile of a new force in Clearwater |date=1979 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809193839/http://sptimes.com/2006/webspecials06/scientology/Scientology_Special_Report.pdf |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |first=Charles |last=Stafford |publisher=St Petersburg Times }} {{cite web |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/bette-swenson-orsini-and-charles-stafford |title=The 1980 Pulitzer Prize Winner in National Reporting |website=The Pulitzer Prizes}}

In 1994, Scientology attorney Helena Kobrin was fined $17,775 for filing a frivolous lawsuit.

{{cite web|url=http://www.lermanet.com/cos/kobrinsanctions.htm|title=Scientology's Scientologist Attorney Helena Kobrin|access-date=2006-08-09}} U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema cited a frequently quoted statement of L. Ron Hubbard on the subject in the case of Religious Technology Center vs. The Washington Post, on November 28, 1995:{{cite web |url=http://www.lermanet.com/scientologylegal/brinkema-washpost.txt |title=Religious Technology Center vs. The Washington Post}}

{{blockquote|The purpose of the suit is to harass and discourage rather than win. The law can be used very easily to harass, and enough harassment on somebody who is simply on the thin edge anyway, well knowing that he is not authorized, will generally be sufficient to cause professional decease. If possible, of course, ruin him utterly.|L. Ron Hubbard|The Scientologist, a Manual on the Dissemination of Material, 1955The Technical Bulletins of Dianetics and Scientology, Volume II, 1954-1956, pp. 157}}

Critics also allege that the Church uses litigation as a cover for intimidation tactics, such as investigating the criminal records (or lack thereof) of opponents and subjecting them to surveillance and invasive inquiries, both to discourage further criticism and to ensure the opponent's unwillingness to fight the lawsuit. A policy letter by L. Ron Hubbard, distributed in early 1966, says:

{{blockquote|text=This is correct procedure:

1. Spot who is attacking us.
2. Start investigating them promptly for FELONIES or worse using own professionals, not outside agencies.
3. Double curve our reply by saying we welcome an investigation of them.
4. Start feeding lurid, blood sex crime actual evidence on the attackers to the press.

Don't ever tamely submit to an investigation of us. Make it rough, rough on attackers all the way.

[http://www.clambake.org/archive/books/bfm/makeitro.htm Attacks on Scientology] by L. Ron Hubbard, "HCO Policy Letter of 15 February 1966"

}}

Critics of Scientology cite this passage, among others (such as the widely documented fair game doctrine), to support their contentions that the church uses smear tactics to augment the effectiveness of legal threats.

{{Main|Scientology in Australia#Litigation}}

{{See also|Scientology status by country#Canada|Scientology in Canada}}

In R v Church of Scientology of Toronto (1992), the Church of Scientology was convicted on two charges of breaching the public trust and fined $250,000, and seven members were convicted on various charges. The case was brought to light after the USA FBI raids in the 1970s on Church of Scientology properties resulted in the discovery of stolen Canadian records, followed by a Canadian raid on the Toronto property and the discovery of 250,000 documents in more than 900 boxes.{{cite news |last=Claridge |first=Thomas |date=September 12, 1992 |title=Church of Scientology fined $250,000 for espionage Judge rejects jail sentences for individuals who infiltrated government in '70s |publisher=The Globe and Mail |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A164025909/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=7e7a46df }}

{{blockquote|text=According to court records, Scientology's Guardian Office in Toronto ran a spy ring from 1974 to 1976 that infiltrated Revenue Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, Metro Police, the provincial attorney general's office, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Ontario Medical Association and two law firms.{{cite news |title=Toronto Church Faces Heavy Fine Scientology Branch is Convicted of Spying on Police, Others |date=August 19, 1992 |first1=Barry |last1=Brown |first2=David Y |last2=Cooper |publisher=The Buffalo News |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/toronto-church-faces-heavy-fine-scientology-branch-is-convicted-of-spying-on-police-others/article_671948ed-5f3a-5867-bb1c-e56ba12bace1.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030195312/https://buffalonews.com/news/toronto-church-faces-heavy-fine-scientology-branch-is-convicted-of-spying-on-police-others/article_671948ed-5f3a-5867-bb1c-e56ba12bace1.html |archive-date=October 30, 2020}} }}

In Hill v Church of Scientology of Toronto (1995), Justice Casey Hill, at that time a Crown attorney involved in the R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto case, sued and won CAD$1,600,000 for libel, the largest libel damage award in Canadian history. During the case, it was shown that a file had been kept on him as an "Enemy Canada". In their decision, the Supreme Court of Canada found:

{{Blockquote|text=In this case, there was ample evidence upon which the jury could properly base their finding of aggravated damages. The existence of the file on Casey Hill under the designation "Enemy Canada" was evidence of the malicious intention of Scientology to "neutralize" him. The press conference was organized in such a manner as to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the libel. Scientology continued with the contempt proceedings although it knew its allegations were false. In its motion to remove Hill from the search warrant proceedings, it implied that he was not trustworthy and might act in those proceedings in a manner that would benefit him in his libel action. It pleaded justification or truth of its statement when it knew it to be false. It subjected Hill to a demeaning cross-examination and, in its address to the jury, depicted Hill as a manipulative actor.

Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto, {{lexum-scc2|1995|2|1130}}

}}

{{See also|Scientology status by country#France|Scientology in France}}

In 1978, L. Ron Hubbard, creator of Scientology, was convicted for illegal business practices, namely, making false claims about his ability to cure physical illnesses. He was sentenced in absentia to four years in prison, which was never served.{{cite news |first=Lucy |last=Morgan |title=Abroad: Critics public and private keep pressure on Scientology |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/32999/Worldandnation/Abroad__Critics_publi.html |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=March 29, 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522214354/http://www.sptimes.com/News/32999/Worldandnation/Abroad__Critics_publi.html |archive-date=May 22, 2011}}{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/25/scientology-france-fraud| newspaper=The Guardian| access-date=2009-07-28|date=May 25, 2009 | location=London | title=Church of Scientology goes on trial in France | first=Lizzy | last=Davies}}{{cite news| url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/church-of-scientology-on-trial-in-france-20090526-bl3s.html| newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald| access-date=2009-07-28|date=May 26, 2009| title=Church of Scientology on trial in France}}

In 1996, Jean-Jacques Mazier, then head of the Church of Scientology of Lyons, was convicted of fraud and involuntary homicide, and sentenced to 18 months in prison plus 18 months suspended and fined $100,000. Fourteen of 22 others charged with frauds were also convicted. The manslaughter charge was in connection with the 1988 death of Patrice Vic, who killed himself by jumping from a 12th-floor apartment after being pressured to borrow money to pay for yet another Scientology service. The victim's widow said her husband had been "subjected to psychological torture".{{r|critics}}{{cite news |title=French Scientologist Sentenced After Church Member's Suicide |date=November 23, 1996 |first=Craig R |last=Whitney |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/23/world/french-scientologist-sentenced-after-church-member-s-suicide.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030143306/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/23/world/french-scientologist-sentenced-after-church-member-s-suicide.html |archive-date=October 30, 2009}} Related to this trial, two other scientologists were convicted in Toulon for threatening a psychiatrist and expert witness in the trial.{{cite news |title=Scientology Is Fighting For Its Future in France |date=October 2, 1996 |first=Barry |last=James |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/02/IHT-scientology-is-fighting-for-its-future-in-france.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701181906/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/02/IHT-scientology-is-fighting-for-its-future-in-france.html |archive-date=July 1, 2023}}

In 1999, a Marseille court found five senior officials of the Church of Scientology guilty of fraud for "sham purification treatments" in Nice and Marseille. Xavier Delamare was sentenced to two years, partially deferred, and received a fine. Four others received suspended sentences of six months to two years, and two more were found not guilty. In a similar case in Lyons in 1997, six Scientologists had been given suspended prison sentences for fraud.{{cite news |title=French fraud case puts Scientology in the dock |date=September 21, 1999 |first=Jon |last=Henley |work=The Guardian |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A75888199/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=5d39030b}}{{cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A82992426/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=05e577b3 |title=Scientology church members convicted of fraud |publisher=The Scotsman |date=16 November 1999 |page=10 }}

In 2006, a French parliament report designated the Church of Scientology as a dangerous sect.{{r|smh}}

In 2009, a case went to trial in France, after a woman claims to have been pressured into paying €21,000 ($29,400) to the Church of Scientology for lessons, books and medicines for her poor mental state, accusing the Church of Scientology of "organised fraud". Her lawyers argue that the church systematically seeks to make money through mental pressure and use scientifically dubious cures.

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8066743.stm "Scientology on trial in France"], BBC News, May 25, 2009

Coincidentally, a large scale simplification of the laws in France occurred just prior to the beginning of the trial.{{cite web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000020604162 |title=LOI n° 2009-526 du 12 mai 2009 de simplification et de clarification du droit et d'allègement des procédures |language=fr |trans-title=LAW no. 2009-526 of May 12, 2009 on the simplification and clarification of the law and the streamlining of procedures |publisher=Légifrance |access-date=2012-06-26}} Suspicion was raised as the new law revision forbids the dissolution of a legal entity, an unadvertised change among hundreds of others. Dissolution was the main sentence requested by the prosecutor against the Church of Scientology in this trial, becoming unlawful as the law changed.{{cite web|url=http://www.maitre-eolas.fr/post/2009/09/15/Simplifions-le-droit-%3A-sauvons-la-Scientologie |title=Simplifions le droit : sauvons la Scientologie – Journal d'un avocat |language=fr |trans-title=Simplify the Law: Save Scientology |publisher=Maitre-eolas.fr |access-date=2012-06-26|date=September 15, 2009 }} On October 27, 2009, a verdict was rendered: six members of the CoS in France, and the Church itself, were convicted of fraud. Four of these, including Alain Rosenberg, were given suspended prison sentences. The Scientology Celebrity Center in Paris, a Scientology bookstore, and all six individual convicts were ordered to pay fines. The plaintiff's request for dissolution of the Church was not fulfilled.

{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/world/europe/28france.html?ref=world| newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=2009-10-27|date=October 27, 2009 | title=French Branch of Scientology Convicted of Fraud | first=Steven | last=Erlanger}}

{{Main|Karin Spaink#Scientology litigation against Spaink and XS4ALL}}

{{Main|Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia}}

{{See also|Scientology status by country#Russia|Scientology in Russia}}

On April 5, 2007, the Church of Scientology of Moscow won a judgment against the Russian government establishing its right to recognition as a religious organization. The European Court of Human Rights held that the government's refusal of registration "had no lawful basis ... the Moscow authorities did not act in good faith and neglected their duty of neutrality and impartiality vis-à-vis the applicant's religious community."

European Court of Human Rights first section [http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/viewhbkm.asp?skin=hudoc-en&action=html&key=61566 Judgment on Application no. 18147/02 by CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF MOSCOW against Russia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526112049/http://cmiskp.echr.coe.int/tkp197/viewhbkm.asp?skin=hudoc-en&action=html&key=61566 |date=May 26, 2011 }} (April 5, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-09.

In 1996, Zenon Panoussis of Sweden published some of the confidential NOTs documents online and the Church of Scientology sued Panoussis for copyright infringement.{{r|rinder|page=153}} In his defense, Panoussis used a provision of the Constitution of Sweden that guarantees access to public documents. Panoussis turned over a copy of the NOTs documents to the office of the Swedish Parliament and, by law, copies of all documents (with few exceptions) received by authorities are available for anyone from the public to see, at any time he or she wishes. This, known as the Principle of Public Access (Offentlighetsprincipen), is considered a basic civil right in Sweden. The case, however, was decided against Panoussis and he was ordered to pay $164,000 for infringing copyright. The results of the case sparked a legal firestorm in Sweden that debated the necessity of re-writing part of the Constitution.{{multiref2 |1={{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Short+Take+Scientologists+win+Net+court+case/2110-1023_3-215586.html |title=Short Take: Scientologists win Net court case |last=Macavinta |first=Courtney |date=1998-09-15 |work=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104092708/http://news.cnet.com/Short-Take-Scientologists-win-Net-court-case/2110-1023_3-215586.html |archive-date=2012-11-04}} |2={{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Scientologists+settle+legal+battle/2100-1023_3-223683.html?tag=item |title=Scientologists settle legal battle |last=Macavinta |first=Courtney |date=1999-03-30 |work=CNET |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103052054/http://news.cnet.com/Scientologists-settle-legal-battle/2100-1023_3-223683.html |archive-date=2012-11-03}} }}

In 1997, the Church of Scientology engaged Sonny Bono, then a member of the United States House of Representatives who had studied Scientology in the 1970s and 1980s, to pressure US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky to pressure Sweden to change their law permitting free access to any published work regardless of copyright. Along with pressure from Congress, the State Department and the Commerce Department, Sweden agreed to pass tougher copyright protection laws.{{r|reitman|page=269}}

In several cases between 1995 and 2000, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland consistently ruled that the Church of Scientology was a primarily commercial, rather than religious, organization, and in 2003 upheld a decision to force closure of a Scientology-affiliated school.{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35487.htm |website=U.S. Department of State |title=2004 Report on International Religious Freedom: Switzerland |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041104110157/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35487.htm |archive-date=November 4, 2004}}

In 1998, three Scientologists were convicted and jailed on fraud and usury charges after conning a member out of $80,000 for courses.{{Cite web |title=Critics public and private keep pressure on Scientology |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/03/29/critics-public-and-private-keep-pressure-on-scientology-abroad/ |first=Lucy |last=Morgan |date=March 29, 1999 |work=Tampa Bay Times}}

{{See also|Scientology status by country#United Kingdom|Scientology in the United Kingdom}}

Hubbard v Vosper (1972) was a copyright case involving the book The Mind Benders authored by Cyril Vosper that contained numerous excerpts from Scientology writings. Using the fair dealing defence, Vosper won his case on appeal.{{cite web |url=https://uniset.ca/other/cs3/vosper.html |title=Hubbard and another v. Vosper and another, Court of Appeal |date=February 9, 1972}}

Bonnie Woods, a former member who began counseling people involved with Scientology and their families, became a target along with her husband Richard in 1993 when the Church of Scientology started a leaflet operation denouncing her as a "hate campaigner" with demonstrators outside their home and around East Grinstead. She and her family were followed by a private investigator, and a creditor of theirs was located and provided free legal assistance to sue them into bankruptcy. After a long battle of libel suits, in 1999 the church agreed in a settlement to issue an apology[http://www.escapeint.org/legal/apology.htm Apology to Bonnie Woods] from the Church of Scientology and other defendants, June 8, 1999.[http://www.newsfrombree.co.uk/apology.htm Text of apology] to Bonnie Woods and pay £55,000 damages and £100,000 costs to the Woods.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,,292357,00.html |title=Scientologists pay for libel |first=Clare |last=Dyer |work=The Guardian |date=June 9, 1999}}

{{See also|Scientology status by country#United States|Scientology in the United States}}

{{Main|Paulette Cooper#Lawsuits|Operation Freakout}}

After writing an article and publishing a book about the Church of Scientology in 1971, journalist Paulette Cooper was sued 19 times as part of the Church's Operation Freakout, and almost successfully framed in 1976 for crimes. The plan was foiled when in 1977 the FBI raided several Scientology offices, seizing over 48,000 documents, which detailed the operation against Cooper.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-17/how-scientology-tried-to-bring-down-miss-lovely/6627782 |title=How the Church of Scientology tried to bring down journalist Paulette Cooper, aka Miss Lovely |first=Steve |last=Cannane |date=December 21, 2016 |website=ABC News (Australia)}}

Image:1979 GrandJuryCover US v Hubbard.jpg charges from the case of United States of America v. Mary Sue Hubbard (DDC, 1979)]]

{{Main|Operation Snow White|United States v. Hubbard|Guardian's Office}}

In a 1979 criminal case against 11 high-ranking Church officials regarding Operation Snow White, the largest then-known program of domestic espionage in U.S. history, all were convicted.

{{Main|Gerry Armstrong (activist)#Litigation with Church of Scientology|Armstrong cases}}

In 1984, the church began a legal battle with Gerry Armstrong that spanned two decades. The church sued Armstrong for providing confidential documents about L. Ron Hubbard to his own attorney. The court found that Armstrong's actions were justifiable and affirmed this conclusion in Church of Scientology v. Gerald Armstrong.Wikisource:Church of Scientology v. Armstrong Armstrong settled his counter-claims with the church in December 1986 for $800,000 in exchange for his agreement to keep confidential his experience with the church. The church sued Armstrong for $10.5 million in 1995 and 2002 for allegedly violating the confidentiality agreement in 131 instances. A California appellate court awarded the church $321,923 in damages and $334,671.75 in attorneys fees in 1995, and $500,000 in damages in 2004. The court noted that "Armstrong makes no claim that he has complied, or will ever comply, with the injunction" and that Armstrong claims to now reside in Canada.Church of Scientology v. Superior Court, not reported in Cal.Rptr.3d (Cal.App. 1 Dist.), ¶¶2–7 s:Church of Scientology International v. Superior Court

{{Main|Tax status of Scientology in the United States}}

From the time its tax exemption was removed by the IRS in 1967 to the reinstatement of the tax exemption in 1993, Scientologists filed approximately 2,500 lawsuits against the IRS. Over fifty lawsuits were still active against the IRS in 1993, although these were settled after the church negotiated a tax exemption with the government.{{cite news |first=Douglas |last=Frantz |title=Scientology's Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling-journey-from-tax-rebel-to-tax-exempt.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 9, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110012741/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling-journey-from-tax-rebel-to-tax-exempt.html |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |url-access=subscription | access-date = 2007-10-26 }}{{cite news |last=Morgan |first=Lucy |title=Hardball: When Scientology goes to court, it likes to play rough—very rough. |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=January 28, 1998 |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/32899/TampaBay/Hardball.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001093027/http://www.sptimes.com/News/32899/TampaBay/Hardball.html |archive-date=October 1, 1999}}

{{Main|Cult Awareness Network#Jason Scott case|New Cult Awareness Network}}

The Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was driven into bankruptcy in 1996 in part by a number of Scientology-related lawsuits.{{cite news |first=Steven |last=Goldsmith |title=Sect member awarded $5 million in kidnap case |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1995/9510010074.asp |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=September 30, 1995 |access-date=2007-12-29 }}{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} As the TV news program 60 Minutes reported in 1997, Scientologists filed over fifty lawsuits against the non-profit organization, which spent over $2 million on its legal defense. After one court handed down a judgment of $1 million against CAN, the organization filed for bankruptcy and auctioned off its assets, which were purchased for $20,000 by a lawyer affiliated with Scientology.

{{Main|The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power#Litigation}}

In May 1991, Time magazine published a cover story on Scientology entitled "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power".{{r|behar}} The Church responded by suing Time and journalist Richard Behar for $400 million; a five-year legal battle ensued in which Time spent approximately $7 million defending itself in court. The case was eventually dismissed in the magazine's favor.Wikisource:Church of Scientology v. Behar and Wikisource:Church of Scientology v. Behar/Opinion of the Court{{cite web |url=https://www.rcfp.org/journals/the-news-media-and-the-law-spring-2001/scientology-defamation-laws/ |title=Scientology defamation lawsuit against Time magazine dismissed |date=2001 |publisher=Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |access-date=March 30, 2023}} Scientology unsuccessfully sued Reader's Digest in Switzerland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany to stop distribution of a condensed version of the Time story.{{multiref2 |1={{cite news |last= Carmody |first= Deirdre |title= Reader's Digest Defies Court |work= The New York Times |date= October 2, 1991 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/02/business/the-media-business-reader-s-digest-defies-court.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111065355/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/02/business/the-media-business-reader-s-digest-defies-court.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012}} |2={{cite news |title= Swiss Lift Ban on Digest |work=The New York Times |date= November 27, 1991 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/27/business/the-media-business-swiss-lift-ban-on-digest.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106102912/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/27/business/the-media-business-swiss-lift-ban-on-digest.html |archive-date=November 6, 2012}} |3={{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbehar/2020/08/05/scientology-ruthlessly-harassed-reporters-including-me-for-decades-biden-vp-contender-karen-basss-statements-about-the-cult-just-dont-add-up/ |title=Scientology Ruthlessly Harassed Reporters (including Me) For Decades. Biden VP Contender Karen Bass's Statements About The Cult Just Don't Add Up. |date=August 5, 2020 |first=Richard |last=Behar |author-link=Richard Behar |website=Forbes}} }}

The PR firm Hill & Knowlton (H&K) was hired by the Church of Scientology in 1987. Right after the devastating Time magazine article The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power was published, H&K dropped them as a client. In 1992, the Church of Scientology sued H&K and Eli Lilly for $40 million claiming H&K had illegally terminated the contract because of pressure exerted upon their parent company WPP Group by Eli Lilly, which Scientology had been attacking through its branch group, Citizens Commission on Human Rights. In 1994, after 57,000 pages of discovery and 75 depositions, the parties settled out of court for an undisclosed amount or conditions.{{multiref2 |1={{cite news |first=Patrick J. |last=Kiger |date=July 1994 |title=Monkey Business |work=Regardie's |url=http://www.patrickjkiger.com/regardies_scientology_story.pdf |access-date=5 October 2014}} |2={{cite news |author=Cassandra Burrell |date=25 March 1994 |title=Scientology to face Hill & Knowlton |work=TimesDaily |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19940325&id=00seAAAAIBAJ&pg=2784,3641468 |access-date=5 October 2014}} |3={{cite news |first=Wayne |last=Garcia |title=Scientology suit on PR firm heads for trial |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=March 31, 1994 |quote=[S]ealed documents [showed] how Lilly officials threatened to cancel their multimillion-dollar, 23-year relationship with J. Walter Thompson if Hill & Knowlton didn't stop working for the Church of Scientology. |via=Newspapers.com}} |4={{cite web |last=Garcia |first=Wayne |date=July 7, 1994 |title=Church of Scientology settles suit with PR firm |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/07/07/church-of-scientology-settles-suit-with-pr-firm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401045138/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51847739.html?dids=51847739:51847739&FMT=FT |archive-date=April 1, 2008 |publisher=St. Petersburg Times}} }}{{r|wright|pp=217-218 |quote=The 1980s had been a devastating period for the church's reputation, with Hubbard's disappearance and eventual death, the high-profile lawsuits, and the avalanche of embarrassing publicity. Miscavige hired Hill & Knowlton, the oldest and largest public relations firm in the world, to oversee a national campaign. ... Hill & Knowlton went to work for the church, putting out phony news stories, often in the form of video news releases made to look like actual reports rather than advertisements. The church began supporting high-profile causes, such as Ted Turner's Goodwill Games, thereby associating itself with other well-known corporate sponsors, such as Sony and Pepsi. There were full-page ads in newsmagazines touting the church's philosophy, and cable television ads promoting Scientology books and Dianetics seminars.}}{{r|rinder|pp=132-133 |quote=Hill & Knowlton was paid handsomely to initially take us on as a client, and then received a large monthly retainer. It seemed we hired them in perfect anticipation of what was to come: In May 1991, Time magazine published a disastrous cover story by Richard Behar titled "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power." It was the most devastating media hit in the history of scientology to that point. ... It was the moment we needed a large firm with influence and contacts most. Instead, Hill and Knowlton's UK parent company demanded Bob Gray terminate his relationship with us. He bowed to the pressure and stopped representing us overnight. ... Regarding Hill and Knowlton dropping us as a client, Miscavige was convinced there was a conspiracy between its UK parent company WPP, and drug company Eli Lilly. ... We filed a lawsuit...}}

{{Main|Scientology and the Internet|Karin Spaink#Scientology litigation against Spaink and XS4ALL|Arnie Lerma#Scientology sues Lerma over copyrights}}

Starting in the 1980s, Scientology filed lawsuits against a number of Internet users, The Washington Post newspaper, over fifteen various Internet service providers in The Netherlands, and others concerned in the matter of Karin Spaink, a supporter of Arnie Lerma and other Internet activists who posted on her Web page excerpts from Scientology's confidential works. This legal case included claims by Scientology that hyperlinks to alleged copyright infringements were also illegal. Spaink's case was taken all the way to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands; however, the Court rejected Scientology's claims in their entirety, including the claims regarding hyperlinks.{{cite news |title=NL Supreme court ends 10-year-old Scientology case |series= EDRI-gram - Number 4.1 |url=http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number4.1/scientologycase |date=January 18, 2006 |publisher=European Digital Rights |access-date=August 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060918171015/http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number4.1/scientologycase |archive-date=September 18, 2006 }}

{{Main|FACTNet#Conflict with Church of Scientology}}

In 1998, Scientology sued FACTNet for claimed copyright violations. When federal judge John Kane denied Scientology's request for summary judgment because FACTNet challenged Scientology's ownership of the copyrights of the documents,{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-217696.html |title=Scientology loses copyright round |access-date=2007-08-03 |last=Borland |first=John |date=November 9, 1998 |work=CNET |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711202847/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-217696.html |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}

a settlement was reached in 1999. The terms were that if FACTNet is ever found guilty of violations of church copyrights, they are permanently enjoined to pay the church $1 million.{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Scientologists+settle+legal+battle/2100-1023_3-223683.html?tag=item |title=Scientologists settle legal battle |access-date=2007-08-03 |last=Macavinta |first=Courtney |date=March 30, 1999 |work=CNET |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713162824/http://news.cnet.com/Scientologists-settle-legal-battle/2100-1023_3-223683.html |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|Death of Lisa McPherson|Lisa McPherson Trust}}

When the Church was charged with a felony count of practicing medicine without a license in the 1996 case involving the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, Florida asked for damages of approximately $15,000 to be awarded against the organization. The Church hired law firms and medical specialists at an estimated cost of over $1 million, waging a defense that eventually resulted in the case being dismissed due to lack of credible evidence. On May 29, 2004, the Church paid an undisclosed amount to settle a wrongful death suit brought on behalf of McPherson's estate.

{{cite news | last = Farley | first = Robert | title = Scientologists settle death suit | work = St. Petersburg Times | date = May 29, 2004 | url = http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/29/Tampabay/Scientologists_settle.shtml | access-date = 2007-09-01 }}

An article on the suit describes legal attacks made by Scientology's attorneys:

{{blockquote |text={{interp|McPherson family attorney Ken}} Dandar has persevered through a seemingly endless barrage of legal attacks. There have been nine attempts to disqualify him, and four attempts to remove Lisa's aunt, Dell Liebreich, as executor of Lisa's estate. Scientology attorneys have filed bar complaints against both him and Lirot, lawsuits against Lisa's family, and motions to remove judges and move the case to other venues. When asked how going up against Scientology compares to normal litigation, {{interp|First Amendment attorney Luke}} Lirot replied, "It's like comparing LSD to orange juice." ... The wrongful death case went through four judges in seven years.{{cite web |first=David S |last=Touretzky |author-link=David S. Touretzky |work=Razor (Web-based magazine) |url=https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Scientology/ReleaseForms/archive/razor-article-2003.html |title=A Church's Lethal Contract |date=2003}}}}

{{Main|Lawrence Wollersheim#Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology}}

In the case of Wollersheim vs. Church of Scientology (1980), former member Larry Wollersheim sued the organization for mental distress, and was awarded $30 million in damages. On appeal, the award was reduced to $2.5 million.Wikisource:Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology In 1996, Wollersheim was awarded an additional $130,506.71 in attorney's fees incurred while defending against a church lawsuit that was dismissed for violating a California law prohibiting strategic lawsuits against public participation. The Church vowed not to pay the award, and the case dragged through the courts for 22 years, including two separate appeals to the Supreme Court of the United States and two additional appeals to the Supreme Court of California. In early 2002, the case was finally settled, with the Church of Scientology paying Larry Wollersheim $8,674,643.{{cite press release |title=Scientology cult pays $8,674,643 to ex-member to end 22-year legal battle. |url=http://www.factnet.org/letters/FACTNewsMay2002Wollersheim.html |publisher=FACTNet |date=May 9, 2002 |access-date=2006-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903133811/http://www.factnet.org/letters/FACTNewsMay2002Wollersheim.html |archive-date=September 3, 2006 }}

{{cite web|first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |title=Scientology's Crushing Defeat |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2008/06/24/scientologys-crushing-defeat/ |work=The Village Voice |date=June 30, 2008 |access-date=2008-06-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709230659/http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-06-24/news/Scientologys-Crushing-Defeat/full |archive-date=July 9, 2008 }}

{{Main|Religious Technology Center v. Netcom On-Line Communication Services, Inc.}}

Religious Technology Center v. Netcom On-Line Communication Services, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 1995), is a U.S. district court case about whether the operator of a computer bulletin board service (BBS) and Internet access provider that allows that BBS to reach the Internet should be liable for copyright infringement committed by a subscriber of the BBS.

; Religious Technology Center v. Gerbode

: In Religious Technology Center v. Gerbode, 1994 WL 228607 (C.D. Cal. 1994) (against Frank A. Gerbode, inventor of Traumatic Incident Reduction), a Rule 11 sanction of $8,887.50 was imposed against Helena Kobrin, an attorney for the Church, for bringing baseless and frivolous claims.Wikisource:Religious Technology Center v. Gerbode

{{Anchor|DeCrescenzo}}

; DeCrescenzo v. Church of Scientology International

: In DeCrescenzo v. Church of Scientology International, Laura DeCrescenzo sued the organization in 2009 for forcing her to illegally work 14 hour days at age 12 and coercing her to get an abortion at age 17. In 2018, Scientology settled with DeCrescenzo three weeks before the case went to trial.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/311006535/2ndAmendedComplaint-DeCrescenzo-vs-Church-of-Scientology-International-and-RTC|title=2ndAmendedComplaint-DeCrescenzo vs Church of Scientology International and RTC|website=Scribd|language=en|access-date=2018-10-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-scientology-suit-settled-20180723-story.html|title=Church of Scientology and former member settle long lawsuit - Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-10-27|date=July 24, 2018}}

; Garcia Saz et al. v. Church of Scientology Religious Trust et al.

: In 2013, former Scientology members Luis and Rocio Garcia sued the Church, alleging fraudulent tactics. U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore granted the Church's motion to compel the couple into internal "religious arbitration" per the contracts the Garcias had previously signed with the Church. The Church had not established any rules for how to conduct arbitrations and had never before held such an arbitration. For 2½ years the Church objected to each arbiter the Garcias suggested. Eventually the judge selected three Scientologists at random from a list of 500 provided by the Church and the two-day arbitration was held in 2017. The Garcias were not allowed to have an attorney present, bring witnesses, or record the proceedings, and a Church official removed all but 70 pages of the 900 pages of evidence the Garcias submitted. Their attorney called the arbitration "a sham". According to an article in the Tampa Bay Times, "The panel ultimately refunded the Garcias $18,495 for unused deposits on religious services but did not acknowledge the claims of fraud, misrepresentation or breach of contract."{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2021/11/03/scientology-can-settle-legal-disputes-from-within-appeals-court-rules/ |title=Scientology can settle legal disputes from within, appeals court rules |date=November 3, 2021 |first=Tracey |last=McManus |website=The Tampa Bay Times}}{{cite news |url=https://www.salon.com/2013/01/23/calif_couple_sues_over_donations_to_scientology_2/ |title=California couple sues over donations to Scientology |first=David |last=Sedensky |work=Salon |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=February 22, 2013}} An appeal by Garcia was unsuccessful.{{Cite web |title=Garcia v. Church of Scientology Flag Serv. Org. - Opinion 18-13452 |date=2021-11-02 |url=https://casetext.com/case/garcia-v-church-of-scientology-flag-serv-org-3 |website=Casetext}}

As of the end of 2024, the following cases were still open.{{Cite web |title=Scientology litigation 2024: A roundup of the cases we've been following all year |url=https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/scientology-litigation-2024-a-roundup |date=December 30, 2024 |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega}}

{{Anchor|Bixler}}

; Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson

: In 2019, plaintiffs Chrissie Carnell Bixler, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Bobette Riales, and Jane Does #1 and #2 filed a civil suit against actor Danny Masterson for rape, and against the Church of Scientology for systematically stalking them after they went to the police.{{multiref2 |1={{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/what-we-know-danny-masterson-scientology-rape-civil-suit-1249704/ |title=Everything We Know About the Civil Suit Against Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology |date=December 1, 2021 |first=Nancy |last=Dillon |magazine=Rolling Stone}} |2={{cite news |url=https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/scientology-lawyers-say-theyre-ready-for-masterson-civil-rape-case/ |title=Scientology Lawyers Say They're Ready for Masterson Civil Rape Case |date=October 20, 2022 |first=Danny |last=Hernandez |website=Los Angeles}} }} After a setback when a judge ruled they would have to "take their claims before an ecclesiastical tribunal composed of three Scientologists deemed to be in good standing with the church," the California Court of Appeal ruled that the plaintiffs could keep arguing their case in court.{{multiref2 |1={{cite web |title=Scientology Arbitration and the First Amendment: Some Questions About Bixler v. Superior Court |first=Eugene |last=Volokh |author-link=Eugene Volokh |date=January 25, 2022 |publisher=reason |url=https://reason.com/volokh/2022/01/25/scientology-arbitration-and-the-first-amendment-some-questions-about-bixler-v-superior-court/}} |2={{cite web |title=Bixler v. Superior Court |date=January 19, 2022 |website=casetext.com |url=https://casetext.com/case/bixler-v-superior-court/}} }} Meanwhile, Masterson was criminally charged with forcible rape, the parties agreed that discovery in the civil suit should be delayed pending the outcome of the criminal case, and in 2023 Masterson was convicted on two charges of rape.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/danny-masterson-guilty-verdict-rape-4c60cc1031e917fc52c05238a22cc1ad |title=Danny Masterson convicted of 2 counts of rape, 'That '70s Show' actor faces 30 years to life |first=Andrew |last=Dalton |date=June 1, 2023 |work=Associated Press News |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609080722/https://apnews.com/article/danny-masterson-guilty-verdict-rape-4c60cc1031e917fc52c05238a22cc1ad |url-status=live }} Even though the Church of Scientology wasn't a party in the criminal trial, it came to light that the Church had been actively interfering with the criminal case, including harassing the prosecutor as well as the LAPD witnesses.{{Cite news |title=Scientology tried to 'derail' star's rape trial by harassing prosecutor, suit says; church calls claim 'false' |first=James |last=Queally |date=April 4, 2024 |newspaper=LA Times |via=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/scientology-tried-to-derail-star-s-rape-trial-by-harassing-prosecutor-suit-says-church-calls-claim-false/ar-BB1l3Pvx?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=LGTS&cvid=d5ab479fce2e40a1ae3ca61e3a396418&ei=39 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404190444/https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/scientology-tried-to-derail-star-s-rape-trial-by-harassing-prosecutor-suit-says-church-calls-claim-false/ar-BB1l3Pvx?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=LGTS&cvid=d5ab479fce2e40a1ae3ca61e3a396418&ei=39 |archive-date=April 4, 2024}} In December 2023, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint, adding a sixth complainant, Tricia Vessey, and adding civil RICO claims against the Church of Scientology.{{Cite web |title="Criminal Enterprise" Scientology Should Face RICO Charges, Danny Masterson Accusers Say – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/scientology-danny-masterson-lawsuit-rico-charges-leah-remini-1235693928/ |first=Dominic |last=Patten |date=January 2, 2024 |work=Deadline Hollywood}} Scientology filed anti-SLAPP motions, which the judge denied. Scientology appealed and was granted until March 14, 2025 to file their brief.{{r|ortega2024}}

; Valerie Haney v. Scientology

: After 22 years in Scientology's Sea Org, Valerie Haney escaped from Gold Base in 2016 by secretly climbing into the trunk of a visitor's car to get out of the compound unnoticed. In 2019, Haney sued Scientology for holding her against her will, libeling her online, and stalking her using private investigators after she left the Church. In 2020, a judge ordered her to "religious arbitration" per contracts she had earlier signed. Unable to come to any agreements about arbiters, in 2023 the judge ordered the parties to get it done. Scientology picked three arbiters, but would not tell Haney or the court their names. The judge denied plaintiff's motion to allow an attorney, a court reporter, or even a friend to attend with Haney. Per Haney, "The court is OK with me having to go back to the place where I literally had to escape in the trunk of a car to get out? ... It's the worst thing you could probably have a victim do. ... Someone who has been abused her entire life, to go back into the abusive environment with the abusers. It's appalling. And absolutely disgusting. It's so crazy."{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/valerie-haney-scientology-escape-car-trunk-religious-arbitration-david-miscavige-tom-cruise-elisabeth-moss-1234703982/ |title=She Escaped Scientology in the Trunk of a Car. Her Nightmare Is Far From Over |date=March 27, 2023 |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |magazine=Rolling Stone}} A court date of February 20, 2025 was set to update the court about the arbitration.{{r|ortega2024}}

; Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology

: In 2022, Gawain Baxter, his wife Laura Baxter, and Valeska Paris filed suit against the Church of Scientology and David Miscavige alleging six counts of forced labor and peonage in violation of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000. Since childhood, all three had been held captive for years on the Scientology ship Freewinds, with their passports and identification documents confiscated. Gawain Baxter alleged he was held captive on the ship for 14 more years after he tried to leave the organization at age 15. Valeska Paris alleged she was sexually assaulted in the Sea Org since childhood, but was punished whenever she tried to report the incidents. She spent 11 years working on the ship, and was then sent to Scientology's work camp in Australia. Laura Baxter alleged cruel abuse, forced confessions and manual labor. She deliberately got pregnant and refused an abortion in order to be kicked out of the Sea Org. Deliberately evading service, in 2023 after plaintiff's lawyers attempted 27 times at multiple sites in California and Florida to serve Miscavige, a judge finally ruled Miscavige as served.{{multiref2 |1={{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2022/04/28/3-former-scientology-workers-sue-saying-they-were-trafficked-as-children/ |title=3 former Scientology workers sue, saying they were trafficked as children |date=April 28, 2022 |first=Tracey |last=McManus |website=The Tampa Bay Times}} |2={{cite web |url=https://www.insider.com/scientology-david-miscavige-concealing-whereabouts-trafficking-lawsuit-judge-rules-2023-2 |title=Scientology leader David Miscavige went missing to hide from a human trafficking lawsuit, federal judge rules |date=February 16, 2023 |first=Natalie |last=Musumeci |website=Insider}} }} On April 3, six weeks after the magistrate ruled Miscavige as served, US District Judge Tom Barber ruled in favor of the first amendment, saying in his order that the plaintiffs must seek relief from Church arbitration and not the courts. Ruling on the case would require the courts to interpret religious doctrine, which is against the first amendment, said Barber.{{cite news |title=Scientologists to rule on abuse claims against their church, judge says |date=April 3, 2023 |first=Tracey |last=McManus |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2023/04/03/church-of-scientology-david-miscavige-sea-org-first-amendment-human-trafficking/}}

; Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter

: In December 2022, a Jane Doe filed suit against Scientology leader David Miscavige, recruiter Gavin Potter and three church entities claiming that as a minor the Church enabled one of their recruiters to sexually assault her. After she reported the incident, not only did Scientology fail to report the allegations to police but she was given the ultimatum of going to Scientology's prison work camp, the RPF, for five years or marry her abuser. The case alleges Scientology even transported her out of state to Nevada where an underage marriage was possible, and that Scientology officials "knew ... of Gavin Potter's unlawful sexual conduct, that he was an unfit agent, and still placed him in a position to solicit young girls into an environment in which sexual assault and battery were commonplace."{{cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2023/06/26/scientology-sued-by-worker-who-claims-she-was-forced-marry-abuser/ |title=Scientology sued by worker who says she was forced to marry abuser |date=June 26, 2023 |first=Tracey |last=McManus |publisher=Tampa Bay Times}}{{Cite web |title=UNSEALED: Jane Doe 1 sues Scientology for sex assault at 16 by Sea Org groomer |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |url=https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/unsealed-jane-doe-1-sues-scientology |date=June 24, 2023 |website=The Underground Bunker}} {{pb}}Accusing David Miscavige of "service dodging", Judge Broadbelt ruled in February 2024 that the plaintiff must exhaust all options before being allowed to serve Miscavige by publication.{{r|judges}} On April 15, 2024, Judge Broadbelt posted a tentative ruling in favor of the plaintiff when he found Scientology's religious arbitration contract "unconscionable". The following morning, Miscavige—effectively accepting service in the case for the first time—sent his lawyer to the courthouse to file a peremptory challenge to disqualify the judge, causing Broadbelt to step aside.{{cite web |title=Another judge steps down from Church of Scientology suit |website=Audacy |date=April 16, 2024 |url=https://www.audacy.com/knxnews/news/local/another-judge-steps-down-from-church-of-scientology-suit |access-date=November 12, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Scientology Boss David Miscavige Gets Judge Knocked Off Sex Assault Lawsuit |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/scientology-david-miscavige-judge-removed-sex-abuse-case-1235005592/ |first=Nancy |last=Dillon |date=April 16, 2024 |work=RollingStone}}{{Cite web |title=Scientology leader has judge removed from case alleging sex abuse, forced marriage after unfavorable ruling: Report |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/scientology-leader-has-judge-removed-from-case-alleging-sex-abuse-forced-marriage-after-unfavorable-ruling-report/ |first=Brandi |last=Buchman |date=April 17, 2024 |work=Law & Crime}} Scientology requested to depose Jane Doe 1 and a lawyer involved in a prior lawsuit connected to her; a hearing was set for January 9, 2025.{{r|ortega2024}}

{{Anchor|Remini}}

; Leah Remini v. Scientology

: In 2023, Leah Remini filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and David Miscavige claiming defamation, harassment, stalking and tortious interference with a contractual relationship (Remini's business relationships), seeking compensatory and punitive damages for economic and psychological harm. Remini claimed she had been stalked, surveilled, harassed, threatened, intimidated, and subjected to intentionally malicious and fraudulent rumors. Remini's family and friends had also been subjected to the harassment, and in 2015 Remini hired bodyguards fearing for her physical safety. "For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have subjected me to what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, significantly impacting my life and career", Remini said.{{Cite web |title=Leah Remini sues Church of Scientology, says she's been threatened and subjected to 'psychological torture' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/leah-remini-sues-church-scientology-says-threatened-subjected-psycholo-rcna97817 |first1=Diana |last1=Dasrath |first2=Minyvonne |last2=Burke |date=August 2, 2023 |work=NBC News}}{{Cite web |title=Leah Remini claims Church of Scientology is targeting her business and friends |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/leah-remini-claims-church-scientology-targeting-business-friends-rcna111348 |first1=Diana |last1=Dasrath |first2=David K. |last2=Li |date=September 21, 2023 |work=NBC News}}{{pb}}In January 2024, the lawsuit survived an anti-SLAPP motion by the Church of Scientology, though the judge removed some of the defamation claims which occurred prior to the one-year statute of limitations, kept some, where the defendants published false claims "with at least a reckless disregard of the facts", and rejected Scientology's argument that their early surveillance of Remini was a "pre-litigation stance".{{Cite web |title=Leah Remini suit against Church of Scientology likely to survive, trimmed |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/leah-remini-defamation-suit-against-church-of-scientology-likely-survive-trimmed/ |first=Hillel |last=Aron |date=January 16, 2024 |work=Courthouse News Service}} Both parties appealed the ruling.{{r|ortega2024}} Accused of "service dodging", in February 2024 judge Hammock told David Miscavige's lawyer, "He should just appear, and defend himself."{{Cite web |title=Judges and lawyers call for new ways to serve notice |url=https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/377364-judges-and-lawyers-call-for-new-ways-to-serve-notice |date=February 28, 2024 |work=Daily Journal}}

• Scientology and the Internet
• Scientology in Germany
• Fair game (Scientology)
• Scientology timeline
• The Hole (Scientology)

{{Reflist|2|refs=

{{cite magazine |first=Richard |last=Behar |author-link=Richard Behar |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,156952,00.html |title=Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power |magazine=Time |date=May 6, 1991 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200902/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,156952,00.html |archive-date=May 25, 2014 }}

{{cite book |last=Reitman |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Reitman |title=Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion |title-link=Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion |date=2011 |isbn=9780618883028 |ol=24881847M |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt }}

{{cite book |title=A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology |first=Mike |last=Rinder |author-link=Mike Rinder |year=2022 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9781982185763}}

{{cite book |last=Wright |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Wright |title=Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |year=2013 |isbn=9780307700667 |ol=25424776M |title-link=Going Clear (book)}}

}}

{{wikisource|Religious Technology Center vs. Netcom}}

;Church of Scientology

• {{cite web

| title = Church of Scientology International Human Rights Department

| work = Scientology's official site in regards to the acceptance of the church as a religion

| url= http://www.scientology.org/humanrights/

| publisher = Church of Scientology }}

• {{cite web

| title = Scientology in the News: Press Office

| work = Questions and Answers about the Church's actions to uphold religious freedom, copyright law and trade secret protections on the Internet

| publisher = Church of Scientology

| url = http://www.scientology.org/scnnews/intern_1.htm}}

• {{cite web

|title=Links related to Scientology and legal cases

|work=Yahoo directory of Scientology and legal cases

|url=http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Scientology/Legal_Cases/

|publisher=Yahoo!

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628013910/http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Scientology/Legal_Cases/

|archive-date=June 28, 2006

}}

;Critical and other sites

• {{cite web

| title = Scientology Court Files

| work = a site critical of Scientology

| url= http://www.xenu.net/archive/CourtFiles

| publisher = Xenu.net }}

• {{cite web

| title = Scientology and the Legal System

| work = a site critical of Scientology

| url= http://www.modemac.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl/Scientology_and_the_Legal_System

| publisher = SubGenius }}

• {{cite web

|title=Chilling effects

|work=a clearinghouse of legal documents

|url=http://www.chillingeffects.org/search.cgi?search=scientology

|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110703213229/http://www.chillingeffects.org/search.cgi?search=scientology

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=July 3, 2011

|publisher=Chilling Effects

}}

;Research

• {{Cite book |last=Edge | first= Peter W. |title=Legal Responses to Religious Difference |year=2002|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff | isbn=978-90-411-1678-9 }}
• {{Cite journal |last=Lord|first=Phil|title=Scientology's Legal System|journal=Marburg Journal of Religion|year=2019 |ssrn=3232113 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.3232113|url=https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/articles/9z9034375 }}

{{Scientology}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scientology And The Legal System}}

Category:Lawsuits

Category:Copyright law

Category:Abuse of the legal system

Category:Scientology-related controversies