In March we told you that Deborah Rennard not only had to guard against an unhinged Tommy Davis, who accosted her in the street during the Paul Haggis-Haleigh Breest trial, but also that Breest had made accusations that Rennard was helping her ex-husband Haggis hide money.
Breest won her lawsuit against Haggis last year, which found him liable for raping the former publicist in a 2013 encounter, and which resulted in a $10 million judgment against the Crash director. But so far Breest has only been able to recover a tiny amount of that award — only some $41,000, according to this latest filing — and Breest is accusing Rennard of helping her ex-husband move a lot of money into her name before the trial so Breest couldn’t get her hands on it.
We previously published some of Rennard’s answers, but Breest has made even more ugly accusations, and so Rennard recently put another affidavit in the court file that we thought you’d find interesting. Rennard has been pushing for Judge Sabrina Kraus to make a decision about Breest’s move to tie up her funds, and she’s asked for a hearing for oral arguments.
1. I submit this Affidavit, based on my personal knowledge, in reply to the opposition papers submitted by Plaintiff Haleigh Breest to my motion to: (i) vacate the Restraining Notice issued by Plaintiff and (ii) award costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees and sanctions, against Plaintiff and her counsel for their improper issuance of the Restraining Notice.’
2. Ms. Breest spends significant time attacking me for being friendly with my ex-husband and insinuates without evidence that this relationship is somehow improper or wrong.
3. As I explained in my previous Affidavit in support of my Motion (and is explained in my testimony in this Court), Paul and I separated in 2010. At the time of my separation from Paul, our son, who was then 12 years old, was devastated. When Paul and I discussed our separation and subsequent divorce with our son, we determined that we would remain friendly with one another for our son’s sake, regardless of our divorce or any issues we had during our marriage.
4. Paul and I have remained friendly since that point. The negotiated resolution of our divorce, which resulted in the 2016 Divorce Judgment (attached as Exhibit F to my prior Affidavit Doc. NO. 1076) was as much for my son’s benefit as mine.
5. For instance, with respect to the two properties that have been discusses by Ms. Breest, after our separation in 2010, the West Broadway Property was where I lived and the Mercer Street Property was where Paul lived. Our son divided his time between those two homes.
6. Paul and I do spend time together with our son and respective families, including during holidays. There is nothing nefarious in my continuing a friendly relationship with my ex-husband. Ms. Breest’s attempt to use against me my decision to remain on friendly terms with Paul for the benefit of our child is offensive.
7. Paul and I also had a professional relationship that continued after our divorce. In addition to helping develop shows, I have also co-produced certain productions even after our divorce. In addition to raising our son, our collaborations professionally have required me and Paul to remain on friendly terms.
8. Beginning in 2018, Paul was spending increasing sums of money defending against this lawsuit. I do not have a specific recollection of the assets or accounts that Ms. Breest outlines in her opposition papers, but, at that time, Paul expressed concern to me that he would be unable to continue to pay the $20,000 in monthly spousal support payments, while continuing to pay his attorneys’ fees.
9. My family was obviously under strain at this point because of the situation Paul was facing with this case. My son suffered from anxiety and began seeing a therapist. By 2020, Paul had proposed selling the Mercer Street Property. Given the already fraught situation, I did not want my son to lose his home on Mercer Street so I decided to loan Paul $700,000 so that he would not have to sell the Mercer Street Property.
10. Ms. Breest seems to suggest that my loaning Paul this money somehow was an effort to deprive her of money. This makes no sense to me. As Ms. Breest points out, Paul has not been able to make any interest payments on this loan. I am essentially in the same position as Ms. Breest: Paul owes me money.
11. Separate from my loan to Paul, as I explained in my prior Affidavit, after Paul told me he would not be able to continue making his spousal support payments, I negotiated with Paul a modification of our Matrimonial Judgment. Paul and I were both assisted by our divorce counsel. Because Paul indicated he would not be able to continue paying the required monthly $20,000 spousal support, I agreed to exchange 10 years of these payments (around $2.4 million) for additional proceeds from the sale of the West Broadway Property (totaling $806,169.01) plus a $1 million lien on the Mercer Street Property. This was the consideration for the 2019 Modification Agreement.
12. I fully understood that I was giving up the right to around $593,830.99 in spousal support payments by agreeing to this deal, but the alternative was risking getting nothing at all because Paul had represented to me that he would have to stop making the payments altogether. This was a fair trade in light of Paul’s financial situation, and Ms. Breest’s own situation, having collected only $49,233.41 or her $10 million judgment, confirms as such.
13. Ms. Breest also claims that I helped Paul purchase a property in Portugal. I did not. Paul discussed the possibility of buying a property there so he and his children could work in Europe. As the email Ms. Breest’s counsel attaches shows, I did consider helping for the benefit of my son and step-children and I opened up a bank account in Portugal, depositing the $25.00 required to open the account. I ended up not pursuing anything further and the money was returned to me.
14. Paul and I do not have a “joint accountant.” I began using Joel Isaacson & Co., LLC as a financial advisor and recommended them to Paul, who had told me he was looking for a new financial advisor. Our accounts and financial interests remain separate.
15. Paul does not use a bank with an ATM in New York. As Ms. Breest’s counsel explains, he has, in the past, occasionally transferred money to my account temporarily and asked me to bring it to him, so that he can withdraw his own money. I have no access to Paul’s money and I don’t keep money for him in my separate accounts. He is my son’s father and I have simply assisted him in withdrawing his own money for household expenses.
16. Finally, Ms. Breest and her counsel submit affidavits describing an incident that occurred in the courthouse during trial. At the time I saw Ms. Breest, I had just been approached by a reporter who sought to ask me questions about Scientology. Paul was not present — I believe he was in the restroom. I was very upset and I did yell at Ms. Breest out of frustration, something that I regret doing and apologize for. I stated that Ms. Breest had bankrupted Paul not that she had bankrupted “us.”
17. Ms. Breest is entitled to pursue collection of her judgment. If she wishes to allege that Paul and I entered into some scheme to defraud her, she should be required to prove her case in a court of law like everyone else. Her efforts to take my money, in which Paul does not have an interest, without a chance to defend myself, is unfair. I respectfully request that the Court grant my motion.
— Deborah Rennard
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“CCH 3: This is not a Tone 40 process, but the auditor does not talk until the motion he has made is executed unless the preclear has as-ised the command before he started the motion or finds himself unable to complete it. Since engrams do appear and odd sensations and somatics turn on, communicate with the preclear about them, but remember the intention of the process and do not go chasing after facsimiles.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958
——————–
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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney
——————–
“How about the big boy who becomes the big boy, and he’s been a local boy in some town, and all of a sudden he becomes a big boy. And he’s highly powerful on Wall Street. And he never again speaks to any of his friends in the old home town. Jesus, those people resent that. That is so much the matter of the thing that I can tell you personally that it’s almost impossible to speak to them. That is to say, if you’ve been in an area where you’ve been very well known and you suddenly become, oh, you might say, become a celebrity or something like that, these people won’t believe that you want to talk to them, you see? They’re so used to having the formula violated. You get the idea?” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 25, 1965
——————–
“TO ALL ABOARD: (1) Anyone who makes any shuffle, bang, clatter — ANY NOISE — while the Commodore is IN SESSION will get NO AUDITING themselves for 3 months. (2) For FEBC’s — they lose a week’s stats. (3) The Commodore’s Messengers are keeping a list of these people and will turn the list in to D of P as well as a copy for Dir I&R. If one isn’t considerate enough to let the Commodore audit — one doesn’t deserve it himself. (4) If the Port Prom deck is roped off — it is for a PURPOSE — don’t go walking under the rope. IT IS OUT OF BOUNDS! (5) The radio room is OUT OF BOUNDS when LRH is IN SESSION too. (6) If the A & B Deck ladies heads are closed off with a sign saying ‘LRH IN SESSION NO ENTRY’ you don’t walk under the rope — go somewhere else!” — Msm Terri Gillham, Commodore’s Messenger, May 25, 1971
——————–
“I always had a lot of enturbulative mass in my space, but knew I was a really big Thetan. I’ve had almost no auditing but there are a couple of totally kick ass processes on the First American and I did them both and got so blown out I was able to change the weather and almost anything I would postulate would come to me magically, and many other Godlike OT powers that many piss and moan that they were never able to achieve. All that’s wrong with us is that we need to blow out all the mass and circuitry and then we are able to do pretty much anything, even those things that require study or a normal person, because you know it all — it’s up at Knowingness. I ran that process they do on the E-Meter to discover how long we’ve been in this universe – and I couldn’t possibly, possibly have been here longer than 2,000 years, I thought. Since I remembered about five Whole Track incidents without any auditing and even remembered being in native state before I came here. I think it’s that same ACC where LRH says that most people have been here 74 or 76 trillion years. He says he doesn’t know what they’re using for years, maybe just the swing of a planet around its star (which could all be different.) He says the least amount of time person has been here is 3,000 years. That’s when I recounted each lifetime being about 100 years and couldn’t possibly imagine being here more than 20. Then I went to Marty’s blog sometime after that and some guy said is only been here for 2400 years – I thought, OK so maybe that’s an average LRH gave or maybe he doesn’t know EVERYTHING.”
——————–
1998: The St. Petersburg Times reported this week that Scientology plans to move a large tree before building the Super Power building on the site. “The tree, thought to be more than 100 years old, once was part of a large hammock of oaks along Clearwater’s waterfront bluff before downtown was developed. It stands 65 feet tall and weighs about 125 tons. Its trunk is 44 inches thick, and its boughs reach 120 feet across. Its life began when the city’s name was two words, Clear Water. Fort Harrison Avenue and Cleveland Street were paved then with shells from a local Indian mound. Today, the tree stands near the center of a dusty city block at 215 S Fort Harrison Ave., the site of a massive new building planned by the Church of Scientology. Legally, the church could turn the tree into firewood to make way for the project. Instead, it has hired Westenberger to perform an unusual service: move the tree to the front of the lot where it can shade the new building’s glass-enclosed lobby alongside two other existing oaks. The project normally would cost about $120,000, but donations of materials by local businesses will help trim the church’s bill to about $80,000, Westenberger said. Westenberger’s strategy is to relieve any stress on the tree and strengthen its root system. Then he and his crew will methodically cut the ground around it into a giant root ball. They will hoist it out of the only ground the tree has ever known, and move it to a new patch of earth 120 feet to the west. At present, Westenberger and church staff are soaking the roots daily with a vitamin and hormone spray. Construction soon will begin on the root ball, a painstaking process designed to stress the tree as little as possible.”
——————–
“There is plenty room around here for the J&D’s as well as the ‘Herberts’ and if people cross way over the line they usually get their asses straightened out by both sides.”
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: March 15, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior 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.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Meet the heavy-hitter lawyers Scientology has hired for labor trafficking case
[TWO years ago] Is Scientology protecting Danny Masterson or is it protecting itself? A Sea Org perspective.
[THREE years ago] On Memorial Day, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘stolen valor’: His bogus war injuries
[FOUR years ago] Behind enemy li(n)es: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s secret mission that never was
[FIVE years ago] Erika Christensen shows off her new Scientology trophy for donating half a million bucks
[SIX years ago] Our photographer goes back for more Scientology ‘body routing’ on the streets of LA
[SEVEN years ago] As Scientology prepares for Saturday’s grand opening, its controversial sign goes up
[EIGHT years ago] On Memorial Day, some new revelations from L. Ron Hubbard’s military record
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Save the date for Maiden Voyage!
[TEN years ago] Jon Atack on Scientology — “The Church of Hate”
[ELEVEN years ago] VIDEO: Dianetics Day 2012! See People Who Can’t Wait to Go ‘Clear’!
——————–
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 3,040 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,545 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,095 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,085 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,976 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,280 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,151 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,256 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,703 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,045 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,611 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,530 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,698 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,279 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,540 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,576 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,292 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,856 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,171 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,346 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,897 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,028 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,366 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,221 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,340 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,696 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,999 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,105 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,503 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,379 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,962 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,457 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,711 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,820 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 25, 2023 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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
