Scientology Jurisprudence | The Underground Bunker

Joey Chait’s sentencing memo: Abused in Scientology’s Sea Org and in fear of wealthy dad

Earlier this month, Joey Chait, 38, was sentenced by a New York federal court to a year in prison for conspiring to smuggle art objects made of rhino horn, ivory, and coral. Joey was in the employ of his father Isadore Chait, whose eponymous I.M. Chait Gallery in Beverly Hills is one of the best […]

Scientology’s appeal denied, trial date to be set in forced-abortion lawsuit

[Laura D, center, celebrating a previous victory in her lawsuit with Marc and Claire Headley]

Laura DeCrescenzo has won yet another victory in her seven-year legal odyssey to sue the Church of Scientology over abuse she claims she suffered during her childhood in the “Sea Organization,” including being forced, she says, to have an abortion at […]

Scientology caves: Fred Haseney avoids court hearing, will take camera to Big Blue tomorrow

[Fred Haseney, with ‘Call Me’ sign, at June 24 ‘Battlefield Earth’ event]

“Fred Haseney has entered into a settlement agreement, and he will be continuing his First Amendment activity around Big Blue,” says attorney Graham Berry, explaining why there will not be a court hearing today over a Scientology lawyer’s request for a restraining order against […]

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s caretaker and friend, Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth, 1945-2016

Sinar Parman, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s former personal chef, revealed on Facebook last night that Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth died yesterday in Michigan of heart and kidney ailments. Pfauth was 70.

Pfauth was a loyal friend to Hubbard and served him as a caretaker and ranch hand in his final years. From 1983 to 1986, Pfauth […]

Forced-abortion lawsuit has a new judge as Scientology appeals ruling on religious grounds

[Laura DeCrescenzo in the Sea Org, circa 1996]

Laura DeCrescenzo’s seven-year forced abortion lawsuit against the Church of Scientology now has a new judge, and a new appeal submitted by the […]

Nearly four years after Stacy Murphy’s death, Scientology files motion to kill much of lawsuit

It’s been nearly four years since Stacy Dawn Murphy, 20, was found dead at Scientology’s flagship drug rehab center, Narconon Arrowhead, in Oklahoma. Two other patients at the clinic had died in just the previous nine months, but it was Stacy’s death that particularly shocked local and national media, leading to a new focus on […]

Maryland county explains why (don’t call it Scientology) can take a hike

The county council in Frederick County, Maryland, is fighting the Church of Scientology in court to keep the church from putting one of its quack drug rehab centers in a former fish camp known as Trout Run.

Readers know we’ve been following this dispute for some time, and that it’s a bit technical. But it’s another […]

Scientology gets judge disqualified in forced-abortion lawsuit and wants recent order voided

[Judge John P. Doyle]

On Tuesday, we told you that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John P. Doyle had submitted a surprising disclosure in Laura DeCrescenzo’s forced-abortion lawsuit against the Church of Scientology. Judge Doyle revealed that he had a first cousin, Greg Smith, who was a Scientologist. In fact, Doyle’s cousins are a longtime, hard […]

Scientology responds to Garcia accusations; sexy Virginia congressional candidate visits an org

Scientology has responded to the new accusations by Luis and Rocio Garcia that the church has made it impossible for the couple to abide by federal Judge James Whittemore’s order that they take their accusations of fraud to Scientology’s internal […]

Judge Doyle: I have Scientologists in the family, but I can be impartial in forced-abortion case

A surprising new document showed up in the court file of Laura DeCrescenzo’s forced-abortion lawsuit in Los Angeles. Superior Court Judge John P. Doyle has submitted a detailed disclosure about his ties to family members who are Scientologists. They are his cousins, and in the six-page document Doyle details his interaction with them, which has […]

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