Another setback for the Garcias, and this one seems to leave little else for them to do but to submit to Scientology’s internal arbitration scheme.
As we told you earlier, Luis and Rocio Garcia appealed the ruling by federal Judge James Whittemore granting Scientology’s motion to compel the Garcias to use the church’s arbitration process — even though Whittemore himself admitted that there was significant evidence that the arbitration scheme was a sham and didn’t exist.
The Garcias first sued Scientology in January 2013, alleging that they had been defrauded when they were convinced to donate more than a million dollars to the organization. Specifically, about $400,000 in donations they said were solicited from them in a deceptive manner. But Scientology pointed out that the Garcias had signed numerous contracts which called for all disputes to be handled internally, with refund requests hashed out through an internal arbitration scheme. The Garcias countered with testimony by former church officials who said that the contracts were designed to confound members who complained, and that no arbitration had ever occurred, and even that there were no actual policies for an arbitration to take place.
Whittemore, in his order, acknowledged that the arbitration scheme might be actually nonexistent, but he said that probing into that question would force him into internal church matters that were protected by Scientology’s religious rights under the First Amendment. So he granted Scientology’s motion, and put the case on hold until the Garcias submitted to the church’s internal scheme.
Rather than do that, the Garcias appealed, but in their appeal, they checked off a box which said that Whittemore’s order had been a final one. Scientology objected, saying that Whittemore had not ended the case, and that the Garcias were improperly asking for an interlocutory appeal of a lawsuit that hadn’t technically ended.
The Eleventh Circuit of the US Court of Appeals agreed, and rejected the Garcias’ appeal. Now, we hear, the Garcias are talking with their attorneys about whether they should actually go through with Scientology’s arbitration scheme — even though they have argued that it’s inherently unfair for former members who have been declared “suppressive persons.” We’ll let you know when we learn what they decide to do.
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Nancy’s message for Mexico
To my dear Mexican friends, I am very excited to come to your next event Org Ideal. I have many Latino friends – and there is no doubt that “passion” and “family” are the common denominators. I can not wait to see and meet everyone. Since the end of the OT VII, VIII, the three Ls and the path of Super Power, my life has taken a completely new turn! I cannot wait to share all my wins with you. And even more. .. I cannot wait to see for myself all the amazing miracles that everyone is doing for ODD!!! See you soon !!! Love, Nancy
Ambassador Nancy Cartwright OT, New OT VIII completion 3 Ls, Super Power. Voice actress, film, television and comedian. She is highly regarded for her long-running role as the voice of Bart Simpson character in the animated television series of The Simpsons. Bart’s character was named among the 100 most important people of the 20th century by Time magazine and in 2000, Bart and the rest of the Simpson family were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to this role in it it would make the voices of 5 characters more. In addition to her work on The Simpsons, Nancy has also made the voice of many other characters in several other recognized shows. Winner of several prestigious awards and is a Primetime Emmy Award and an Annie Award.
Clear Viva Mexico!
For the Family and its unwavering Heroes
Canvas Charro del Pedregal
Camino a Santa Teresa 304, Charra, Tlalpan, Mexico City, DF
Sunday August 23, 2015 – 1:00 pm
Dress Code: Semi-Formal (Charro, Adelitas or Jeans and Jacket)
Wow. It’s not enough that Her Royal Governness of the Vast Valley Territory has to drag all of you miserly Los Angeles deadbeats to donate money for the Ideal Org, now she has to go to Mexico City to beg for cash south of the border? Ay, carumba.
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BOOK NOTES
We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.
Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…
August 4: London, Conway Hall, 19:30, (with John Sweeney)
August 24: Boston, Boston Skeptics in the Pub, 7 pm (with Gregg Housh)
Sept 15: Barrett the Honors College, Arizona State University, ASU in Downtown Phoenix campus
Sept 23: Cleveland, Parma Heights Library, 7pm sponsored by Center for Inquiry – Northeast Ohio
Sept 24: Minneapolis
Sept 27: Portland
Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists
Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm
Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)
Oct 26: Melbourne
Oct 28: Adelaide (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)
Oct 30: Perth
Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29)
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 2, 2015 at 07:00
E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer
The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
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