Jane Doe 1 attorney asks for leaked evidence in Danny Masterson case, Scientology pushes back

As we expected, the parties in the Bixler v. Scientology lawsuit — the one filed by Danny Masterson’s victims about the harassment they say they’ve gone through since coming forward to the LAPD in 2016 — agreed yesterday to keep a stay in place until after Masterson is sentenced on August 4.

In a hearing that took place yesterday in the courtroom of Judge Upinder Kalra, the attorneys for both sides called in remotely.

An observer in the courtroom tells us that the first interesting moment came when Andrew Brettler, Masterson’s attorney, suggested that there was a “60 percent chance” that the sentencing would not happen on August 4.

John Kucera, an attorney for Jane Doe 2 and 3, said he didn’t know where Brettler was getting that idea, and Judge Kalra said that Judge Charlaine Olmedo is usually very prepared, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the date was moved back. So he set the next hearing in the lawsuit for August 29 to account for a possible delay in the sentencing.

Another interesting thing that came up was that Brad Edwards, attorney for Jane Doe 1, brought up the discovery leak in the criminal case.

If you remember, there was an evidentiary hearing held by Judge Olmedo earlier this month to determine how the prosecution’s redacted discovery — sensitive evidence including emails, texts, and photographs — had ended up in the hands of Vicki Podberesky, an attorney for Scientology, which was not a party to the criminal trial. Judge Olmedo found that the material had been leaked by Masterson’s previous criminal defense team of Tom Mesereau and Sharon Appelbaum, and sanctioned them $950 each.

Edwards said that Judge Olmedo had left it to Judge Kalra to determine how to remedy the breach, which had resulted in the church gaining private information about the Jane Does. For one thing, Edwards said, he wanted access to the discovery materials. Judge Kalra said that Edwards could file a motion for that after the stay is lifted.

But then Bill Forman, Scientology’s attorney, got out the smelling salts (as he does) and reiterated what Podberesky was telling the LAPD, that the detectives in the case were spreading lies about Scientology and they are now under Internal Affairs investigations.

This guy!

Edwards didn’t want to wait on the discovery request, so he said he’d make it now. Judge Kalra said his courtroom is going to be dark all of July, but they can start talking about it now to save time. After they meet and confer, an Informal Discovery Conference would be held before he would consider a motion.

Anyway, it was interesting to hear how the leak to Podberesky is definitely going to be an issue in this case, and Scientology will be fighting back, claiming that what Podberesky was complaining about to LAPD Chief Moore was legitimate. Wow.

Another court update for you from Los Angeles: The state attorney general’s office was asked about the decision to drop its prosecution of Rizza Islam on the eve of his trial.

“Based on the information available and the totality of the circumstances in the matter, our office has decided not to proceed with charges against Ronnie Islam at this time. Important to note that three other defendants in the case have been successfully prosecuted and will be sentenced in July.”

Rizza, for his part, is celebrating by selling T-shirts that refer to him as “Rizza CASE DISMISSED Islam.”

 
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Technology Cocktail

“A Mest Clear knows he has reached the bottom rung of the ladder on his way up. He also knows the rest of humanity uncleared is below this state but that they don’t know that they are. A Mest Clear still thinks of himself more or less as a body and is more or less subject to one. All engrams are effectually keyed out without being examined. For practical purposes they are erased. He has excellent recalls. They may or may not be eidetic. Book One Clears are a bit below the Mest Clear standard of today.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1959

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.

 
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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

 
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Source Code

“If you’ve had dreams of just going right straight through to Clear without ever being a Release, why, you might as well come off of it because — That’s all right, you and a lot of others will learn how to do Class VII before you’re through, so. It isn’t too hard to do. But that’s the easiest and safest way. And then you find out R6 materials, they just run like a bomb. My God! There’s nothing to it because you’re just right straight at it and everything as-ises like mad.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 29, 1965

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“A shark swam alongside today and said, ‘Who is it?’ and I said ‘Who is what?’ and he said, ‘Who is petitioning to leave out here in mid ocean?’ And I said ‘How’d you know that?’ And he said, ‘you’re not tearing up your despatches very good before you throw them over.’ He was real put out. Thought I was invalidating him by saying he couldn’t read. I ordered him to Review and get rid of the ARC Break but he hasn’t any priority — and anyway he’ll have to wait for our waterproof E-Meter. He’s out there now muttering. Do I get some Dianetic sessions today or do I put the shark on course?” — The Commodore, June 29, 1969

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Never has there been such an opportunity to go free of unwanted conditions or just the FUN of going up the bridge. It is such a great game. I really don’t understand why people aren’t just flocking to my services. I have the rare experience of having traveled the experimental ‘bridge’ where LRH wrote a PAB (Professional Auditor’s Bulletin) and I/we went and applied the latest process to the preclear. Has the Free Zone become just another disaffected area? I know Clears, happy with being clear, not interested in taking the next step on the bridge. Is it an ARC broken field? I have such a gift to offer you at a price almost everyone can afford. While preclear + auditor are greater than the bank, c/s + solo auditor is greater that whatever is there that distracts you and I can get you through the bridge. My hat on Div 3, finances, says I charge $150 a month plus $100 programming one time, to find out what is needed and wanted by you. From my hat as a c/s, auditing is for you. If you aren’t getting auditing or giving auditing and ever wanted to, the the stops on the line are really just out rudiments. If you’re trained to solo audit you can fly your ruds, then make a plan with me to get way up the bridge with flying colors! What I’m telling you is that the bridge is so possible still. Take advantage of it.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1998: More details this week from the St. Petersburg Times on John Travolta’s trip to the U.S. Congress, lobbying for a bill to criticize Germany. “The new resolution, sponsored by Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., rests its case on several annual State Department reports that found Germany has discriminated against Scientology and other minority religions. The non-binding measure calls on the president to ‘assert the concern’ of the United States about religious discrimination in Germany. David H. Miller, the Washington, D.C., lobbyist for the Scientology-affiliated Religious Technology Center, said lawmakers in both the House and Senate told him they were willing to hold public hearings on the complaints. That is an important step in winning passage of any legislation. At a news conference, Travolta and lawmakers who appeared with him argued that a religion should not be punished for the actions of an individual member. ‘I know a Catholic once who robbed a bank,’ Travolta said. ‘And I know Baptist who got a divorce.’ Salmon agreed. ‘There have been serious allegations leveled against officials in many, many churches,’ the congressman said, though he added: ‘If this happened in Florida, and if there were members of the Scientology religion who did what they’re alleged to have done, then they should be prosecuted, they need to be brought to justice.'”

Random Howdy

“Tommy must shudder whenever he hears Leah’s name and he imagines what D.M. would be doing to him, if he could, considering his ‘you don’t have the fucking rank’ was a major catalyst in her defection.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentencing on Aug 4.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— 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 sentencing of Masterson on Aug 4.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing August 1.
— 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.

 
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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.

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] ‘Top Gun’ event brings Scientology huge donations from deliriously happy pilgrims
[TWO years ago] Can someone let Tom Cruise know that his Scientology bandleader has died?
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s global virus playacting was supplied by giant California slave labor plant
[FOUR years ago] David Miscavige’s pet projects result in constant fundraising pressure
[FIVE years ago] In Scientology, going Clear is like leasing a car, and David Miscavige is Repo Man
[SIX years ago] HowdyCon: Aussie journalist Steve Cannane’s response to Marty Rathbun
[SEVEN years ago] Why Lisa Marie Presley’s custody battle likely has nothing to do with Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Augustine: Taking a hard look at Scientology’s slush fund, the unlicensed and unregulated IAS
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Nancy Cartwright freak-out edition
[TEN years ago] When Jon Atack Declared David Miscavige a Suppressive Person
[ELEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY ABANDONED BY L. RON HUBBARD’S GRANDDAUGHTER AND DAVID MISCAVIGE’S FATHER

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 29, 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone