Last month, we told you that Leah Remini submitted proof that she’d made another set of attempts to notify Scientology honcho David Miscavige that she’s suing him by sending out process servers to perform “substitute service” on the elusive church leader.
Last month, we told you that Leah Remini submitted proof that she’d made another set of attempts to notify Scientology honcho David Miscavige that she’s suing him by sending out process servers to perform “substitute service” on the elusive church leader.
Leah filed her lawsuit on August 2 against Miscavige and the Church of Scientology (in the form of Church of Scientology International and the Religious Technology Center). She’s alleging that she’s been harassed and defamed for years by Scientology, which has interfered with her ability to make a living.
Like he has numerous times before, Miscavige responded by sending attorneys who tell the court they’re making “special appearances” outside of the lawsuit itself, claiming that Miscavige has never been properly served.
For our foreign readers in particular, this has been a very strange concept: Miscavige responds to lawsuits by sending attorneys to argue that he is unaware that he’s being sued because no one has officially notified him of it. Such is the way litigation works in this country.
For her part, Leah has made extra efforts to serve Miscavige by having process servers approach employees at key Scientology facilities, giving them copies of the lawsuit.
And now, Miscavige’s personal attorney, Jeffrey Riffer, has once again come back with his usual angry style, saying that Remini is wasting everyone’s time because once again she’s focusing on a place that is not where David Miscavige lives or works.
OK, before we go any further into Riffer’s riffing, let’s get something straight.
David Miscavige, according to the church’s own publications and websites, is the chairman of Scientology’s subsidiary the Religious Technology Center (RTC).
And according to Scientology’s own websites, RTC’s official address is 1710 Ivar Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028.
As for Miscavige himself, there are very few official records which list an address for him. But there’s simply no question that in 1991 and again in 1995, he was cited for speeding in Pinellas County, Florida (where Clearwater is, and Scientology’s “spiritual mecca” the Flag Land Base) and both times his home address was listed as 6331 Hollywood Blvd, Apt 1100, Hollywood, CA.
Well, now, here’s an interesting thing about those two addresses, RTC’s headquarters at 1710 Ivar Avenue, and Dave’s address at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard…
They’re both the same place.
The Hollywood Guaranty Building at the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Ivar Ave is a key Scientology property. On its ground floor it houses the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition, a garish display of affection for Scientology’s founder. But up on the 11th floor, according to many former Sea Org employees, is the nerve center for RTC.
Both 6331 Hollywood Blvd and 1710 Ivar Ave are entrances in the same building.
So, according to what few public records there are, this is the best evidence for one location, at least, where David Miscavige lives or works.
We understand that he’s probably not around there much these days. The only verified recent public appearances of the man, according to Scientology’s own publications, are at graduation ceremonies and other events at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida (2021-2023), the IAS gala at East Grinstead, England (November 2023) and at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on December 16.
But if you’re a process server looking to complete “substitute service” on the evasive David Miscavige by placing court papers with one of his employees, you’re basically on solid ground to attempt it at either the Hollywood Blvd or Ivar Ave entrances of the HGB.
And that’s exactly what Leah Remini did this last time, with her process servers focusing their efforts there.
But now, Miscavige’s surly personal attorney Jeffrey Riffer is back with his usual bombast, ridiculing Leah for wasting everyone’s time at a location that is not where Dave lives or works…
Plaintiff Leah Remini (“Plaintiff”) is a former Church of Scientology parishioner. She was expelled from Scientology for serious misconduct. Ever since, Plaintiff has made a career of publicly attacking her former religion and Mr. Miscavige personally. This lawsuit is just her latest effort to harass Mr. Miscavige.
Plaintiff’s prior insufficient attempts at service of Mr. Miscavige in this action are already the subject of a pending motion to quash. Apparently realizing that her purported service was invalid, Plaintiff sent process servers to allegedly attempt service of Mr. Miscavige at two additional locations, neither of which is Mr. Miscavige’s home nor usual place of business.
Riffer submits numerous declarations and spills plenty of ink claiming that Leah’s process servers didn’t do what they said they did, and then once again repeats that she’s simply not going to the right place…
Plaintiff cannot manufacture diligence merely by returning to the same improper address multiple times. Plaintiff’s process servers claim to have attempted personal service at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard and/or 1710 Ivar Avenue six to eight times between October 30 and December 12, 2023….None of these purported attempts were valid because these addresses are not Mr. Miscavige’s usual place of abode, dwelling place, or usual place of business.
Of course, Riffer doesn’t offer what place is Dave’s usual abode these days.
But again, the public records that do exist contradict Riffer and point to the HGB as the place to attempt to serve Miscavige. And we’ll remind you that last year, a similar effort to serve Miscavige by Valeska Paris’s attorneys also focused on the HGB as well as some other locations, and she was successful having a federal magistrate judge in Tampa declare that Miscavige was purposely evading service, and that those efforts were sufficient to declare Miscavige a defendant in Valeska’s labor trafficking lawsuit. (Sadly, a few weeks later the district judge in that case granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration, derailing the lawsuit, but the fact remains that Miscavige was found to be evasive, and he was named an official defendant, in part because of efforts to serve him at the HGB.)
So the upshot is, Riffer is going to Rifferize like he always does, and he and his client Dave will continue to pretend that he hasn’t been properly notified that he’s being sued.
Soon, however, Riffer is going to run up against Judge Randolph Hammock — on February 14, in fact — and after our experience observing Judge Hammock last week in Los Angeles, Riffer and Dave may be in for a shock. If Judge Hammock again relies on “common sense” as he did last week, well, maybe some of this nonsense will finally go away.
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Care should be taken not to get too enthusiastic in going far back track on the pc as you run into whole track implants etc, easily handleable only at Level V. The pc can get ‘over whumped’ if you go too far back and you’ll wish you hadn’t. This normally happens however, only when the pc has been ARC Broken by the Auditor, when the right item has been by-passed and the list is overlong, or when 2 or 3 items are still reading on the list (incomplete list).” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1965
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 [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
——————–
“One time there was a fellow I knew. He was a mining engineer. A good friend of mine. He was an educated classmate at GW. And then went out west and took a post graduate course at Boseman. And this boy was kicking around the mining camps, and all due respect to womankind at large, the better women do not hang around mining camps. But he decided to get romantic and he got married. And he married a woman straight out of the cribs. That is to say, she was, for sale, and had been for years. But, what do you know? Fantastically enough, she made him a good wife and everybody was very fascinated with this. They went up in the mountains, he did a lot of prospecting for Anaconda Copper and they, looking over old properties and so on, and oh, it went along all right. He was living a rather rough life and a lot of privation in it and a lot of loneliness and so forth, so everything was OK. He finally quit Anaconda Copper on the thought that there were some lodes that went out from a very famous mine which had been closed down, which might still be active. Well that was a very lonely part of the country, too. And he went down there with this woman and he prospected around and by golly, he uncovered the most enormous quantity of five dollar rock. And away he goes. Well boy, he’d exceeded her rate of havingness. Bang! And you talk about a mess. He was in more trouble in less time than he’d been for years. Interesting, oh she went completely haywire. Just went off the deep end. Well what had happened there, he’d all of a sudden become well off. He had about a half a million dollars in the bank. He all of a sudden was driving Cadillacs and she was able to wear fur coats and that sort of thing. That was just the end. Just went completely to pot. Went out, slept with anything that came along. Just stole money, did anything.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 26, 1954
——————–
“OVERBOARDS: BOB SEWELL is assigned overboard blindfolded for not returning to work until 1100 hrs, after he had gone Overboard at 07.55 hrs. He did not give me an explanation and was reported to me as eating cookies and drinking coffee while he was supposed to be working and still in a condition of Non Existence.” — W.O. Alex Sibirsky P.P.F. I/C, January 26, 1969
——————–
“I popped completely out of this universe to a void of complete nothing. It would be like going from all noise to complete silence on EVERYTHING. Can’t feel body weight or the matter energy space and time of any part of the physical universe. An instant after being in the void I pop back into the physical universe around 750 AD and everything turns on again with the exception is I am out of body in that lifetime looking down at castle in France or England. Took a look and popped completely out of that time back into the void of nothing and then back into the full MATTER ENERGY SPACE AND TIME IMPACT to PT, (present time). It is like nothing you can imagine unless you did it. turning everything off completely and then everything on completely.”
——————–
2000: Sister 2 Sister magazine carried an interview this month with Scientology celebrity Isaac Hayes about the World Literacy Crusade. “I’m the international spokesperson. It brings literature to the inner city. We feel like the culprit in the demise of the inner city is illiteracy. When a person can’t read or write, they’re a victim. Everyone wants to survive, but counter-survival methods are going out stealing, robbing and car-jacking. If you know how to read and write, you
save it [the world]? Because at the end of the day, we are still the most spiritual people on this planet. We are special because we are spiritual and that’s why I have
taken up Scientology. Because Scientology really knows who we are and it teaches us who we really are, as spiritual beings in this universe. Q. Don’t people think of Scientology as a cult? Of course they do, but they do that out of ignorance. You ask them what Scientology is, they can’t tell you because they don’t know. That’s irresponsible. But there are groups who want to control, and if they find anything that will try to free people, they will try to wipe it out of existence. Scientology will not go away.”
——————–
“Miscavige is downsizing the corporation, cutting his overhead to the barest minimum and consolidating his forces in his last two strongholds, L.A and Clearwater. It makes sense. In Pyongyang most of the office buildings and hotels are empty except for a skeleton staff to make it look good for the occasional tourist or journalist they let in. They’re also there to turn the faucets on occasionally and keep the boiler running. It makes the Generals and the Kims happy, and that’s all that really matters.”
——————–
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. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘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 January 29, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, motion to strike/anti-SLAPP motions by Scientology to be heard January 9, 2024.
— 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: Discovery phase.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
——————–
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] We asked a film critic: What are the odds Tom Cruise gets a statue at the Oscars this year?
[TWO years ago] Scientology wants to know: Why haven’t you signed up to work for them yet?
[THREE years ago] Danny Masterson says he intends to take part in Scientology ‘arbitration’ with alleged victims
[FOUR years ago] Scientology says it’s ‘partnering’ with Miami police for Super Bowl anti-drug quackery
[FIVE years ago] Lucas Catton: ‘Narconon and the Church of Scientology are committing fraud daily’
[SIX years ago] Clearwater city council candidate gets ringing endorsement from a Scientology front
[SEVEN years ago] The new ‘disconnection’ billboard on Sunset Blvd is going to be a Valentine to Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Bryan Seymour challenges Scientology’s ‘Freedom’ magazine to show itself
[NINE years ago] Scientology hits back at Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear’ with predictable smears
[TEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: CCHR’s annual gala — time, place, form, and event!
[ELEVEN years ago] Kima Douglas, 1942-2013
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,791 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,286 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,801 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,351 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,341 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,222 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,526 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,397 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,949 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,291 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,857 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,776 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,944 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,525 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,786 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,822 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,538 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,102 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,417 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,592 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,143 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,274 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,612 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,467 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,586 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,942 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,245 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,351 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,749 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,625 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,190 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,703 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,957 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,066 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on January 26, 2024 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
