We suspect that things are really going to heat up in the civil lawsuit filed by four women against Danny Masterson and Scientology in anticipation of next week’s big hearing.
On September 4, the “demurrer” filed by Masterson will be heard as he refutes the allegations by the women, who say they were raped by Masterson in incidents between 2001 and 2004 — they’re suing Masterson and the church and its leader David Miscavige for what they say has been a harassment campaign since they came forward to the LAPD with their rape allegations in 2016. Masterson denies those allegations and calls the civil lawsuit a publicity stunt.
If you remember, in May we rather graphically reported on the request that Masterson made, asking that whole sections of the lawsuit be tossed out because they referred to an ongoing criminal investigation of him. At that point, Masterson and his attorneys were still denying that there was a criminal investigation, saying that the allegations had been looked into and dropped years ago. And he wanted references to a criminal probe stricken because they were “extraneous, irrelevant, and prejudicial.”
Well, things have certainly changed since then. On June 17, LA District Attorney Jackey Lacey announced that after more than three years of investigation, she was charging Masterson with three counts of raping three different women, and that she was seeking 45 years to life in prison for the Scientologist actor.
We’re bringing that up because we just checked the court file and there’s a new couple of documents, case management updates from the plaintiffs and from Masterson. And the thing that interested us the most from Masterson’s attorney Andrew Brettler is this tidbit he mentioned in regards to what they plan to do if Danny’s demurrer doesn’t get him removed from the lawsuit…
“Defendant Masterson has a Demurrer and Motion to Strike pending. Additionally, if the Parties are unable to reach an agreement by stipulation, Defendant Masterson will move the court for an order to stay discovery.”
Oh really? A stay to put the case on hold? And, pray tell, for what reason?
“Discovery must be stayed as to Defendant Masterson pending the resolution of an ongoing criminal matter.”
Ah! So now Mr. Masterson acknowledges that there’s in fact a criminal matter, and it will conveniently give him an opportunity to keep from being deposed under oath in the civil lawsuit.
Well, that was pretty predictable.
On the plaintiff’s side, we found one item interesting in their case management disclosure, as attorney Bobby Thompson indicated that a full year after the lawsuit was first filed, defendant David Miscavige has still not been found to serve him the lawsuit.
While it’s true that the ecclesiastical pontiff of Scientology is somewhat easy to overlook, isn’t a full year enough time to locate this guy? And at some point, can’t they just publish a notice in a newspaper or something and get it taken care of?
We expect more interesting documents to show up in the court file in the coming days as that big demurrer hearing next week approaches.
In other legal news, attorneys for Scientologist chiropractor Jay Spina, who has pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud, have asked for another delay to his sentencing, this time until after Labor Day, because one of the lawyers will be unavailable until then. Jay’s brother Jeffrey Spina is still scheduled to be sentenced on October 24.
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“Instead of running him on CCHs or something like this, or trying to straighten up something, nah! let’s go for broke; let’s clear him! Not take too many hours at it, either. All right. Now, that’s possible. That can be done. But, let me call this to your attention, it is — this is the controverting fact. It is not being done. Now, you can’t argue with that, can you? Now, I could get down and scream and howl and beat the floor, and Hitlerize the room. But let me tell you something, that isn’t going to do any good. That isn’t going to do any good at all. That’s in the line of reason, or something like this mounts up. If you looked at it very broadly you could say, ‘Well, nobody can audit.’ I mean, that’s the first thing you’d say. ‘Nobody can run a session in the whole world, except just this little handful or maybe five,’ you know. Something like that. But that’s an unacceptable datum that isn’t true, see. So it must be that there were some great big broad bugs on this, and the biggest bug — and I finally located what it was, a very simple bug — it’s just the fact that the goal and the terminal easily disappear in the face of an out-rudiment.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 24, 1961
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“How come the more we’ve done to make it easier to survive, the harder it has become to survive?”
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“I’m the Dennis Hopper of the ‘Down with Scientology’ club.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY, but attorneys are asking it be moved back. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021. Plaintiffs granted permission to file changes to amended complaint by Sept 4.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Paging Graham Berry: Another Scientology horror story of credit fraud targeting retirees
[TWO years ago] The Scientology pamphlet that has finally convinced us this planet is theirs
[THREE years ago] What’s at stake in Tuesday’s San Antonio court hearing with Scientology’s former enforcer
[FOUR years ago] Ken Dandar’s courtroom nightmare is finally over (unless Scientology starts it over from scratch)
[FIVE years ago] Tonight, it’s Boston! And that has us thinking about Beantown’s connections to ‘Miss Lovely’
[SIX years ago] Scientology claims credit for solving the crisis in Ferguson, Missouri
[SEVEN years ago] LA Sheriff Lee Baca to Grace Scientology Gala, Days after “Celebrity Center” Employee Arrested for Planning to Kill a Cop
[EIGHT years ago] Marty Rathbun: Scientology’s Attorney “Supervised” Destruction of Records in Lisa McPherson Death
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 17: Jefferson Hawkins
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,039 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,543 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,063 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,083 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 974 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,281 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,149 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,923 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,727 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,043 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,609 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,528 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,696 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,277 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,538 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,576 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,289 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,814 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,344 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,904 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,044 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,364 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,219 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,338 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,694 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,997 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,103 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,505 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,377 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,960 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,455 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,709 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,818 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 24, 2020 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | Shelly Miscavige, 14 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | 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
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
