Scientology whines that the Jane Does leaked info worse than Tom Mesereau did

We told you on Tuesday that Judge Upinder Kalra lifted the stay on the Bixler v. Scientology lawsuit and set a tentative trial date for September 2025.

But then on Friday, Scientology filed a pretty wild brief with the court that we knew you’d want to hear about.

It was an objection to a “request for judicial notice” that was filed in August by the Bixler plaintiffs (Danny Masterson’s rape accusers, who are suing Danny and the church for harassment and stalking), asking Judge Kalra to pay attention to something.

What they wanted him to take notice of was what Judge Charlaine Olmedo did back in June when she sanctioned attorneys Tom Mesereau and Sharon Appelbaum for leaking sensitive evidence in Danny Masterson’s criminal case to the Church of Scientology.

That evidence had been gathered by the District Attorney’s office and contained confidential police reports, emails, and other information about the Jane Doe victims, and the DA’s office was obliged to share that evidence with Masterson’s defense team, which at the time was made up of Mesereau and Appelbaum.

Judge Olmedo found that Mesereau and Appelbaum violated a court order when they then shared that sensitive evidence with Scientology attorney Vicki Podberesky.

We can tell you that the prosecutors in the case were stunned and outraged that the evidence had been given to Scientology, which was not a party to the criminal case.

And Judge Olmedo agreed, sanctioning Mesereau and Appelbaum to the tune of $900 each.

We were in the courtroom when Judge Olmedo made that order on June 7. And it was Olmedo’s order, and a transcript of that hearing, that the Bixler plaintiffs sent to Judge Kalra in August, asking him to take notice of it as they now proceed with their civil lawsuit against Masterson and the church.

Well, Scientology is not happy about that. And on Friday they filed a 68-page objection, saying that Judge Kalra should not take notice of Judge Olmedo’s ruling against Mesereau and Appelbaum, and also that he should not take notice of the hearing transcript.

And what is Scientology’s reasoning? They say that Mesereau and Appelbaum did not, in fact, violate any court order, and the proof of that, they say, is that the Jane Does have been leaking information about the case to the press for years.

Examples they submitted as exhibits included stories you’ve seen here at the Underground Bunker.

Oh wow.

So we want to make sure you understand what Scientology is saying here.

They are asking Judge Kalra to ignore the fact that two officers of the court, Tom Mesereau and Sharon Appelbaum, were sanctioned for leaking sensitive prosecution records to the Church of Scientology that included private information about the Jane Does, because the Jane Does themselves decided to share information with the world about what they had been through as rape victims — something, of course, that they have every right to do.

The really strange thing is that Scientology appears to be making the same arguments that Mesereau and Appelbaum’s attorneys did during the June 7 hearing and that didn’t succeed with Judge Olmedo. (Arguing, for example, that there was no court order that Mesereau and Appelbaum violated when they leaked the info.)

Mesereau and Appelbaum might have made those kinds of arguments themselves in an appeal of Judge Olmedo’s ruling, but they dropped their appeals. The sanctions stand.

But here is Scientology taking up their cause, and essentially smearing the Jane Does for speaking up for themselves.

What a bizarre court document this is, even by Scientology standards.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“The only reason anyone has ever left Scientology is because people failed to find out about them.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1962

 
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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 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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman

 
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Source Code

“‘Be three feet back of your head.’ Please tell me why nobody ever said this in the last ump-thousand years. This is fantastic. Because 50 percent, at least, of the people who come in and sit down, I don’t care what their age is — something like this — you say, ‘Be three feet back of your head.’ Sometimes you get the reaction, ‘Why?’ ‘Well, it might be more comfortable outside.’ ‘Might be more comfortable outside! You mean people are inside their heads!’ You would be just amazed how often one gets that reaction. One girl I know was given 125 electric shocks because the psychiatrist found she was outside of her head. Too sane for him.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 2, 1953

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“This evening there will be a cocktail party aboard and 100+ top VIPs are expected as well as one very, very VIP person. The cocktail will be held in the main dining room and will as usual extend into the B Deck Foyer. Therefore body traffic into this area is to be kept to an absolute minimum. Male & Female occupants of B deck cabins are asked NOT to wander up the passageways and into toilets clad only in a towel during cocktail time. Remember that the VIPs will be using these heads. LAST REQUEST: Please try not to hang around the aft quarter deck or Prom decks during the cocktail — many of the guests will be taking a tour to the bridge at some time during the evening. As these requirements have been made publically known in the OODay, there will be no excuse for offenders, and I will take very strong action on any I find. Remember we are TOP EXECS of an INT BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CORP.” — Lt. N.F. Starkey, Captain, October 2, 1971

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“I aligned myself with LRH directly after I read, Scientology: A New Slant on Life. It made such sense. But why it made such sense is explained in that I am a part of a vanguard group of beings who knew that Earth is a very sick planet that will likely spread its contagious illness elsewhere if not stopped here.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1995: An announcement from the Cult Awareness Network was posted this week. Cynthia Kisser reported on a loss in a civil suit to Scientologyy lawyer Kendrick Moxon, representing Jason Scott, accusing CAN of kidnapping. “A jury verdict was delivered September 29 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, following a six-day trial. Scott was represented at trial by
Kendrick Moxon, a minister with the Church of Scientology International, a long time adversary of CAN that had tried unsuccessfully to win dozens of lawsuits against CAN in the past. Moxon was an unindicted co-conspirato in the federal investigation of Scientology in the seventies that lead to the felony convictions of 11 of its high-ranking members, including Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of Scientology founder the late L. Ron Hubbard. Federal judge John Coughenour refused to let CAN introduce any evidenc concerning Scientology into the case, but permitted Scott, over CAN’s objections, to include inflammatory language about CAN’s alleged role in criminal deprogramming. CAN executive director Cynthia Kisser attended the trial and concluded, ‘Scientology used Jason Scott to make false claims to a jury about CAN in an effort to further their well-publicized vendetta to destroy CAN because of its effectiveness in making the public aware of Scientology’s ruthless tactics. The judge’s pre- trial rulings did not permit the jury to learn the truth about Scientology’s part in the litigation, but Scott was not prevented from introducing Scientology’s assertions to the jury about CAN’s alleged involvement in criminal deprogramming’.”

 
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Random Howdy

“I’ve been in a ‘Is that all there is to Scientology?’ mood lately. It comes with the territory.”

 
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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 Sep 7.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, first hearing set for Dec 4.
— 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 Sep 7. Next hearing set for Sept 26.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing Nov 6.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
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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] Clearwater CEO Joy Gendusa recorded sychophantic video for Scientology’s leader
[TWO years ago] Academics who ignore defectors as ‘apostates’ will never see Scientology for what it is
[THREE years ago] New in court docs: Scientology bashes victims’ rights group, trashes Mike Rinder
[FOUR years ago] Scientologists led away in handcuffs after stunning evidence of fraud heard in L.A. court
[FIVE years ago] Clear body, wiped mind: Another woman comes forward about forced abortion in Scientology
[SIX years ago] Another Scientologist becomes instant star with Trump supporters, this time in Puerto Rico
[SEVEN years ago] How Scientology plans to take over the world: By boring us to death, apparently
[EIGHT years ago] An email that demonstrates how much Scientology loves going after the ‘evil psychs’
[NINE years ago] Q&A with Mike Rinder: Understanding the sudden changes at Scientology’s LA complex
[TEN years ago] FORMER SCIENTOLOGY SPOKESMAN TOMMY DAVIS SUBPOENAED BY MONIQUE RATHBUN
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s Georgia Drug Rehab Hit with Double-Barreled Media Onslaught

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 2, 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…

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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