Danny Masterson/Scientology civil suit gets a hearing date, Val Haney gets new judge

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: The civil lawsuit against Danny Masterson and Scientology gets a big hearing date, Val Haney gets a new judge in her case, we have the trailer for the new France5 documentary coming, and there’s a big announcement about — could it really be? — yes, HowdyCon 2026! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Almost every modern horror crime was committed by a known criminal who had been in and out of the hands of psychiatrists and psychologists often many times. There is no particular reason to enumerate endless case histories of this: they occur too frequently in news accounts and the newspaper morgues are thick with them. And as such stories develop it is found that the perpetrator had a long history, some even from childhood, of psychiatric and psychological treatment. Such a record of failure does not seem to come to the attention of legislators and these continue to pour floods of money into the coffers of the psychiatrists, psychologists and their organizations. The public at large, by survey, seems to be aware of this state of affairs if not the whole facts: the only real customers the psychiatrist and psychologist have are the governments—the public does not of its own volition go to them. The most charitable look at this would be that the psychologists and psychiatrists are simply incompetent. But other more sinister implications can be drawn.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980

 
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Source Code

“You know girls are pretty high-toned ordinarily. You can never quite tell about a girl. You’re liable to meet her on Wednesday and her name is Elizabeth, and you’re liable to meet her on Monday and her name is Jessie, see. She changes her name very easily. Not only that, they get married and change their names. They do change their names. We do know that. Girl, up to the time she’s seventeen, has been very, very well — nicely known as Clarissa, you see, and she didn’t like that and you meet, next time you meet her she’s twenty-two and she calls herself Butch. There’s no telling what’s going to happen on it. Women do this, probably which accounts for their ability to hold on to a better-looking mock-up than men, because men become factually themselves. At whose assignment?” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 9, 1956

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“We are auditing now at a volume higher than that of any org in the world with a completion rate far in excess of any other 3 orgs. The bruised elbows in getting lines in, the bruised tempers, the hard work is really paying off with the finest auditing ever done anywhere. We are also averaging two or three Clear OTs a day! Come on, other departments and divisions. You’re only expected to be the greatest division or department of your kind anywhere in the world. So fly, you guys, fly!” — The Commodore, February 9, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“OT III is an incredible level — of all the gains I got in Scientology, OT III was my biggest one. Better than the L’s. OT III is fantastic. There are only two problems with OT III, either the student can’t audit, or he’s not quite ready for it. And if he does well on OT II, then he should do fine on OT III as OT II is part of one of the major incidents we run on OT III. I hope you know that.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1996: Keith Henson posted a message from Bruce Hammond in reaction to the latest court victory for Larry Wollersheim. Some excerpts: “Dear Suppressive Persons Scientology bashers and and their minions of ankle biting midgets; You can’t sue LRH because you can’t really collect from a DEAD PHILOSOPHER whose estate has NO MONEY, you can’t sue USIMT because they don’t ever do anything that could jeopardize themselves, you can’t sue RTC because you will lose, AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE MONEY! THE REST OF US DO and we can spend it ANY WAY THAT makes us HAPPY. If you think we are on the ropes you are delusional. As Scientologists WE HAVE NEAR INFINITE RESOURCES; If we need 10 Megabucks for a project then we can raise it in a heart-beat. Stupid attacks like SCAMIZDAT postings or postings of the horrors of THE RPF’s RPF and silly paranoid fantasies about CoS designed to restimulate others and scare newbies from the Greatest Opportunity for Freedom in the Universe, will only earn you a small bit of attention from a sub-unit of RTC and/or OSA. I doubt it will dissuade a single Scientologist worthy of the name from full participation in their religion. Scientologists will no-doubt continue to commit the TERRIBLE CRIME of BEING THERE and COMMUNICATING. If you are one of the ankle-biters duped into playing for the wrong team in this game you may find that we will be where you are, observing it, and communicating it to others who might be interested regardless of your best efforts otherwise.”

 
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Random Howdy

“The difference is real religions admit their beliefs are based on faith, whereas Scientology claims nothing in it is based on belief or faith, but is based on 100 percent proven scientific fact.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for Feb 2.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s respondent’s brief is due February 11.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.

 
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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] Here’s the 2025 Scientology Super Bowl ad — this time it’s ‘The Question’
[TWO years ago] Former Scientology spy goes to spy on future Scientology ‘Ideal Org’
[THREE years ago] Another Chicago Scientology hype video! But is the Saturday ‘Ideal Org’ event happening?
[FOUR years ago] Ford Greene to appeals court: Formally publish the ruling against Scientology arbitration!
[FIVE years ago] The pandemic isn’t over, but Scientology leader David Miscavige is ready for his bow
[SIX years ago] One sure sign a new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ is on the way: the Central Files mayhem
[SEVEN years ago] Thinking of leaving Scientology? Jefferson Hawkins has your roadmap.
[EIGHT years ago] Tory ‘Magoo’ Christman, and how Anonymous went from online war to in-real-life pickets
[NINE years ago] We have your invitation to Scientology’s holiest celebration of the year!
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s thug life, documented: Aaron Smith-Levin shares a record of Sea Org violence
[ELEVEN years ago] Mark Ebner finds Scientology’s rubbish again as Narconon International vanishes!
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s continuing plans for its Super Bowl ad, and more Sunday Funnies
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Mythbusting with Jon Atack: Original Spin

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 9, 2026 at 07:00

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Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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.

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