We’re still scratching our heads thinking about his January 2020 ruling that derailed Valerie Haney’s lawsuit and directed her to submit her claims to Scientology’s “religious arbitration,” but Judge Richard Burdge Jr at least didn’t add insult to injury by granting Scientology’s request for sanctions.
In a hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday, Judge Burdge denied Scientology’s motion for sanctions, and his reasoning was clear and concise.
So why, we wonder, couldn’t he see how unfair it was to send Valerie back to her abuser with his ruling granting religious arbitration?
We’ll never understand that one. But yesterday’s ruling, sure, it made sense.
Scientology’s attorneys had asked for $160,000 in sanctions because that’s what they say it cost them to respond to the motion for reconsideration that Valerie asked for last March. In that motion Valerie’s attorneys claimed that they had new evidence they wanted Judge Burdge to consider and asked him to overturn his ruling on arbitration.
But Scientology argued that the evidence wasn’t actually new, and they trashed the testimony submitted by former Scientologists Hana Whitfield and Mike Rinder, who tried to convince Judge Burdge that Scientology’s internal arbitration is a sham.
Judge Burdge found that although he was in disagreement with Valerie’s side about the arbitration matter, he didn’t think her asking for reconsideration was done in a frivolous manner.
The court does not find the motion to be so unmeritorious that it should be considered to be frivolous. Also it was not presented primarily for an improper purpose, such as to harass or cause unnecessary delay or needlessly increase the cost of litigation. For these reasons, Moving Defendants’ motion is denied.
Well, that’s a relief. But Judge Burdge is still on the hook for denying Valerie Haney a right to trial and forcing her to take her grievances to an “arbitration” that would be performed by three Scientologists in good standing who, by Scientology policy, would be required to think of Valerie as an evil influence on the church. It’s a joke.
Valerie filed petitions with appellate and the state supreme court asking for a chance to appeal Burdge’s arbitration decision, and was denied both times. She can still appeal his ruling, but she would first have to go through Scientology’s kangaroo court. We’ll try to find out what move she’s going to make next.
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Bonus items from our tipsters
A few items from over the pond…
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“If anybody ever sends you to jail, by all means, go to Alcatraz. They’re tearing it down. I’m just thinking of the Federal government. Even their prisons are going to pieces. Have you, did you know that? We’ve got to audit those people, that’s all there is to it, you know, because they’re in a violent ARC break. Somebody’s missed an item on the US government. I think, personally, they missed it with a no-auditing situation. We haven’t had any plan for auditing the government. We got one president audited. That was Truman. We ain’t had anybody else audited. Now, I just think they’re suffering from no auditing. Course, so of course, that leaves all items missed. And that’s another way of missing items. But it isn’t to a violent state. Somebody must have missed a list or something on the FDA. They must have. They must have. ‘What crumb are you?’ or something like that, something. ‘What type of insect egg did you come out of?’ You know?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 15, 1963
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“Thank you for answering my questionaire on what we should be doing. I can announce as a result of this that we are now doing what the whole crew wants us to be doing. We’re now getting operational so we can accomplish these things. We had a lot to catch up just so we could begin. All right, we’re obviously in agreement. So let’s get the show on the road and get done what we all want to do. Thank you for your help on the Questionnaire and on the ship.” — The Commodore, January 15, 1969
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“Wonder why there is a forced vaccination agenda, forced lockdowns and the United Nations agenda to reduce the population of Earth? Why there are scienos or ex-scienos voting and supporting Joe Biden and his human enslavement agenda of forced vaccinations, more Income Tax and LGBT perversions? LRH explains it all on the taped lecture: The Free Being. He explains that at the beginning, spiritual beings created their puppet societies. Then those spiritual beings taught their puppet societies how to entrap other spiritual beings. At the end those puppet societies ended up entrapping all the free beings, including the ones that created them (you). And finally LRH describes the method to reverse this cycle of entrapment and recover the Free Beings. He also describes the structure of the new society that is going to incorporate the Free Beings in harmony with the puppet societies.”
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1999: Ron Newman was the target of revenge actions from Scientology following the Boston protest. A Scientologist invaded his workplace to distribute fliers, and he received two threatening emails. “Around 4 pm EST Monday afternoon, a man suddenly barged into a business meeting at my place of work and began handing out the following flyer to everyone in the meeting. I was not at this meeting.
‘Ron Newman
Unmasking a Religious Bigot
[Picture of me] [Picture of Alfred E. Neuman]
Ron Newman / Alfred E. Neuman
Separated at Birth?
…We feel Newman’s religious bigotry against our Church, which he has never been associated with, is Un-American. The United States was founded on religious tolerance and abhors religious persecution. Isn’t it time for Ron Newman to put an end to his bigotry?”
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“You don’t have to go up the Bridge to achieve a position of power in Scientology. All you have to do is be a wily, conniving, ruthless asshole. Just like every other totalitarian organization in history.”
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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 20.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 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. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— 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] Woman named in Danny Masterson lawsuit denies she’s smearing his victims for Scientology
[TWO years ago] LEAH REMINI WILL AIR EPISODE WITH DANNY MASTERSON’S ACCUSERS ON FEBRUARY 18
[THREE years ago] Joy Villa’s former manager: ‘Scientology destroyed everything’
[FOUR years ago] On the ‘Leah Remini’ Reddit special this week: A powerful Texas duo
[FIVE years ago] Explain your vote, judge tells Maryland county that denied Scientology rehab
[SIX years ago] Scientology takes out full-page ad in the New York Times to attack Alex Gibney
[SEVEN years ago] Cheese from Scientology’s mecca, raspberries from Éire, and a Puerto Rican dessert!
[EIGHT years ago] Buzzfeed Takes a Close Look at Scientology’s “Ideal Org” Financing
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Get Your Harem On!
[NINE years ago] How Not to Protest Scientology
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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 2,182 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,686 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,206 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,226 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,117 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,424 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,292 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,066 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,870 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,186 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,752 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,671 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,839 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,420 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,681 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,719 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,432 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,957 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 312 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,487 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,038 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,187 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,507 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,362 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,481 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,837 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,140 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,246 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,648 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,520 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,103 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,598 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,852 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,961 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 15, 2021 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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
