Judge is fed up with sniping between legal teams for Scientology and Leah Remini

We’ve been telling you how after Leah Remini filed her August 2 lawsuit against Scientology for what she says is a yearslong campaign of harassment, Scientology hit back with a motion to strike much of the lawsuit’s material.

Since then, both legal teams have submitted numerous attacks on the other, with Leah’s lawyers, for example, debunking Scientology’s claim that she had “blood on her hands” for a 2019 death of a Taiwanese church security guard in Australia, and accusing one of Scientology’s attorneys, Kendrick Moxon, of witness tampering in an unrelated criminal manner. Scientology has answered those salvos with a declaration from Moxon and from a Taiwanese staffer, answering Remini’s accusations.

And all of it was submitted — hundreds of pages of material — ahead of what was supposed to be a January 9 hearing.

On Friday, however, Judge Randolph Hammock threw up his hands, accusing both sides of submitting filings that may not even be legal, and telling them to stop burying him with more material. He also moved the hearing back a week so he can review all of the lengthy briefs already in the file.

From Hammock’s minute order on Friday…

This Court has begun its extensive review and consideration of the voluminous pleadings which have been filed on both sides in connection with the pending special motion to strike, currently set for hearing for January 9, 2023.

Suffice it to state, this motion presents a vast complexity of legal and factual issues and procedures. Unfortunately, the parties have compounded these inherent complexities by unilaterally and recently filing various pleadings and motions which may or may not be authorized by law, and which, at the very least, are not typically filed in connection to a standard special motion to strike.

See, e.g., Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Portions of Defendants’ Reply (1/3/24); Plaintiff’s Objection to Declaration of Kendrick Moxon in Support of Reply (1/3/24); Plaintiff’s Objection to Declaration of Lynn Farny in Support of Reply (1/3/24); Plaintiff’s Objection to Declaration of Yi-Chen Wan in Support of Reply (1/3/24); and last, but not least, Defendants’ Objection to Plaintiff’s Various Motions to Strike (1/5/24).

Enough is enough.

Judge Hammock probably has enough on his hands deciding some of the more basic issues in the case: Remini says her ability to make a living has been impacted by Scientology’s incessant campaigns against her television shows and podcasts. Scientology doesn’t deny that it has harangued the studios and networks carrying her work, but they say she asked for it by attacking the church since she left it in 2013. She started it, they claim, and what they say about her — calling her a bigot and a racist and a rape apologist — are opinions that are protected by free speech.

But if that wasn’t a large enough question to deal with, the two sides have been filing documents arguing over whether, for example, a Midwest man making threats against Scientology leader David Miscavige was motivated by Remini’s TV show, or whether a man arrested in 2022 for allegedly trying to run over a Scientology security guard in Los Angeles was “inflamed” by Remini. Both sides have used court filings to argue one way or the other, but Judge Hammond clearly isn’t pleased.

We have to admit, the documents have been fascinating, and we’ve spent some time examining them in detail: For example, the declaration by the Taiwanese woman submitted by Scientology didn’t seem to bolster Scientology’s argument at all.

So we’ll have to wait until January 16 for Judge Hammond to wade through it all, and we’re really anxious to see what he comes up with. It sure seems like it will be a crucial early assessment of Leah’s lawsuit.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“The most banal, routine, grind auditing will produce results splendidly. The flighty, undisciplined, Q and Aed, alter-ised fooling about will rapidly ditch the pc. I am putting strong tools in your hands. Don’t play about with them. They might explode on you. Give them the respect they deserve and every case will come up bright and progress rapidly. Something new is here. Just follow the new map even dully and the pc will arrive. Louse it up and it will get awful.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1965

 
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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

“There is nothing more simple than for a fellow to duplicate himself any place in the universe because he isn’t any place in the universe because he is every place in the universe. Any one of you immediately, any one of you immediately answers up to the definition that has been given the anthropomorphic itself entitled God. Any one of you, because you’re everywhere on omniscient and omnipresent, and on the bus, and everything.” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 7, 1954

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“ETHICS: JOHN and DORA HANNIDES are assigned a Condition of Treason for leaving the SO under false pretenses. They may not be audited or trained until they have fully applied the formula. They may not be communicated with. Their only terminal is an Ethics Officer in a Continental Liaison Office or S.O. ship.” — Flag 3rd Mate for L. Ron Hubbard, Commodore, January 7, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“If people think Jesus is God, (he is, but who isn’t), is he the only God? If you want to go the shortest most direct route to God itself, then contact your higher self. There is no route shorter or more direct. But this golden ball is a creation of God that is outside this physical universe, that is YOU. If you contact the golden ball, that is not you, that is a creation of you that is more or less the eyes of YOU, (the you is the you outside of the physical MEST universe). That creation of you has been heavily damaged and filled with endless millennium of lies, misinterpreted painful experiences hidden to the body itself, disinformation, implants of other entities who are not you and histories that are not you to keep you so disoriented you can never find out who you are. If you want to go direct to source, contact the YOU that is outside this physical MEST universe.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2002: East Bay Express published an article on Jamie Kennedy, the great-grandson of L. Ron Hubbard. “Jamie Kennedy, slam poet, writer, and self-described ‘asshole,’ is the great-grandson of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology. Not that the Scientologists want you to know that. After all, Kennedy does tend to shove Otter Pops up his ass onstage, grabbing his nuts, screaming, and generally making an insane spectacle of himself at his monthly shows at the Stork Club. Then there’s his complete and total denunciation of the so-called religion. ‘My great-grandfather was probably one hundred percent, totally full of shit,’ he says. ‘What’s really impressive about him, in contrast to other religious leaders, is that I don’t think there’s a single word that he ever said that was true.’ Scientology may be full of crap, but Kennedy does share a certain connection with his great-grandpa. Not only does he have Hubbard’s red hair, he also has his oddball charisma. His monthly show, Tourettes Without Regrets, is a poetry, limerick, bare-ass free-for-all under the guise of a slam. On the first Tuesday of every month, folks huddle outside the Stork, waiting to be admitted by their leader. They all file in and sit down, shouting out Kennedy’s name erratically, bringing him to the forefront as the night’s emcee. ‘One description of my great-grandfather was that he was a mix between Adolf Hitler and Baron Munchhausen; in short, he was a con man,’ says Kennedy. ‘I have that DNA pumping through my veins.’ Kennedy has performed at a few anti-Scientology functions, even speaking out on the radio in Clearwater, Florida. Not surprisingly, given his views, Kennedy claims that church members have bugged him in the past. After he performed a piece called ‘Judas’ Son’ at a slam, two men showed up at his mother’s house claiming to be fellow poets throwing a show, Kennedy says. ‘My mom knew from the moment they started talking that they were Scientologists, which they admitted to.’ What they wanted wasn’t exactly clear, but he says the group distributed a press release about him where they called him an ‘anti-religious slam poet.’ ‘Actually,’ laughs Kennedy, ‘I was sort of disappointed. I had heard so often about their extreme character assassinations and smear tactics, I thought it was really pitiful that they couldn’t find anything better. They really don’t want to bring much attention to me, though; I’m a little more dangerous in that I have the blood of the guy and I really just don’t give a fuck. I can speak the truth – that’s the most damaging thing you can do to the church of Scientology.'”

Random Howdy

“Phew, I’m just getting back after sitting in the alley for 2 hours with the cats after some asshole in the building tried to set some other guy’s door on fire. The firemen said we were very lucky the ornament that the asshole tried to start the fire with went out otherwise we would have all been toast. Isn’t life grand?”

 
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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 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] PODCAST: Karen de la Carriere says former president of Scientology is in a nursing home
[TWO years ago] Scientology celebrates the sheer competence of a superpower OT 8, and so will we
[THREE years ago] Eyewitness: David Miscavige presided at New Year’s Eve party at Scientology’s Flag Land Base
[FOUR years ago] Henning Heldt, 1945-2020: Scientology’s 1970s spymaster went to prison for L. Ron Hubbard
[FIVE years ago] A Scientologist on trial for double murder: A story the church is very nervous about
[SIX years ago] When two political longshots spar over Joy Villa and Scientology, everyone wins
[SEVEN years ago] Phil and Willie Jones launch a new effort for billboard about Scientology disconnection
[EIGHT years ago] AUDIO: Hear Scientology boast about the $5.7 million it got from Google in free ads
[NINE years ago] The new Scientology ad running on TV — and maybe for the Super Bowl
[TEN years ago] See Scientology’s new TV ad before it’s released — and more IAS gala video!
[ELEVEN years ago] John Sweeney Talks The Church of Fear, Which Comes Out Today

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 7, 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