Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven J. Kleifield, like his colleague Judge Richard Burdge, has found that former Scientologists trying to sue the church over allegations that they were harassed years after they left it have no right to trial because of contracts they signed as members of the organization. In this case, the plaintiffs are rape accusers of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson who had sued the church and the That ’70s Show actor over what they claim was a campaign of stalking and libel since they came forward with their sexual assault allegations.
Judge Kleifield granted the Church of Scientology’s motions to compel religious arbitration, staying the lawsuit in the case of the former Scientologists — Chrissie Carnell Bixler, her husband Cedric Bixler-Zavala, and two women going by the names Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2. The lawsuit continues for the fifth plaintiff, Bobette Riales, who was never a Scientologist.
This does not affect Danny Masterson’s criminal case, which is an entirely different matter. This only regards the civil lawsuit that four of his rape accusers had brought (and the husband of one of them) regarding harassment since they came forward to the LAPD with their rape allegations.
We just got our hands on Kleifield’s decision and we’ll post it here so you can go through it in detail. Despite the questions he raised about Scientology’s position in regard to federal law, in the ruling he finds that the contracts are legitimate, that the Scientologists did promise to take any dispute to arbitration rather than court no matter how far into the future, that it doesn’t violate their First Amendment religious rights to submit to the arbitration because it is not a religious ritual, and that he can’t judge the conscionability of the contracts because that would require him to wade into Scientology’s religious rights.
It’s a slam dunk. Scientology has once again derailed a major lawsuit through the use of its contracts, which former top officials like Mike Rinder have testified were designed to be sham ploys to keep former members from justice. Incredible.
Here’s the document:
Bixler v. Scientology: Order on Motions to Compel by Tony Ortega on Scribd
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“Sixty-three was the year I had to do all the research work. I’ve sacrificed everything now. The other day, the other day, not too long ago, I was outside taking a look at the dawn and it was a great relief. The Van Allen belt is nice and warm and you can sit in the Van Allen belt amongst the radiation that’s supposed to be so harmful. It’s nice that it’s there. It holds in the warm air, you know, and you can put out your beams and warm your hands. And rain clouds are absolutely beautiful there. They’re almost as good as a drink of Coca-Cola. And you can get into the ice crystals of a rain cloud and it’s very nice. It’s very nice. It’s cooling, refreshing, you know, like taking a cold shower on a hot summer day. And all of a sudden you’re not stricken by these fantastic temperature reactions. See, you’re in a body, you see, you get a temperature difference of ten degrees up or ten degrees down and you’re kind of miserable, you know? And outside, you get a temperature differential of two hundred degrees centigrade up and two hundred degrees centigrade down — it makes a nice change!” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 31, 1963
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“DIV VI: Win! Al Bornstein now head of Div VI has turned out the basic first step of a PR division — its different publics — and issued the test FSO on them. What a nice thing to see. Standard Div actions!” — The Commodore, December 31, 1970
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“I think one of the things that got us in trouble way back was to make Scientology ‘Mainstream’ or by trying to gain ‘acceptance,’ which I believe is one of the reasons so many are buying into this ‘Ideal Org’ money laundering scam. They think by putting up these ostentatious edifices it will attract the ‘right’ kind of people to Scientology. What it’s basically attracted are a bunch of elitists who look at Scientology as a tax write off and the deluded types who believe that if they Solo enough NOTs that the world will somehow magically change before their eyes. ‘Led’ by some guy who couldn’t find his way to the rest room….I’m not saying miracles can’t occur, I do believe that the release of OT VIII definitely had something to do with the fall of the Berlin Wall. That said the fact is that many if not most of the first OT VIIIs were in fact auditor trained. Unlike the current bunch of untrained status-hungry by-passed cases who are now in the Church these days endlessly ‘auditing’ ‘the level’ who couldn’t even get a chameleon to change color in. Many of these ‘False Threes’ do more to discredit Scientology then all the bad press and media combined.”
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1997: The secret agreement signed by Scientology and the Internal Revenue Service in 1993 was made public this week by the Wall Street Journal. “The Church of Scientology paid the federal government $12.5 million as part of a broad 1993 settlement with the Internal Revenue Service under which the church’s main branch secured its tax-exempt status. According to a copy of the settlement, details of which have never before been made public, the church also agreed to set up a special ‘church tax-compliance committee,’ composed of high-level church officials, to monitor its adherence to the pact and to laws governing nonprofit organizations.”
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“Well Sherbet, it doesn’t look like this tired ole punk is going to make it to midnight, so a ‘HAPPY NEW YEAR’ to you and the the rest of the Degenerates and a ‘Big, Big Love’.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
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 writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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 2019: Another year is in the books at the Underground Bunker!
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s 2018: Another year is in the books at the Underground Bunker!
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s 2017: Another year is in the books at the Underground Bunker!
[FOUR years ago] LEAKED AUDIO — Scientology’s New Year’s event 2017: ‘Welcome to Scientology forever!’
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s 2015: Another year is in the books at the Underground Bunker!
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s 2014 in review: So long to another great year in the Bunker!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s 2013 in review: The Super Power-ful finish to an eventful year
[EIGHT years ago] John Sweeney and Marc Headley Visit Scientology’s Odd New Mexico Vault
[NINE years ago] Scientology Spectacular: Commenters of the Year!
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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 2,167 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,671 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,191 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,211 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,102 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,409 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,277 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,051 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,855 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,171 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,737 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,656 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,824 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,405 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,666 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,704 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,417 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,942 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 297 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,472 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,023 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,172 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,492 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,347 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,466 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,822 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,125 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,231 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,633 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,505 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,088 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,583 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,837 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,946 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 31, 2020 at 16:30
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, 1995-2019 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, 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
