Is it another un-Ideal weekend for Scientology? What gives, Dave?

 
We can still hear the roaring from the crowd, cheering their dear leader, David Miscavige, who told his followers in November and December that he would have the Paris Ideal Org open in January, and three more were coming by February in Austin, Chicago and Mexico City.

But how is that working out?

January has come and gone, and no grand opening has occurred in Paris as far as we know. Alex Barnes-Ross has been keeping an eye on it, and he tells us there’s not even a grand opening date set that he can see.

In Austin, a permit has been taken out for February 24, and our helper went by to photograph the place and found that at least it looks a little cleaned up from the last time we saw it.

But a closer look shows that it’s still not really any closer to being opened. We have serious doubts about a Feb 24 event, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

As for Chicago, it’s the same sad story there, with our helper there showing that it really hasn’t changed in appearance. And who wants to go to Chicago in February anyway?And we’re hoping soon to have some images from Mexico City, where its second Ideal Org, called Del Valle, is supposed to be among these four imminent additions. But otherwise, we haven’t heard anything about an opening happening there soon.

What’s up, Dave? At this rate, you’re going to be telling everyone at the New Year’s 2025 event that you’re about to open these up. And sadly, you’ll get just as big a roar then, of course.

 
In other news, we have been taking a closer look at some court papers that were filed this week, and we have a couple of tidbits we thought you would find interesting.

First, although Judge Randolph Hammock did not rule on Scientology’s motion to strike and anti-SLAPP motion in Leah Remini’s lawsuit, he did, however, fill in some paperwork which included a trial date.

It’s subject to change, of course, but for now, mark your calendars: Leah Remini vs. Scientology is scheduled for trial beginning October 21, 2025, and the judge estimated it would take “10 to 30” days. Whew, that’s a long one.

That date, by the way, is only a few weeks after the scheduled start of the Bixler v. Scientology lawsuit filed by Danny Masterson’s victims, which is slated to begin on September 22, 2025. Can you imagine the chaos if they end up overlapping?

Speaking of the Bixler case, we found something interesting in a case management report filed by an attorney for the Jane Doe plaintiffs. That lawsuit is also facing an attempt to derail it with a motion to strike and anti-SLAPP from Scientology, and things are on hold until the judge can rule on it, as soon as this week.

But once that’s done and, assuming the case continues, this is what Scientology is asking the Jane Does to turn over in discovery requests…

On Bixler, 27 sets of Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions, Request for Production of Documents; on [her husband, Cedric] Bixler-Zavala, 18 sets of Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions, Request for Production of Documents; Jane Doe 2, 6 sets of Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions, Request for Production of Documents; on Riales 13 sets of Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Requests for Admissions, Request for Production of Documents.

They have asked for 30 days after the case resumes in order to put all that information together. (Jane Doe 1 is not mentioned here because she has a different attorney and will file separately.)

This is just a reminder, suing Scientology is no joke. Having to turn over all of this information and answer Scientology’s intrusive questions may not be quite as harrowing as being cross-examined in a criminal trial (which the Jane Does had to endure three separate times), but it’s no fun, either.

Here’s what we have coming up in the next week with these lawsuits…

— Bixler v. Scientology: Tuesday, February 13, Scientology’s motion to strike will be heard as they attempt to derail this lawsuit, which was filed by Danny Masterson’s victims back in 2019. The plaintiffs, meanwhile, have asked Judge Upinder Kalra to allow a new amended complaint that will add another victim and also civil racketeering charges to the lawsuit, and that is scheduled for February 29.

— Leah Remini v Scientology: Wednesday, February 14, Judge Randolph Hammock will hear arguments about whether David Miscavige has been served. Considering what just went down in the Jane Doe 1 case (which used the same process servers as Leah), we are now wondering if Leah is going to run into the same problem. A journalist friend of ours in LA said that Hammock will have to rule the same way Judge Robert Broadbelt did in the Jane Doe 1 case and order Leah to make even more efforts to find Miscavige as “that’s the law, unfortunately.”

— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology: Friday, February 16, Scientology will try to force Jane Doe 1’s forced-marriage lawsuit into arbitration. Judge Broadbelt agreed with David Miscavige’s attorney Jeffrey Riffer about quashing service, will he go along with Scientology on this issue as well?

Wow, all three cases have hearings this week, and all three are pretty big. Are you ready?

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Anyone who is using the words “earlier”—”later” in dating, words which are not to be found in any E-Meter Drill, is not only guilty of alter-ising Tech, but will grind his student or preclear into the Bank, since these words also occur in the Bank and are therefore forbidden.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1966

 
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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

“Now be god as an infinite blackness, concentrated upon you, a thetan. Get how all powerful and how out-swelling you are, concentrated upon you, a thetan. Get what your regard for this thetan is. Now be very saintly as you crush its life out, and trap it forever. Oh, be saintly about it. OK. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 10, 1954

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“Now that we know about 3rd Dynamic Admin TRs it becomes obvious to see where they are out. LA area falsifies its stats by double-including bounced checks — once when first offered, once when collected. With no Debit invoice in between. Out TRs in accepting such a check. Out TRs in the simple matter of confronting an invoice enmest area. Out TRs in telling a Treasury staff member to DO IT RIGHT. Nobody even goes in and yells. Wherever there’s a lousy mess, somebody’s admin TRs are out. Getting something done is basic confronting. You can’t string beads well behind your back.” — The Commodore, February 10, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Scientology really has helped me to become the god I am. I think a lot comes down to taking control of that surfboard (your mind) and surfing it into the parallel universe which interests you. If you understand that there’s probably millions of parallel universes and millions of versions of you and me, then this explains how we can always think something then pop into the universe where that is the case. Its like a computer game that’s got so many mission variations already coded on the CD that you can just select with the cursor whatever experience or mission you want and then it will occur. It’s the ultimate game, endless entertainment. We are universe surfing always anyway even if we don’t believe in it, it’s just that people are surfing into parallel universes where they are powerless, where they can’t affect the physical universe, that’s probably why the powers that be keep trying to scare us, they are getting us to go into and stay in the universes where we are powerless.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2001: Bob Minton reported on the trial of Mark Bunker, accused of trespassing on Scientology property during the filming of two Chicago Scientologists applying for a refund. “Monday a jury was selected and the trial started late in the day with the prosecutor and one of Mark’s attorneys, Denis deVlaming making their opening arguments. Present for Scientology’s mafia-like cult was the former Mafia lawyer for the Gambino’s, now Scientology’s in house legal counsel, Elliott Abelson accompanied by Mary Ann Ahmad, OSA Chicago, Pam Valinski, OSA New York, and 2 OSA Int guys. The morning consisted of the prosecutors case starting with testimony of Mary Ann Ahmad who in typical OSA fashion stumbled and mumbled her way through the events on the night of the incident. During cross-examination by deVlaming Ahmad had some trouble explaining how a notary public could get the date wrong by a month on a document the Scientologists had submitted in the case. The 2 off-duty cops were not credible at all according to the report I got and did not hold up well under cross by Aimen. After that the defense team of deVlaming and Aimen presented the Zizics and Mark Bunker who were all three credible, compelling and believable witnesses. At 3:45 PM Chicago time the defense rested and the prosecutor brought a rebuttal witness. The Judge went through instructions to the jury and at 4:35 Chicago time the jury was charged to decide the case. At 5:00 PM sharp the jury came back and announced a verdict of NOT GUILTY.”

 
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Random Howdy

“This idea that we’re going to gently coax these people out of the cult is rubbish. Let’s say there are 15,000 to 30,000 left in the world, do you realize how long this method would take? Your average ‘good’ Scientologist isn’t interested in having a conversation with any wog any more than your average ISIS, Taliban, Al-Qaeda member is interested in having a conversation with an Infidel. A fanatic is a fanatic.”

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.

 
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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] Scientology turns you into a fundraising dynamo — you know you want this energy!
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: Sure you don’t want to join Scientology staff? These people seem pretty stoked.
[THREE years ago] Scientology at its peak: A 1991 confidential briefing to take you into orbit with OT secrets!
[FOUR years ago] Another dog poisoned: Bobette Riales says harassment worse since suing Scientology
[FIVE years ago] An Austin Powers Scientology party? Sure, anything to get locals to fork over cash
[SIX years ago] Come on, people. Even Star mag’s own article doesn’t claim Tom Cruise has left Scientology.
[SEVEN years ago] Can a celebrity Scientologist like John Travolta really commit murder under the rules?
[EIGHT years ago] On the 8th anniversary of the Anonymous protests, more signs of Scientology’s desperation
[NINE years ago] ‘You encourage people to leave the Church of Scientology’: The Mike Rinder deposition
[TEN years ago] MEDIA ADVISORY: Stop saying that Scientology is infested with big movie stars already
[ELEVEN years ago] Tom Cruise Can Raise the Dead! …And More Scientology Sunday Funnies

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 10, 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone