On Wednesday we saw the objections that Danny Masterson’s accusers were making to his legal attempt to get himself out of a lawsuit they filed against the Scientologist actor and the church itself. Now, we have Masterson’s reply, in which he’s not only refuting their arguments but pressing the point that two of his accusers who have remained anonymous should name themselves.
Four women who say they were raped by Masterson have sued him and Scientology and its leader David Miscavige for what they say has been a harassment campaign to silence them since they came forward to the LAPD in 2016. In June, Masterson was charged with raping three of the women, and he’s facing 45 years to life in prison if he’s convicted. Because of that impending criminal trial, this lawsuit will probably be stayed soon, but for now there’s an important showdown scheduled for Friday that may get Masterson out of the lawsuit entirely.
He’s filed a “demurrer,” a legalistic response to the lawsuit, saying that it’s really just a publicity stunt, that the women haven’t connected him personally to any of the harassment they say they’ve experienced, and that the women have improperly combined their allegations in a single lawsuit.
We saw on Wednesday how the plaintiffs opposed those arguments, and now Masterson gets a chance to reply before Friday’s hearing. We have three documents for you. First, Masterson’s defense of his demurrer, which includes his emphasis on identifying the two women going as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 (Victim B and Victim C in Underground Bunker notation). In the second document, Masterson is defending his motion to remove from the lawsuit extensive references to the criminal investigation.
When he filed that motion to strike, he and his attorneys had said publicly that the allegations had been examined by law enforcement and dropped long ago. In other words, he wanted the references to a rape investigation taken out because he wanted the court to believe no investigation was going on. But now that he’s actually been charged and is facing a possible life sentence, he’s arguing that the women have laid on the references to sexual assaults too thick, and that they could have been dealt with sufficiently in a single paragraph.
The FAC [First Amended Complaint] is filled to the brim with salacious and vivid depictions of Masterson’s alleged grotesque behavior – none of which is relevant to any Plaintiffs’ cause of action. All of the allegations Masterson is moving to strike from the FAC seek to accomplish one thing and one thing only: garner scathing media attention to drum up sympathy for Plaintiffs’ claims. Such allegations are irrelevant, immaterial and highly prejudicial to Masterson, and must be stricken.
In the third document, the Church of Scientology defends its own demurrer, which it filed against plaintiff Bobette Riales. Because Bobette was never a Scientologist, the church can’t attempt to force her into “religious arbitration” like it’s trying to do to the others. So the church has filed a similar argument to Masterson’s, claiming that Bobette’s evidence is weak and that as an Indiana resident, she shouldn’t be combined with the others in the lawsuit.
We’ll be interested to see what our legal types think about these broadsides from Masterson’s attorney Andrew Brettler and Scientology’s lawyer Bill Forman. Ultimately, the opinion that really matters is that of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield, who will hear the motions this Friday.
Here are the documents.
Danny Masterson’s reply to the opposition to his demurrer…
Bixler v. Scientology: Dann… by Tony Ortega
Danny Masterson’s reply to the opposition to his motion to strike…
Bixler v. Scientology: Mast… by Tony Ortega
Bixler v. Scientology: CSI … by Tony Ortega
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Bonus items from our tipsters
The fundraising must go on!
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“I was in a hospital one time and my stomach wall wouldn’t heal. Been messed up. And so they kept feeding me custard. And after about the 465th custard, I just had some kind of an inkling I was coming around a little bit. Actually, what was wrong with me was I was utterly exhausted. I’d just been in combat theater after combat theater, you see, with no rest, no nothing between. And it sort of came to me that this was not the sort of a diet that I myself would select of my own free choice. So I used to slide out with a good-looking nurse, and — beg your pardon, she was a WAVE. And she knew where there was a wonderful Chinese noodle parlor. And so after I’d eat my custard, she would come in and we would go out the back gate and we’d go down and I’d have several egg foo yungs. And you know, soothing things like sweet and sour pork, you know, and so forth. I started to feel better, started to get back on my feet again. And it was those custards — I kept telling the doctors, you see — those custards were absolutely marvelous, particularly when served in Chinese restaurants under some other name. you weren’t supposed to eat anything else, you see. So then finally, finally, through the connivance of a couple of hospital corpsmen and several pals in the Marine, why, I got the wrong meal ticket issued to me, and there was a special diet table where they fed people nothing but steak! So I do know where all the steaks went that the civilians didn’t get, because they were all served at that table. Huge piles of steaks would come in, you see, and I’d demolish four or five of these steaks and feel much better. The medicos never found out about this. And I finally got restored to duty, ‘Certified for continental limits of the United States only. To stay where a proper diet and ration and adequate rest are assured.’ And of course, the next piece of paper back of that says, ‘Ordered to the Fifth Amphibious Force,’ you see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 30, 1961
“It’s NOT ENOUGH to just be Scientologists or going up the Bridge. The World has gone crazy and it will only get worse. The Church of Scientology is nowhere on sight. Scientology has gotten a bad name. Not enough auditing is occurring not to say anything about making auditors. You want more? There is ONE more thing that is even worse: AI is coming, artificial intelligence and that will put even more Automaticity in life. People believe they are soulless bodies or even animals. That’s rather grim. Only a strong group of people who can work together can do something about it and be heard. I don’t see any other way.”
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“Mooser, I wish you would stop telling people to set their activity to private. It’s important to be able to read the previous comments to figure out if they’re some nutjob troll or a real Scientologist, for example.”
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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] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard has some ideas about your ‘eternity’
[TWO years ago] Kiosk-Gate: LAPD told Masterson accuser its Hollywood site was compromised by Scientology
[THREE years ago] DOX: L. Ron Hubbard’s son called him a junkie and sex pervert in FBI’s Scientology files
[FOUR years ago] Scientology petitions California Supreme Court over disqualified judge in forced-abortion case
[FIVE years ago] ‘Miss Lovely’ in London: Paulette Cooper writes another chapter in her amazing story
[SIX years ago] Scientology training includes how to physically pull cash away from a reluctant patsy
[SEVEN years ago] BBC Tracks Down Audio of 7-Year-Old Scientologist Neil Gaiman
[NINE years ago] Scientology Attacks The New Yorker. Hilarity Ensues.
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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 2,045 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,549 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,069 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,089 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 980 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,287 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,155 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,929 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,733 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,049 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,615 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,534 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,702 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,283 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,544 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,582 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,295 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,820 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,350 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,910 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,050 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,370 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,225 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,344 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,700 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,003 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,109 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,511 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,383 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,966 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,461 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,715 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,824 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 30, 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.
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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
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