Scientology continues its ‘Fair Game’ of Gerry Armstrong with court hearing today

[UPDATE: Caroline Letkeman reports that “the hearing concluded a few minutes ago. Judge Chou denied Scientology’s Ex Parte Application for an arrest warrant.”]

Back in 2013 we dove into the incredible legal odyssey of Gerry Armstrong in a two-part series [part 1, part 2] with the help of Jon Atack and Gerry himself. It’s nearly unbelievable what Scientology subjected Gerry to over the years in multiple lawsuits that to this day prevent him from coming back into the United States.

Gerry’s crime, of course, was that while working in Scientology’s Sea Org he had stumbled upon and helped preserve a trove of L. Ron Hubbard’s original papers that documented Hubbard’s life in minute detail going back to his childhood. A substantial portion of that trove eventually made its way into the hands of Hubbard biographers like Atack and Russell Miller and Lawrence Wright, and it forms the basis for much of what we know about Hubbard today.

Scientology will never forgive Gerry Armstrong for playing a part in getting out the truth about Hubbard’s life, which undercuts the many myths and legends that Scientology and Hubbard himself had built up over the years.

We will never forget what an incredible role Gerry played getting out the truth about Hubbard, and what an amazing price he paid for it, as Scientology has tried to destroy him time and time again in American courts of law.

And today, they’re at it again.

Last week, Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon filed a request for a hearing in a Marin County court, claiming that new evidence suggested that Gerry was about to travel to California in violation of previous court orders. Moxon is asking for a new arrest warrant to nab Gerry if he dares to cross the border.

Moxon’s evidence that Gerry was about to come to California were some Internet postings that appear to be pretty questionable. And Gerry himself made that point in his response to Moxon, which is a hoot. We thought we’d reproduce his response here, and if there’s anyone in Marin County who might be able to get to courtroom today to see Moxon in action, please let us know.

Dear Mr. Moxon:

I am requesting of you a one-month extension (1) to have time to attempt to retain an attorney in this matter; (2) to be able to fully respond to your serious and in some cases false charges and fact statements; and (3) to fully deal with the vital issues involved, notably freedom of religion, both in the US and internationally.

Alternatively, I am requesting that you withdraw your ex parte application and file and serve me with a proper noticed motion.

You have provided no reason, except with false facts, why there is any urgency whatsoever, requiring what you seek to be done by ex parte application. You have provided no evidence whatsoever that I am the poster “JA2600” on Why We Protest, who posted:

I am told that Gerry Armstrong is going to be in San Francisco, Cali, I believe for a anti-$cientology lecture/conference within the next couple of weeks (late October 2020). I am a fervent admirer and I can’t wait to get the exact date/time so I can go listen to him, mask and all!

Nor have you provided any evidence whatsoever that I am the poster “NotGA” on Why We Protest, who posted:

I heard similarly, Gerry Armstrong will be physically present in San Francisco by the end of this month – oct 2020 – to speak against the cult of money grabbing wanna be a religion, aka scientology. As far as I know the talk will be available virtually, but he will be present, live, in San Francisco. If/When I get exact details I will post it. Feel free to post too if you find out first.

If anyone can be there IRL don’t be stupid, wear a mask.

Yet you state in your application:

This application for renewal of the warrant is being brought ex parte in light of new information that Mr. Armstrong intends to return to California before the end of the month at which time a warrant can be served upon this contumacious man before he again flees the jurisdiction and the country. (Bold mine)

And you state in your application:

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Thus, while his travels over the past several years are not known, now, at least, he has revealed that he will be in the area and within the jurisdiction of the California Courts for further violations of the Court’s injunction before fleeing again to the apparent safety of Canada. (Bold mine)

You have provided no evidence that there even is a lecture/conference against your “money grabbing wanna be a religion” cult planned in San Francisco this month or at any other time.

You have provided no evidence that you made any attempt to identify who the posters “JA2600” and “Not GA” are, nor any evidence that you made any attempt to identify who “they” got their “facts” about my “being physically present in San Francisco” from, nor what exactly these “sources” of “JA2600” and “NotGA’s” “facts” communicated.

“JA2600” and “NotGA’s” posting histories on Why We Protest show that the subject one post each are “their” only posts. This fact supports the conclusion that they are serving your cult’s corrupt purposes.

Given your lies here, and over the years, your satanic hatred for me, your leader David Miscavige’s satanic hatred for me, the satanic hatred for me he has incited in all Scientologists in your cult, and the extreme, criminal and satanic nature of your cult’s judicial and extra-judicial actions against me, it is altogether likely that one or two of your cult’s covert operatives, assets or collaborators posted as “JA2600” and “Not GA” for the corrupt purpose of providing you with the fake urgent basis you are using to justify your ex parte application, instead of a properly noticed, albeit equally ridiculous, motion.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all land travel (car, bus, train) to the US from Canada is prohibited unless essential. Any lecture/conference against your money grabbing wanna be a religion cult, even not invented, does not pass as essential. Air travel from Canada to the US is permitted. As is well known, however, your cult’s operatives and collaborators have for many years been able to obtain airline passenger lists and to track the air travel of your victims or targets like me. If I had booked a flight to San Francisco or anywhere, your cult’s operatives or collaborators would have the details of such a booking. You have provided no evidence of any planned flight by me to San Francisco or anywhere else in California this month or any time in the future.

Your application with its exhibits is 133 pages in length. I require the time a noticed motion would provide me to attempt to retain an attorney, and to prepare a full response to your moving papers. I have other immediate time-consuming work and commitments right now, and over the next several days, that are more important than dealing with your dishonest, abusive ex parte application.

I urge you to immediately withdraw your ex parte application, and if you still are compelled to seek an arrest warrant extension, which would be one more unlawful action against me in a decades-long history of unlawful actions, then file a properly noticed motion.

Defiantly but not contumaciously,

Gerry Armstrong

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

More from Scientology’s social media stream.

 
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Legal showdown in Masterson civil case postponed

Today’s scheduled hearing on the motions to compel arbitration in the Danny Masterson-Scientology civil lawsuit has been postponed to November 6.

 
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In July the Australian Seven News network cancelled at the last minute a ten-part nightly news in-depth investigation of the Church of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks operations. All ten episodes were leaked to the Internet, and we (temporarily) posted embeds of the video segments and then collected all ten links in one place. Judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

 
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Source Code

“Now, you will find that a rape or sexual attack may result in glasses, because this is refusal to communicate. And after all, what is a dental operation but a sort of rape, if you really think about it that way? Somebody is trying to take something away from an only partially reasoning individual who is under drugs. And what does the patient want? He wants to get away — not communicate. Do you get the idea? ‘Don’t communicate with me, don’t touch me, don’t hurt me.’ So you start up and down the track and you will find incidents here and there, and particularly locks are what you want; you don’t want to process a thousand engrams just to get off a pair of glasses. You get the times when the individual didn’t want to touch, feel, see, hear, or any of the rest of the package of communication, because that is what you are looking for.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 26, 1951

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“I tried but I had a hard time trying to open an independent Academy close to Clearwater. I supervised and word cleared for 20 years but OSA has a heavy presence here.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1997: Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin has threatened the website of Keith Bennett for providing a copy of the Introspection Rundown, a technique used by Scientology to cure mental illness through imprisonment and isolation. “Dear Mr. Bennett: I have been informed that you have placed certain of the Introspection Rundown copyrighted works on your home page without the authorization of my client. By placing my client’s copyrighted works on your web page, you are violating United States copyright law. We therefore request that they be removed immediately. We are currently involved in litigation over similar materials in several lawsuits.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Seeing as how the Church of Scientology has publicly stated that they are not a turn-the-other-cheek religion, how is any of this a shock to anyone?”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to November 2.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 29 in White Plains, NY.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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.’ Petition for a writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Nov 6 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Oct 19: Feshbachs still considering further appellate relief.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.

 
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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] Full court press: Scientologists have been busy in the halls of justice lately
[TWO years ago] What the Australian press can’t say about James Packer and his Scientology adventure
[THREE years ago] Mirriam Francis: Picturing Scientology parents who abandon their children to abuse
[FOUR years ago] Sister of L.A. Scientologist arrested for Muslim threats was Don Trump Jr’s executive assistant
[FIVE years ago] Scientology cries religious discrimination in appeal brief filed in Maryland zoning fight
[SIX years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology needs your money more than ever!
[SEVEN years ago] Jon Atack Considers L. Ron Hubbard’s Tangled Relationship With Mind-Altering Substances
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology on the High Seas: Vixie, Vitamins, and Satan Worshippers
[NINE years ago] Lloyd Kaufman on Scientology and South Park: Eric Sherman Did Ask Me about Trey Parker and Matt Stone

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 26, 2020 at 07:00

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