Ready to sign your life away, pilgrim? Get a load of this Scientology staff contract

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’ve seen numerous examples of Scientology employment contracts and pledges over the years. But we think this might be what new staff members are signing today as they dedicate themselves to a religion that spells out it won’t have to pay them a dime. Scary. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“‘Charge’ is the electrical impulse on the case that activates the meter. ‘Charge’ shows not only that an area has something in it. It also shows that the pc has possible reality on it. A pc can have a broken leg, yet it might not read on a meter. It would be charged but below the pc’s reality. So it won’t read.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1970

 
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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 [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones

 
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Source Code

“Now, you’re a registrar and somebody is coming in, or you’re signing up PCs. (All of you have to wear a registrar’s hat at one time or another.) And you’re trying to get somebody to get some auditing, you’re a registrar, see? And there you are one fine day with a yow-yow-yow and a scream-scream-scream standing in front of your face: Seventy-five hours of auditing have been delivered — he feels terrible! He says, ‘Oh, I could kill everybody in the place,’ and he ought to go out and sue everybody, and he’s going to inform the government that so on and so on and so on and so on-yap, yap, yap, you never hear such a thing. Don’t worry too much about the threats, because the person totally lacks direction. Person will go halfway down the steps and change his mind and do something else, don’t you see? They’re incapable of carrying forward a program that has any cohesion or direction, see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 28, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“GOOD NEWS: The Governor’s Office of Calif is commending us for the Narco-non and Drug Abuse Campaigns and our effectiveness in this field. This is a second official one only days apart evidently. Also the Gov of Calif’s son is reported planning to join the SO.” — The Commodore, May 28, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“If there is no ethics in the field, then American indies will keep ending up in the wog justice system or ignored completely.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1996: Scientology member Greta Van Susteren is in the news for ambulance chasing the families of the Valujet crash victims. From the Pensacola News Journal: “Relatives of Valujet crash victims in Atlanta reported last week that they were being contacted with offers by the law firm of CNN legal analyst Greta Van Susteren. The packet, which arrived in the mail, included pictures of Van Susteren, the commentator who made her mark as color analyst at the O.J. Simpson murder trial. The packet said Van Susteren’s team would represent the victims for free in exchange for 25 percent of any money recovered from the airline. Taking on such a case could cost $100,000, the packet warns.” A CNN transcript was posted. A few highlights: “ROGER COSSACK: My co-host, Greta Van Susteren’s law firm, Coale and Van Susteren, has been named in news reports as having contacted families of ValuJet crash victims. Today, Greta joins our panel of attorneys and ethicists. Greta, what did your law firm do? GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: OK, first, Roger, let’s get the facts right. When you talk about my law firm, what you’re talking about is the firm that I co-founded with my husband, and which I’m not a partner, but I’m of counsel, which is a very different beast. But nonetheless, what my firm did, and what dozens of other firms do in this country is when there is an accident, is they call up the families and say, ‘Look, would you like to see some brochures about the firms and see what your legal rights may be?’ And the people either answer yes or no. If they answer yes, the material is sent. Dozens of firms do it around the country, and on every major aviation case, all the major aviation firms do it. And the reason they do it is because aviation lawyers have experience, and presumably, the people want experienced lawyers. ROGER: OK, now, when did your firm do this contacting? How soon after the accident? GRETA: That, I don’t know, because, you know, Roger, I’m here every day with you. I don’t know that. I assume, I assume, and I’m just guessing, it was done probably a week after the accident. But frankly, I have no clue. ROGER: All right, now, there’s also the criticism, Greta, that you are trading off your celebrity status in using your name to get clients, or to get these victims of the ValuJet crash. True or not? GRETA: False, and I’ll tell you why, Roger. I have won several multi-million dollar verdicts. I have negotiated millions of dollars in settlements for people. I’m a very good, talented lawyer. I went to a very good law school. I have two law degrees. I’m very proud of my work. No one is so foolish as to think that television has ever, ever promoted anyone’s business. I know that’s a myth. But, Roger, let me ask you, since you’ve been here, and you’ve been here with me for over a year and a half, have you ever gotten one case from being on Burden of Proof or CNN? All we get is the poor soul who is receiving communications through fillings from the CIA, and who desperately needs help, or someone who’s on death row has exhausted every other avenue. Roger, have you ever gotten a case? ROGER: No, I haven’t, Greta, but now one more question. You do put CNN after your name, that you work with me at CNN, we work together at CNN in your brochure. Isn’t that correct? GRETA: Well, it is listed that I am the co-host of Burden of Proof, but that’s certainly no secret. And it’s not something that I have ever thought would attract business. [Commercial break] ROGER: We’re back, talking about lawyer solicitation in the ValuJet Crash. Stephen Gillers, is it ethical for attorneys to contact victims of a plane crash and their family immediately after the event happens? STEPHEN GILLERS, Legal Ethics Professor: It is in most states. It depends upon how the contact is made. Nearly everywhere, a contact by mail, at least regular mail, is appropriate. In some states, you have to wait 30 days, as a result of something the Supreme Court said last year. ROGER: Isn’t there a difference between a phone call and a knock on the door? GILLERS: Well, there is a difference, but a phone call is still improper in every jurisdiction. GRETA: That’s absolutely not true, Steve. GILLERS: Except for two. GRETA: That’s absolutely not true. In Washington, D.C., you can actually do, in fact, in-person solicitation. And they’re even considering it in other states. But the interesting thing, I think, Steve, is that in the state of Florida, the case that you do bring up, they have a rule you can’t contact in Florida for 30 days, which is so interesting, because it does not prevent the insurance companies from going to the people and trying to get them to settle. It’s very interesting how the lawyers are worried about their particular image and in essence, denying the consumer.”

 
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Random Howdy

“I’m from S.F. and the Jonestown massacre happened on November 18, 1978 and the Moscone/Milk assassinations happened on November 27, 1978. So yeah, it was definitely a very strange and stressful time to be living in Frisco. It seemed like Armageddon. My father worked with a guy named Fred Lewis who lost 27 relatives at Jonestown. As far as a Jonestown-like event happening at Gold Base, I find it doubtful, but if the ‘perfect storm’ of mishaps, misadventures, miscommunications took place, like at Waco, it’s possible. I think Miscavige is more the mob boss type than the fanatical cult leader type. That’s a major factor.”

 
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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. 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 May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— 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’s latest fundraising brainstorm: Braveheart and big swords!
[TWO years ago] Chris Shelton interviews Katherine Olson, who only escaped Scientology’s Sea Org last year
[THREE years ago] Ten Days That Shook The (Scientology) World: Dave and Danny’s very bad predicament
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s hammy Grant Cardone and the political operator: A significant connection?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s happy promotions can’t hide the cancer eating away at its core
[SIX years ago] Joy Villa makes it back to the White House, but on a sour note
[SEVEN years ago] Child deaths at a pop concert turn into the latest chance for Scientology to spread its propaganda
[EIGHT years ago] Will Scientology’s celebrities heed the call and show up for today’s big media center opening?
[NINE years ago] Former Scientologist found guilty of defrauding other exes — ALSO: 1998 film re-release
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s drug rehab system hit with tenth federal fraud lawsuit by Las Vegas attorney
[ELEVEN years ago] Garcias Answer Scientology’s Attempt to Disqualify Their Attorneys in Fraud Lawsuit

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 28, 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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