Today, Pittsburg County District Judge Jim D. Bland (pictured, right) agreed that the families suing Scientology’s flagship drug rehab facility, Narconon Arrowhead, should be given copies of a controversial state report that recommended the rehab center be shut down.
The report came to light when, last month, two lawsuits were filed by a former Oklahoma state inspector general, Kim Poff, and one of her former investigators, Michael DeLong. In the lawsuits, they claimed that they had investigated Narconon Arrowhead in the wake of three recent patient deaths, found evidence of wrongdoing, and recommended in a report that the place be closed. They allege that their superiors buried the report because they were too afraid to take on Scientology, and then fired Poff and DeLong when they complained. Their report was forwarded to Oklahoma’s attorney general.
Today, arguing for the families suing Narconon, attorney Melissa East argued that they should get copies of the state report.
Gary Richardson, who also represents the families, tells us that attorneys for Narconon opposed the release of the documents, and an attorney representing the state was also present but did not argue against turning over the report.
Judge Bland agreed that the families should get the report, though it will be under seal.
“The state is going to redact any names that should not be disclosed, and then provide us the document in a week to ten days,” Richardson told us by telephone today.
“We thoght it was a very fair result. We’re quite pleased that it helps us move farther ahead. And also, one day when we go in the courtroom, and it’s relevant in open court, the public will get to hear the truth about this place,” he added.
Also, Judge Bland found that Richardson could depose Kim Poff, which Narconon had opposed.
Poff’s investigation was sparked after the July 2012 death of Stacy Murphy, 20, who died in the withdrawal unit of Narconon Arrowhead of a drug overdose.
In the courtroom today was her father, Robert Murphy.
“I’m kind of numb,” he told us when we reached him. “It’s a good day. I’m so proud of my lawyer and his team.”
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Your proprietor on the airwaves
Yours truly will appear on the new podcast from the Thinking Atheist, which will be posted this evening at 7 pm Eastern, we hear. Also on the program will be Tory Christman and Mark Bunker!
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 23, 2014 at 16:00
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