Scientology is unhappy the Danny Masterson accusers are sticking up for Valerie Haney

On Friday, we told you that the Danny Masterson accusers were sticking up for Valerie Haney in a letter they submitted to the California State Supreme Court.

It turns out that Scientology isn’t very happy about that.

Currently, we’re all waiting for the court to make two key decisions. Whether to grant Scientology review of an appellate court’s stunning January ruling that restored the lawsuit the Masterson accusers filed against the That ’70s Show actor and the Church of Scientology. And also, whether to publish that ruling.

The Masterson accusers — Chrissie Carnell-Bixler (as well as her husband, rocker Cedric Bixler-Zavala), Bobette Riales, and two women going by Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — are suing over what they claim is a campaign of harassment, stalking, and even the poisoning of their pets since they came forward with rape allegations against Masterson in 2016. Their lawsuit was derailed when Scientology convinced a superior court judge that the plaintiffs, former Scientologists, were obliged by service contracts they had signed while in the church to take their grievances to Scientology’s “religious arbitration” instead. But in January, a state appeals court reversed that decision, saying that because the harm the Bixler plaintiffs allege took place long after they had left their church membership, the contracts don’t apply. It was a landmark decision, but it was formally unpublished and isn’t considered law.

The Masterson accusers have asked the court to publish the opinion and make it law, as has attorney Ford Greene. Scientology opposes it.

In the meantime, Valerie Haney, a former Sea Org worker who escaped from a Scientology base in the trunk of a car, also had her lawsuit against the church derailed by a similar arbitration motion. After the Bixler ruling, she asked her judge to reconsider his ruling, but the fact that the Bixler ruling was unpublished was key to his decision to deny her request.

So last week, the Masterson accusers sent in a letter to the state supreme court written by attorney Bobby Thompson to make sure they were aware of Valerie’s plight, and to make the point that as long as the Bixler ruling remains unpublished, other former Scientologists will suffer. (Thompson is a California-based member of the national legal team from Philadelphia that had filed the lawsuit, and that also represents most of the Bixler plaintiffs.)

Within 24 hours of that letter being filed, Scientology’s attorneys, William Forman and Matthew Hinks, had pounded out a response and also submitted it to the state supreme court.

“Defendants object to the Thompson Letter for the following reasons,” they wrote. First, they said it was “late and duplicative.” The Masterson accusers had already requested that the court publish the opinion, there was no provision for filing another request.

Second, they said, the Thompson letter was mischaracterizing Scientology arbitration. They again brought up the difference in the Haney lawsuit, that her allegations of harm are not only about things that happened after she left Scientology.

Third, they said, Thompson was mischaracterizing what happened in the Haney case, and they point out that none of Valerie’s attorneys showed up for the most recent hearing (held virtually) during which her motion for reconsideration was denied. (Yikes. That does seem like not a good thing. And readers know that we have repeatedly brought up some questions about the team from Philly.)

And finally, Scientology’s attorneys get to what’s really bothering them.

In addition to these objections to the Thompson Letter, Defendants note the significance of problems created by the Court of Appeal Opinion and reflected in the Letter. Despite the Court of Appeal’s decision not to publish its Opinion, attorneys – such as Mr. Thompson – will attempt and have attempted to make use of the Opinion to sow confusion on the status of religious arbitration and even of this Court’s position on the issue. This Court should grant review to deliver a clear and definitive statement of the law on a practice that even Plaintiffs’ counsel acknowledges is of pressing concern to persons throughout California and the United States.

Did you see what they did there? They had just complained that the Masterson accusers shouldn’t get a second bite at the apple and shouldn’t be submitting additional letters to urge the court to publish the Bixler ruling, but they couldn’t help themselves from throwing in their own pitch for review of the ruling, which they’ve already asked for. Too clever?

Anyway, we’re more anxious than ever to see what the state supreme court is going to do:

1. Grant Scientology’s petition for review and put the Bixler case on appeal yet again. Or…

2. Publish the Bixler ruling as it is, and make it the law of the land, dealing a crushing blow to Scientology’s ability to harass members after they leave the church. (In California, anyway.)

Can’t wait for a result.

Bonus items from our tipsters

Planetary clearing for real! Finally!

 
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Source Code

“I don’t think ever in my life I even ever held out my hand for a fee. I don’t ever mention it. I’ve even acted sometimes as Registrar for an organization that didn’t have anything to do with money and people would walk in occasionally and throw some money on the desk and I’d invoice it so they could have a receipt. I gave it to them so they could have a receipt, not so I could have any money. Now, that’s about the wildest look you ever saw! I remember auditing some people in the early days and we never talked about money and they got embarrassed after a while and they gave me several thousand dollars. That’s a reverse look, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 30, 1965

Avast, Ye Mateys

“The hot water on A deck is tepid.” — The Commodore, March 30, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“SPs behave as they do because they are being manipulated telepathically to do so. This is possibly why OT 8 saved the world, there’s seriously evidence for the world changing after OT 8. We are winning and have won, it’s great, that was a big battle of freedom vs enslavement. And Trump announced the Space Force, it’s been around for years but finally it’s made public, the truth is all coming out bit by bit, the whole enslavement system is being dismantled and we are rising to higher heights. The 20th century was all about machine advancement which was amazing, but now the 21st is all about our personal advancement. Atlantis’ golden age has begun.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1997: The Wall Street Journal printed an editorial entitled “The Scientology Problem.” Some excerpts: “Scientology is currently demanding acceptance throughout the world, mostly on the basis of a 1993 Internal Revenue Service ruling extending it 501(c)3 tax-exempt status. The State Department’s human rights report, an ad by Hollywood figures and others have berated Germany over persecution of Scientologists. Other sects have also started with odd theology and behavior; is Scientology now traveling the road to respectability? Conceivably so, though the Scientologists have more history than most to live down, most of it written in court decisions here and abroad. Scientology performs its ‘auditing’ and ‘clearing’ according to a schedule of set fees. Those who are ‘cleared’ at one level go on to the next with further training and further fees. To many authorities, not to mention alienated former Scientologists, Mr. Hubbard’s creation looks a lot like the business of personal counseling or psychiatry (to which Scientology also raises theological objection). There have been repeated reports that Mr. Hubbard told his science-fiction colleagues that the way to get rich is to found a religion. The Scientologists promote anti-drug and anti-crime efforts, but even in the post-Hubbard era have been a magnet for controversy. For one thing, they are confronting the Internet, using copyright and other laws to inhibit their critics, who gather in a discussion group called alt.religion.scientology. Scientologists have succeeded with U.S. copyright suits against the posting of secret Hubbard texts, but have angered the Internet community. The texts keep appearing, for example on a Norwegian site calling itself Operation Clambake. Further litigation is currently under way in San Jose and Denver, with the patience of presiding jurists being tested by both Scientologists and ‘netizens.’ Internet defendants are now challenging the validity of the copyrights, and seeking to depose the secretive Mr. Miscavige about the circumstances of their transfer.”

 
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Random Howdy

The first time I heard about people having to pay for being sec checked I was gobsmacked. OT 7’s have to get sec checked every 6 months to the tune of twenty grand or thereabouts. Imagine if the cops started charging people to be interrogated? Without a lawyer!”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for April 8.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Hearing held on February 15, awaiting ruling.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Scientology has said it will file an anti-SLAPP motion.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.

 
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

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.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Another Scientology success story: Real Water liver failure lawsuits proliferate
[TWO years ago] Scientology tries desperately to keep members from letting reality sink in during pandemic
[THREE years ago] Leaving Scientology’s ‘Sea Org’ isn’t easy, and some turn to desperate measures
[FOUR years ago] Georgia police department closes its case on Arnie Lerma attempted murder-suicide
[FIVE years ago] Dungeons & Dragons and Scientology collide: Can we get a saving throw on that engram?
[SIX years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige in Atlanta on Saturday: Can you feel the excitement?
[SEVEN years ago] AUDIO LEAK: Hear a Scientologist being declared suppressive and facing the loss of her family
[EIGHT years ago] Sunday Funnies: These fliers should convince you to give all your cash to Scientology!
[NINE years ago] Independent Scientology: The Ballad of Captain Bill
[TEN years ago] VIDEO: Proof that L. Ron Hubbard Was the Most Awesome Human Being Ever

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 30, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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, 15 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

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast