More than a year after Danny Masterson’s rape accusers filed a lawsuit claiming that they’ve been harassed by the Church of Scientology since coming forward to the LAPD in 2016, Scientology’s leader David Miscavige, who was named in the suit, still hasn’t been served to make him an official defendant.
Last time we checked, the plaintiffs had asked the court to serve Miscavige by publication, which would entail taking out an ad in a newspaper as a last resort.
And now Scientology’s entity the Religious Technology Center, where Dave is chairman of the board, has filed a typically shrill opposition, and we knew you’d want to see it.
Scientology’s main argument is that the court shouldn’t allow service by publication as a last resort because the plaintiffs and their attorneys haven’t tried hard enough to find Miscavige.
RTC attorney Matthew Hinks says that since the second amended complaint was filed six months ago, the legal team for Chrissie Carnell Bixler and the other women haven’t tried at all to serve the Scientology leader.
Plaintiffs purport to justify the motion on the sole basis that its prior service attempts have been unsuccessful. That is not sufficient grounds to permit service by publication. Plaintiffs have not shown, as they must under CCP § 415.50(a), that Mr. Miscavige “cannot with reasonable diligence be served in another manner” because there is little question that Plaintiffs have not been diligent at all. In connection with the Court’s ruling on Mr. Miscavige’s motion to quash in March 2020, this Court held that Plaintiffs never served Mr. Miscavige with the original summons and complaint. At the conclusion of that hearing, Plaintiffs’ counsel represented to the Court that he will “get Mr. Miscavige served.” But, in the subsequent six months, Plaintiffs took no steps to effectuate service, either personally or through substitute service.
(Emphasis in the original.) What that argument leaves out, of course, is that in those last few months, Scientology was playing games over whether they’d just sign a document accepting service on behalf of Miscavige, which they ultimately didn’t do.
And to remind you of what we reported earlier, Chrissie’s attorneys originally attempted to have Miscavige served at 6331 Hollywood Blvd, also known as the Hollywood Guaranty Building, where Miscavige has an office on the 11th floor. Former Scientologists have told us that he also has a place to spend the night there, and Leah Remini said that when she mailed cards to Shelly Miscavige before Shelly vanished in 2005, she was told to use that address.
However, Scientology objected to that attempt at service, saying that Dave’s RTC office is actually located at 1710 Ivar Avenue, and we pointed out that this is simply a different entrance to the same building. As Chrissie’s attorneys have explained to the court, the 6331 Hollywood Boulevard entry has a lobby and a reception desk, but 1710 Ivar Ave has only a locked door going into an elevator, and no person that papers could be left with.
In other words, Scientology has been playing games all along, and we wonder how long the judge is going to put up with it. In this latest brief, they’re saying that since the attorneys for Chrissie “confirmed” Miscavige’s 6331 Hollywood Blvd address with a BeenVerified search, then that actually disqualifies their ability to do service by publication which can’t be done, they say, if you know the person’s address.
This is all very cute and entertaining, but for how long will Judge Kleifield put up with Scientology’s nonsense?
Here’s the document itself. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on it…
Bixler v. Scientology: RTC … by Tony Ortega
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We doubted it, but here’s evidence that the Sea Org is taking over remote orgs
On Sunday we had a conversation with Chris Shelton about reports that the Kansas City Scientology Ideal Org had been denied the use of a Kansas City, Kansas building that it wanted to turn into a dormitory for its workers. The two of us said it was another sign that Scientology is hurting, and that its own workers have to be flown in from other places and can’t afford housing prices when they’re being paid so little.
But we each doubted the speculation by some that it meant that the KC org was becoming a “Sea Org Org,” and that the dormitory was needed for Sea Org workers who make only pennies an hour. It seemed far-fetched to us that Scientology leader David Miscavige would be in such straits that he’d need to send Sea Org lifers to run such a remote org as the one in Kansas City.
This week, however, we got a look at more postings in an internal Scientology social media feed, and found this item, which has us rethinking our earlier position…
Seventy Sea Org staffers at an Ideal Org in Columbus, Ohio? Well now, maybe it isn’t so far-fetched that Kansas City has also become a Sea Org Org, and Scientology needs housing for its dedicated lifers who make pennies an hour.
And imagine signing a billion-year contract in order to join Scientology’s war to take over the world, and you’re assigned to route in bodies for Comm Courses in places like central Ohio and Kansas City.
This planet will be cleared in no time.
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“Somebody made a horrible mistake over at the FCDC the other day, by mentioning ‘between lives’ during the church service and learned immediately that he should have kept his mouth very shut.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 25, 1963
“The USA Democratic supporters have got the R6 implant keyed in. And to think that some people want to skip OT III.”
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“I’m guessing the Urban Land Institute isn’t aware they’re dealing with a posse of lunatics.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 5 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 29 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
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 our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Hiding in plain sight: how Scientology nearly got away with its 1970s espionage campaign
[TWO years ago] Scientology rewards the celeb who bolted when her co-star went rogue
[THREE years ago] Paul Haggis: Rathbun does what I feared, and outs ex-Scientologist we vowed to keep secret
[FOUR years ago] Scientology in Ireland is nearly dead: Here’s how Tom Cruise & the gang plan to bring it back
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s showdown in Belgium: Here’s our plan to cover an epic battle
[SIX years ago] What the Boston Globe left out of its story on Scientology yesterday
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Drug Rehab Shut Down in Georgia, Ordered to Turn Over Records in Oklahoma
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,071 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,575 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,095 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,115 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,006 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,313 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,181 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,955 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,759 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,075 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,641 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,560 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,728 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,309 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,570 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,608 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,321 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,846 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,376 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,936 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,076 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,396 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,251 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,370 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,726 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,029 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,135 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,537 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,409 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,992 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,487 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,741 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,850 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 25, 2020 at 07:00
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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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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
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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
