In March 2020, about a week before the pandemic hit us here in the US, we wrote a story about how a Colorado physician named Chris Centeno was exposing fly-by-night operations selling bogus cures based on what sounded like legitimate, emerging medical technologies. But even if stem cells and other emerging trends [...]]]>

In March 2020, about a week before the pandemic hit us here in the US, we wrote a story about how a Colorado physician named Chris Centeno was exposing fly-by-night operations selling bogus cures based on what sounded like legitimate, emerging medical technologies. But even if stem cells and other emerging trends in medicine held great promise, what these scammers were doing was just downright fraudulent, and the government wasn’t keeping up with it, Centeno argued.

What intrigued us specifically about Centeno’s whistleblowing was that among the bad actors he had identified were a couple of Scientologists. Grant Cardone, for example, Centeno singled out as a huckster who was selling bogus stem cell nonsense to chiropractors, a favorite Scientology target.

And another person Centeno named that we included in that article was Brent Detelich, a Scientologist who was convicted of health care fraud in 2007 but still remained on Scientology’s WISE roster of church-affiliated businesses.

And now, we have another lawsuit to add to our “Full Court Press,” our daily listing of litigation involving Scientologists. Because in August, Detelich and another Scientologist chiropractor, Steve Peyroux, were sued by the federal government and the state of Georgia for running a bogus stem cell operation.

We only recently became aware of the lawsuit thanks to an alert reader, and when we checked we noticed that of course Centeno blogged about it back in August when the lawsuit was filed. (That’s what we get for not keeping an eye on his website since we wrote our story about him.)

Here’s how Centeno described the case against Detelich and Peyroux…

These companies [founded by Detelich and Peyroux] would purchase regenerative medicine products like amniotic tissue, umbilical cord tissue, and “exosomes” and then sell that to chiropractic offices while teaching them how to claim that these were stem cell products and how to sell these to the elderly as miracle cures for various diseases including aging, arthritis, strokes, ALS, etc… They would charge between 5K-20K apiece for these treatments, despite the fact that no clinical research had ever been conducted that these products had stem cells or that they could do what they were claiming…

The state of Georgia and the FTC charged [Peyroux and Detelich] with violating the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act (FBPA) and the FTC Act by making false and misleading claims about the regenerative medicine products they offered to consumers in Georgia. The charges are based on the fact that the pair aggressively marketed various regenerative medicine products to the elderly and there was no credible scientific evidence that what they were selling could help these patients in the way they claimed.

The FTC put out a press release about the lawsuit, but none of the many press stories about the lawsuit have mentioned that both Detelich and Peyroux are longtime Scientologists.

Now that we’ve become aware of the case, we’ll be keeping tabs on the lawsuit, which at this point appears to have begun its discovery phase.

 
Meanwhile, an update in Hollywood: According to Compass Realty, the firm handling the sale of Danny Masterson’s Hollywood Hills home, the offer which had been made on the house in October was withdrawn yesterday. Well, that’s a lump of coal in Danny’s Christmas stocking. He appeared to be so close to getting the $6.9 million he was asking, and he has two new attorneys to pay.

Will no one else step forward to pay for Danny’s Hollyridge Drive estate? Now’s your chance.

 
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Continuing our year in review: The stories of April 2021

April began with an interesting development overseas. Journalist Ben Schneider, writing for The Age, looked into Scientology’s finances in Australia and asked why the US church was spending millions there. We’ve been pointing out for years that Scientology leader David Miscavige has been lavishing funds on places like Ireland and Australia and South Africa where Scientology is on life support, but Schneider’s report, in a major mainstream publication, really hit home. Publications all over Australia picked up the drumbeat, and the Aussie government gave signs that it would look into the matter. Frustratingly, Ben explained to us in an interview, even if they took it on in earnest, it would be in complete secrecy. So we wait patiently to see if the Australian government really is about to turn up the heat there.

We noted the death of Izzy Chait, an OT 8 Scientologists and well known Los Angeles art dealer who had been featured in many stories here. We were especially heartened to learn that Izzy had seen his disconnected son Joey before the end.

The next day, we revealed that one of Saturday Night Live’s up-and-coming cast members, Chloe Fineman, was brought up in Scientology, and showed signs of still being a dedicated member. We followed that with eyewitness testimony from a recent Scientology defector who gave us even more detail about Chloe’s involvement in the church. We noted how interesting it was that SNL had hired a Scientologist only a few years after producing the most hilarious parody of Scientology ever done.

On April 3, we continued our series about Scientology’s enablers, and put the judges helping Scientology out with its “religious arbitration” scam in the number 3 lot.

A few days later, Scientologists at Clearwater’s downtown development board hatched a plot to try and get Mark Bunker kicked out of his (non-voting) seat on the board. It was brazen, and it was called out as bull by the city council.

On April 13, your proprietor was on the scene as wealthy Scientologist chiropractor Jay Spina was sentenced to nine years in prison for his part in a massive Medicare swindle. We provided a detailed blow-by-blow, when, for example, Spina actually quoted L. Ron Hubbard in his statement to the court, and when Judge Kenneth Karas said that Spina’s crimes made his “blood boil.” All in all, it was a remarkable day in federal court in White Plains, New York.

The next day, we pointed out that one of the scientists on the team running the latest Mars rover grew up in Scientology and has been very active in it.

We noted that there seem to be an increasing number of Scientologists making noise about ditching Los Angeles for Clearwater, including Kirstie Alley’s daughter Lillie Parker.

In the UK, celebrity presenter Matt Willis made news for claiming that Scientology had tried to get him to divorce his wife, so we asked a panel of our experts who said that it was actually quite common for this to happen in Scientology.

A Bunker favorite, tax attorney Monique Yingling, made our list of Scientology’s enablers at the #2 spot, which she richly deserved.

One of the true rock stars here at the Underground Bunker, Tommy Davis, rang us up to let us know he and his new bride had welcomed a son into their family. Well no, he didn’t tell us about it, he hates our guts, but we found out about it and congratulated him anyway.

On April 24 we finally reached #1 on our list of Scientology’s enablers, and to no one’s surprise it went to the IRS and the Department of Justice, federal agencies that allow Scientology’s abuses to go unchecked, year after year after year.

We published an essay by an OT 3 Scientologist who argued that we have Scientology all wrong, and that it’s not a destructive group. Our readers were very energized by this claim.

And then a bit of a wild time ensued when we were stunned to see what looked to us to be Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid in a Scientology hip-hop video. Instead, locals informed us that it was actually a well known Reid lookalike who called himself Almost Andy Ried. His actual name was Matt Black, and Matt was mortified to learn that he’d been unwittingly used by Scientology in its propaganda. We were glad Matt talked to us about it for a story.

A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2019: Shooting victim Brian Statler was identified. Chris Owen filled us in on Scientology’s odd efforts in Papua New Guinea. Graham Berry shared another stunning demand letter with us. Sunny Perreira told us her story about Brad Pitt bringing his pet igauna to the Celebrity Centre for some auditing. Danny Masterson’s accusers and Mike Rinder’s daughter had a confrontation caught on video.

A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2018: Chris Owen found that L. Ron Hubbard tried to buy Malawi. Leah Remini was subjected to a Scientology “noisy investigation.” We chatted with the convicted felon who says he’s the returned L. Ron Hubbard. Tommy Davis showed up with a new look. Kim Poff was finally able to give us an interview about getting fired by Oklahoma for blowing the whistle on Narconon. Rocker Cedric Bixler-Zavala told us about the harassment his wife Chrissie Carnell Bixler was going through after coming forward as a victim of Scientologist actor Danny Masterson.

A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2017: Scientologist actor Erika Christensen raised eyebrows for playing a Christian convert on film. We dug up a reference to ‘Mount Xenu’ in a Hubbard lecture. Dee Findlay schooled the Clearwater city council. A 1973 documentary featuring Nan McLean resurfaced.

A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2016: David Miscavige was filmed opening an Ideal Org in Atlanta. Phil and Willie Jones put up a billboard in Los Angeles about Scientology disconnection. We revealed that Giovanni Ribisi’s daughter Lucia Ribisi had ditched Scientology. The Gregg Hagglund story — seeing a Fair Game operation from both ends. How David Miscavige ripped apart his own family, and how Lisa Marie Presley became (at least for a short time) his biggest nightmare. David Miscavige threatened to sue his own Dad, and we were live on the scene as Laura DeCrescenzo’s lawsuit survived a second motion for summary judgment. Was this the greatest single month for news in the history of the Bunker? It was certainly up there.

A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2015: We broke down the elements that made SNL’s parody, ‘Neurotology,’ so great. We brought you full audio tapes of police interviews with the Scientology private eyes who stalked Ron Miscavige. And we dug up the true history of Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers.

A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2014: We checked with his tailor to find out David Miscavige’s actual height. Tax documents spelled out Scientology’s amazing cash value. And an insider provided us documents showing that Narconon Arrowhead is running on fumes.

A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2013: Live-blogging Rock Center‘s Narconon expose, behind the scenes at Int Base with “Love in the Time of Miscavige,” and Narconon in Georgia raided.

 
Eight of our favorites from the most-upvoted comments of April 2021

April 1: Mark Parry-Maddocks

Good to hear that Izzy Chait was more of a mensch than a Scibot in the end. My sympathy to Joey and his family, and to hell with disconnection.

April 7: Patty Moher

All of the folks that were investigating Narconon were in turn, being investigated by the cult of Scientology. Per policy Scientology will investigate those that are investigating them until they find the evil government officials crimes and threaten to expose them if they don’t STFU. That’s aka blackmail and has been a success tool used by the cult to stop protesters, investigations and arrests. I know this because I was part of doing these investigations for the cult back in the 80’s and 90’s. There’s no evidence of blackmail here but then again, there never is.

April 8: Andrea “i-Betty” Garner

One does not simply walk into Clearwater and remove the legend that is Mark Bunker.

April 9: Graham

Just got my second jab an hour ago [and Mrs G got hers yesterday]. WogTech: the tech that works.

April 10: Holy Cow

Seems like, in theory, a second gen celebrity would be the hardest nut to crack from a deprogramming standpoint since they will have grown up with indoctrination all their lives and at the same time will enjoy the privileges that celebrities are afforded by the Church, thus shielding them from the kind of jarring experiences which make civilian Scientologists think twice. That’s a pretty secure double air lock for anything approaching critical thinking to get through. I’ve just watched a couple of Chloe Fineman’s SNL clips on Youtube and she is clearly very talented. Her Drew Barrymore impersonation is a particular hoot. Having someone on the cultural behemoth that is SNL will be huge for the Church and no doubt they will be rolling out the red carpet for Chloe so she will presently be as comfortable with her life as anyone can be who is part of a mind sapping cult. And if she needs any further help living with two different mental silos, she can always give Nancy Cartwright or Elisabeth Moss a call.

April 16: Mat Pesch

In the mind set of Scientology they OWN their staff and public, much like one might own a milk cow. Staff get traded back and forth between their organizations without a thought of how it will affect the individual, their marriage or their children. If Scientology thinks it can get more milk out of a “cow” by intentionally breaking up a marriage or family it is done without the slightest concern. It is their “normal”, usual behavior. It’s the same mindset that allows Scientology to load up a van of young woman to go get abortions. The husbands are sometimes never told about the pregnancy or the abortion as it might affect their production and value to the organization. By the way, when there is a spike in the number of abortions needed the girls are taken longer distances to free clinics so as not to risk a PR flap. Good heavens, one never wants to risk tarnishing the public image of Scientology.

April 23: Panopea Abrupta

Tommy Davis storming out of the Bashir interview. Tommy Davis pushing and prodding Sweeney for the rant heard around the world. Tommy denying that disconnection exists, thereby pushing Paul Haggis to blow. There is much for which to be grateful. I still think his supplying Larry Wright with all the material to start on “Going Clear” marks his high-water point. The damage he did to the Co$ then was monumental.

April 26: Jefferson Hawkins

To OT 3 Scientologist from OT IV Ex-Scientologist: First of all, thank you for coming out in a public forum and defending your chosen religion. That takes guts. I want you to know that I have stood where you are standing. I was a committed Scientologist for 30 years, and, like you, wanted to hotly defend Scientology. I even did radio interviews defending Scientology. I was as committed as one can get – I joined the Sea Org and was an SO Member for many years. I was in charge of Scientology marketing and ran some of the most successful public outreach campaigns in Scientology’s history- you might remember the 1980’s “Dianetics” Campaign with the exploding volcano. That was me. That campaign sparked off the biggest Scientology expansion boom in history. I became a Sea Org Officer and worked at the International Base in San Jacinto, California for about 18 years. I worked directly with David Miscavige. I saw the inner world of Scientology that few people – and few Scientologists – ever see. I eventually grew disillusioned and left. Why? I saw that David Miscavige was not the saintly leader that Church publications try to paint him as, but a sociopathic bully who maintains his control over Scientology by abusing, threatening, and even physically attacking his subordinates. He physically attacked me on five separate occasions. Anyone critical of him was immediately offloaded or sent to the RPF (which is, face it, a hard labor re-education camp similar to those in Communist countries). All of those things are typical of cults. This is why Scientology is called a cult – because it ACTS like a cult: The all-powerful leader who must be adored and cannot be questioned, harsh re-education for any who stray, and group “shunning” or disconnection for any members who leave. Study other cults and see how they operate, and what the similarities are with Scientology. I would encourage you to read my book, “Counterfeit Dreams,” as well as books by other former insiders, like Marc Headley, Amy Scobee, Nancy Many, Janis Gillham Grady and others. I would also highly recommend Stve Hassan’s book, “Combatting Cult Mind Control.” We are not “Nazis.” We are people who saw behind the curtain and now want to expose the rotten core of Scientology. We are not lying to you – your church is. You may not believe this, but I am your friend.

 
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Sign up for a daily email when we post a new story on Scientology.

Did you know you can get an email every morning when we post our daily Scientology story? We know some of the folks who come to the Underground Bunker aren’t here to talk about the politics of the day, and that’s why we created a daily politics feature over at our other blog, The Lowdown, and we ask readers to take their political discussions over there. And if you drop us a line at tonyo94 AT gmail, we’ll put you on the list so you get a morning reminder that a new Scientology story has been posted — and only for our Scientology stories.

 
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Source Code

“You’ll find that there’s a hollow spot in back of the body. And if you will let one of those hollow spots — at least, there’s at least one — if you’ll let it say ‘hello’ backwards, you know, have a spot in back of the body say ‘hello’ backwards, you will discover some of the more interesting spaces. You get why that is? A thetan has always come in on the body on the back, you see, and nobody has ever said ‘hello’ to him. There’s quite often a machine pulled in there, which is one of the more interesting things you run into with this process. Big, big juicy machine with valves, tubes, endless belts and every other thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 24, 1954

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“There has never been any order permitting mail to be taken directly to the post office by individuals. I would like to find out who started this. It is illegal to send mail any other way than via the Dept of Comm.” — N. Jessup, CS-1, December 24, 1968

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Disconnection is an individual’s choice. Yes, Ethics might encourage someone to do it, but at the end of the day it’s the persons who do it, who are to accept responsibility for it and not blame the church with the ‘following orders’ excuse. I don’t blame the church when my friends in the church disconnected from me. I blame them and their inability to confront the truth, and also just that they were happy with the church and I’m cool with that, it was their personal decision to disconnect from me, not the church’s. But I just don’t like it when people blame big organizations for actions they do. For example, it wasn’t Hitler’s fault for the holocaust, it was the SS soldiers who did it. They believed in the cause, they wanted to do it, they thought what they were doing was right, they should take responsibility for it and should be blamed for it.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1998: A Scientologist and dentist in Providence, Rhode Island has been sued by his former receptionist for forcing her to study Scientology. From the Associated Press: “Dentist Roger Carlsten was promoting religion in the workplace when he asked his receptionist to take a statistics course written by the founder of Scientology, according to a complaint filed in Superior Court. Susan Elizabeth Morgan, a Catholic, said she is suing her former boss because she was fired after she refused to take the course written by L. Ron Hubbard, the late science fiction writer and founder of the controversial Scientology religion. Morgan asserts that material in ‘Hubbard Management Technology,’ is based in Scientology, not statistics. Carlsten, 52, said although he practices Scientology, he did not try to impose his beliefs on his employees, and religion had nothing to do with firing 32-year-old Morgan of Johnston. ‘There is no religious issue here,’ said Carlsten’s lawyer, Sandra Lanni. ‘There’s a perception that this is a lawsuit against Scientology and it’s not. These courses are strictly business courses.’ The complaint, brought under the Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act, alleges that Carlsten failed to accommodate Morgan’s beliefs as a Catholic and the Carlsten fired her based on religion.”

 
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Random Howdy

“‘If all Scientologists were John Travolta clones, Scientology would be a good deal.’ I’m not sure the Massage Association of America would agree with you on that one, Jimmy.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for February 8. Trial scheduled for August 29, 2022.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), false imprisonment, aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Next hearing scheduled for January 18.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ US Supreme Court denied Valerie’s petition Oct 4.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments held November 2, awaiting a ruling.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9, 2020 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: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28, 2022.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.

 
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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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

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] Whoops. Letter shows Scientology gave Jane Doe #1 permission to sue Danny Masterson in 2004
[TWO years ago] Scientology is denied an emergency hearing, but here is its ‘arbitration’ motion
[THREE years ago] We got a correspondent into Scientology’s New Year’s Event Saturday in Los Angeles
[FOUR years ago] Year in review: In April, Dee Findlay delivered a truth bomb to Scientology in its spiritual mecca
[FIVE years ago] A Christmas Eve treat: Our man Down Under on Scientology’s antipodean troubles in 2016
[SIX years ago] Release the hounds! Scientology suddenly getting more aggressive with media: Report
[SEVEN years ago] As Luka Magnotta is convicted, questions about his Scientology involvement remain
[EIGHT years ago] The Underground Bunker Year-in-Review starts today: A January for the ages!
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s 2012 in Review: Springtime for Miscavige
[TEN years ago] Scientology Succession: Commenters of the Week!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 24, 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

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

We’ve been telling you for years that Scientology targets dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians and other professionals with management companies that operate as front groups for the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE). Every year we hear about cases where workers object to being forced into Scientology classes by the dentists or chiropractors they work for, [...]]]>

We’ve been telling you for years that Scientology targets dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians and other professionals with management companies that operate as front groups for the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE). Every year we hear about cases where workers object to being forced into Scientology classes by the dentists or chiropractors they work for, and often those cases are successful. As for what it’s like to go through the experience of discovering that the dentist you’re working for is promoting Scientology, we have this stunning account from a woman who asked us not to name her for fear of backlash from Scientology. But we think you’ll enjoy reading her account…

 
In 2012, I was hired to work as a hygienist by a private practice dental office in Kennesaw, Georgia. I was thrilled to work there — close to home, Monday through Thursday, good pay for the first time in my career. I felt as though I had finally made it. When I was hired on, the practice manager (who was also the dentist’s wife) kept driving the point home that a few out-of-town continuing education classes would be mandatory. I didn’t think anything of this, as lots of dental offices take their staff on trips to learn about dental implants, Botox, etc.

For the first few months, things were normal. By month four, we started having mandatory meetings every Tuesday morning where we discussed the Tone Scale, Suppressive Persons, and other stuff that I quickly recognized as Scientology. I started noticing stacks of L. Ron Hubbard books on my dentist’s desk, and other Scientology paraphernalia throughout the office. Shit, I thought, my bosses are part of a cult. I didn’t know what to do, because I didn’t want to be jobless, but I also wanted nothing to do with Scientology. Before long, my bosses called an “emergency meeting” where they explained to us that the next weekend, we would be taking a mandatory office trip to Clearwater, Florida for three days of intensive training. All of us were shocked at the sudden nature of this announcement, and my coworker said that she had her son that weekend, and that she couldn’t change plans on such short notice. My boss explained to her (and the rest of us) that if we were interested in keeping our jobs at that office, we would make all necessary arrangements so that we could go. When he handed us the “learning materials” for this weekend of training, it was clearly a large booklet filled with Scientology nonsense masquerading as dental “education.”

At this point, I was desperate to avoid this trip at all costs. I printed out stacks of anti-Scientology literature, clearly stating that this group was a dangerous cult known for systematic abuse, torture, rape, intimidation, and coercion. I marched into my dentist’s office with all of this literature, and begged him not to make me or any of us go to this “training,” and saying that I cared about him and his wife and I didn’t want them to be abused and sucked dry by this horrible organization. He blew me off completely, saying that I was closed-minded and that my fears were unfounded. He repeated, again, that if I wanted to keep my job, the training was mandatory.

The day that we left for Clearwater I was a mess of anger and nerves. As a final curve ball, the dentist announced that we would all be going together in an SUV he had rented, and that driving our own cars was not permitted. We were essentially trapped with no escape. I did bring my laptop, which was my saving grace. On the way down, my dentist wouldn’t shut up about how we should all be grateful, because this weekend of “training” was costing him a fortune in fees and hotel rooms.

When we finally arrived at the actual seminar, HOLY SHIT. We were led into this large and completely un-marked back alley building with giant tinted windows. When we walked into the lobby, there was a 10-foot tall statue of L. Ron Hubbard, and massive Scientology murals on the wall, as well as row after row of books by Hubbard. A big row of Scientologists in suits greeted my boss by name like he was some celebrity, and swooned over him to an obnoxious level. He grinned from ear to ear and was completely eating it up.

Before they would let us in the classroom, we actually had to sign papers stating that the classes had nothing to do with Scientology, no one had coerced us to come to these classes, and that we were attending these classes of our own free will. I’m not kidding at all. In the actual classroom, there were several hundred dentists with their staff from all over the country, giggling gleefully at the expensive cult bullshit they were about to receive.

I only lasted three hours. It was three hours of pure cultspeak Scientologist bullshit, very little of which had to do with dentistry. From what I gathered, the purpose of these seminars was to teach dentists and staff the same coercion tactics that Scientologists use to recruit new members and get more money out of existing members and then use that information on patients in order to get them to agree to high-priced treatments all at once, and pay for it on Care Credit. Additionally, we heard a hell of a lot about “The Suppressive Persons” or “SP’s” and how these people will ruin a dental office. While the seminar was going on, certain members of the audience were getting picked out for “additional training,” and being brought to private rooms for what I later found out were auditing sessions. HELL FUCKING NO.

Once our team broke for lunch, I told my boss that he needed to take me back to the hotel, where I was going to get a taxi to take me to the airport and find a one-way flight home. I wasn’t going to sit through anymore creepy-ass cult bullshit, and I didn’t care at that point if I lost my job. If Scientology was what he was about, I wanted to be as far from that as possible. He berated me repeatedly, saying that I was so closed-minded and just refused to be properly educated. I found a flight to Atlanta on my laptop, asked the hotel receptionist (also a Scientologist, as she was wearing an “S” symbol badge) to call me a cab, and I was out of there.

The following Monday, my coworkers acted like I had the plague. One of them finally pulled me aside and said that the doctor and his wife had ordered them not to speak to me at all. During that week, they forced me to train my replacement, and then fired me. The separation letter said that they were letting me go because I didn’t “clean teeth in order” and that I was too chatty. The doctor himself told me that I was a Suppressive Person, and had no place in the office.

Until today, very few people know this story, and for good reason. The Church of Scientology is known to use extreme tactics to intimidate, harass, and follow people who it deems as a threat. I had an unmarked black Crown Vic parked outside my house with a person in it for two days straight, staring at my house. I finally called the police at the urging of my dad, and the person left me alone. But that was enough for me to not press charges or pursue legal action.

A few years ago, another dental professional in Bend, Oregon went through an almost identical ordeal with her Scientologist dentist, and was awarded over $300,000 in damages. I still feel as though I made the right choice for me at the time, although I wish I had the courage to be more outspoken about my experience, and urged other dental professionals to recognize the signs before falling into the same trap.

The moral of the story is, if you are a dental (or healthcare, chiropractor, etc.) professional and your prospective employer starts making comments about “mandatory out-of-town training,” I urge you to investigate that further. Or, if something feels off, just be super blunt and say “OK, I have to get this out of the way — is this a Scientology office?” If you are employed and you start noticing your dentist going to Clearwater for a lot of “training,” definitely investigate that further. The Church of Scientology is desperately (and, successfully) trying to recruit dentists and other healthcare professionals to join their ranks and fill their coffers. What starts out as just “training” leads to many dentists becoming full-blown card-carrying Scientologists. So, stay safe. Know the signs. Please share my story with anyone who you think may be in a similar position with their employer.

Scientology is a money-hungry, dangerous and powerful cult that should be avoided at all costs. I hope my story is helpful and sheds some light on one of their lesser-known recruitment tactics. Stay safe out there, friends. Oh, and fuck Scientology.

 
——————–

Today in court: Bixler v. Masterson

Today is the first of several important hearings scheduled in the Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Danny Masterson/Scientology lawsuit happening at the Los Angeles Superior Court. In this hearing, several out-of-state attorneys are asking Judge Steven Kleifield to admit them to the case (“pro hac vice”), which is usually something of a formality. Characteristically, however, Scientology has filed some rather overheated objections to this request in an attempt to keep these high-profile lawyers on the sidelines.

Also, this hearing will deal with Scientology’s motion to quash service of the lawsuit. The church claims that attempts to serve David Miscavige and Scientology itself (through two of its sub-entities) was “fraudulent,” and they’ve asked for sanctions. Bixler’s attorneys have fired back that Scientology is game-playing by pretending that two different addresses for Miscavige aren’t simply two different entrances in the same building. We have documented that the attempt to serve this lawsuit has been fraught with errors, but “fraudulent”? Again, that seems like overheated Scientology rhetoric, and it will be interesting to see how Kleifield handles it.

Also, because the plaintiffs recently filed an amended complaint, we are told that consequently some clocks got set back to zero, and the “demurrers” that Scientology and Masterson filed, which are scheduled to be heard on March 20, will also be moved back to reflect the new time frame. We will be looking to see if the judge acknowledges that today.

We’ll get you a report from the courthouse as soon as we can. Although the hearing is scheduled for 8:30 am Los Angeles time, the judge typically handles other emergent situations in other lawsuits first before handling the Scientology matter. (And wouldn’t you, too?)

 
——————–

Ask a Scientologist!

Here’s a question that came in to askascientologist@tonyortega.org, and we thought Mat Pesch might be the best person to answer it. If you have a question for one of our many experts, please send it in!

If Scientology promises its members powers to affect the material world, what is the justification for fundraising for material items like building and books? Why bother with donations if you can conjure things into existence?

I never met a Scientologist who thought they could, or expected some other Scientologist to be able to, just conjure into existence some material object like a coin, a rock, a flower, etc. I know that Hubbard made (and sold) thousands of lectures where he rambles on about all sorts of hypothetical concepts as if they are fact. I have tried to study them in detail and found them to have little to no application value in the real world. I think most Scientologists just hope that it will make sense to them when they achieve some higher level of Scientology. I think many people have had experiences where they perceived someone died or was about to call them or they were able to locate someone or something in an unexplained way. They believe that there are spiritual and mental possibilities that they don’t understand, that they would like to know more about and develop. I think it is that sort of thing, along with the promise of being able to recall past lives, operate outside one’s body, etc, that draws people further into Scientology. Someone can argue whether they actually recalled past lives. I think it is interesting that on the original released version of OT 8, Hubbard said that none of the past lives that the OT 8s had recalled were actually them. He said that now that you know who you are not, you are ready to find out who you really are. The sad joke is that there were no further OT levels. Hundreds of thousands of dollars later and it’s a dead end. The person is left with the question of who they really are, which is probably one, if not the, main question they came to Scientology to get answered. I did meet a handful of people who claimed to be able to operate outside their body. As I got to know them better, it became obvious that they were nuts. As far as Scientology helping to expand one’s spiritual and mental abilities, I would personally rate it as very disappointing. In Scientology, it’s MONEY that is god and is worshiped. That, I found to be true.

— Mat Pesch

 
——————–

Source Code

“I might as well tell you why the foundation at 211 West Douglas just went out of the processing business entirely and is teaching as few students as possible and at this late date is going into research. I’m not quite sure what they’re going to research, but they’re just going into research and so I, this leaves as official entities in the field the HDAs in the field, the affiliates, that is to say the college associates, a professional school in Wichita, and whatever unit is here as far as the lineups are concerned, and of course this foundation. OK? This by the way is a big load off my mind because I’ve been wondering which way those people were going to jump, and sometimes suicides jump the wrong way. And all they seem to have gotten me for so far is to tell the income tax people that I’m vastly out of order on my income tax, so the income tax people are coming down. Do we have anybody around town who’s awfully good on income tax? Well, they wouldn’t let me look at any of the ’51 books, so I don’t know what income they’ve got written down. And they wiped out all my income just before income tax time, so I don’t know, I mean, I wrote the collector of internal revenue about a year ago and I said, ‘God, I’m confused.’ And he never replied, so I guess he is too….What do you know? Well we’ve got to make a couple of theta clears quick and wreck these income tax people right quick.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 11, 1952

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“For all practical intents and purposes, we are the only Creator there is to be found in any known space or non-space. I take pride to know that we, collectively and individually, are our own known working masters and it is we that are learning to exert positive control over all of life and matter, and otherwise, I don’t see anything else happening any time soon if ever….You want a new planet, build it. You want a new star, build one. You want peace on Earth, make it happen.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“You people’s humanity is rubbing off on me and it’s making me unstable.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for April 16
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: March 11 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice, defense motions to quash), March 20 (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), March 27 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, March 19 depositions (Warren McShane, Lynn Farny), April 20 hearing set (motion to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Complaint filed.

 
——————–

Start making your plans…

 
Head over to the convention website and meet us in St. Louis!

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] New government docs show Scientology trying to snow the Justice Dept after Snow White
[TWO years ago] Scientology TV goes live tomorrow at 8 pm Eastern on app, DirecTV
[THREE years ago] Source: Scientology made Danny Masterson’s Victim B search past lives to explain being raped
[FOUR years ago] Belgian judge throws entire case against Scientology out of court on technicality
[FIVE years ago] The ‘Going Clear’ screening in Austin, featuring Marty Rathbun and other familiar faces
[SIX years ago] Judge in Laura DeCrescenzo’s case retires, Scientology objects to his replacement
[SEVEN years ago] LEAKED: Scripts Spell Out How Scientology Directs the Unsuspecting to Its Rehab Network
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Countdown to LRH’s Birthday!

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 11, 2020 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, 1995-2019 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

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

Last May, the New York Times published a lengthy story about the explosion of stem cell therapy as a business and questions about whether it actually worked as advertised.

The article largely focused on a Des Moines company, Regenexx, that has convinced some large employers to internally insure procedures that most insurance [...]]]>

Last May, the New York Times published a lengthy story about the explosion of stem cell therapy as a business and questions about whether it actually worked as advertised.

The article largely focused on a Des Moines company, Regenexx, that has convinced some large employers to internally insure procedures that most insurance companies won’t pay for, based on the idea, for example, that injecting live stem cells into an arthritic knee is a lot less expensive than knee replacement surgery.

With several large employers on board, Regenexx has been able to vastly multiply its number of procedures and revenue, even as questions remain whether the treatments really produce any benefit at all.

The Times described the Colorado physician who started Regenexx in 2005, Chris Centeno, as “a pain medicine specialist in Broomfield, Colo., who had no background in stem cell research, but saw potential after reading about a study that hinted that stem cells could be used to treat spinal conditions in rabbits.”

So, we think it’s important to keep in mind that the Times expressed some skepticism about Centeno and Regenexx, even as it’s pretty plain that Centeno is a legitimate physician and Regenexx documents its work thoroughly and is conducting clinical trials to prove the efficacy of its treatments scientifically.

Centeno clearly takes his reputation and his stem cell work seriously, and he works hard to separate himself, and Regenexx, from other stem cell companies that he says are selling pure bunkum.

At his website, Centeno blogs about bogus stem cell therapies and the people who peddle them. “Through the website, Dr. Centeno regularly criticizes other stem cell businesses, and has acted as an expert witness for injured patients suing his competitors,” the Times noted.

And recently, Centeno’s withering gaze has fallen upon someone we’ve regularly lampooned here at the Bunker as a buffoon and charlatan: Scientology’s professional ham hock, Grant Cardone.

Centeno blogged that he’d never heard of the motivational speaker and promoter of the “10X” lifestyle until a friend forwarded him this web advertisement, claiming that Cardone could help a company increase its sales of stem cell therapy some 30 percent within a month…

 
Wondering who Cardone was, Centeno quickly grasped that Cardone’s schtick is mainly about getting people amped up about themselves, and then convincing them to essentially work around the clock, with a short break for “honey time.”

 
As for stem cells, Centeno watched a video from “GCTV” — Grant Cardone TV — that showed the huckster talking to a physical therapist and a chiropractor who were telling him about stem cells in umbilical cord blood administered in IV drips that they said would cure the opioid crisis.

In a second blog post, Centeno explained that the chiropractor in the video was from an outfit called Advanced Medical Integration that, as far as Centeno could tell, was selling treatments claiming to be made up of stem cells when it was clear that whatever they were injecting in people could not possibly have any live stem cells in it. And there was no evidence, he added, that these umbilical cord tissue IV infusions were effective at all, even while they put patients at real risk for serious side effects.

And now, professional blowhard Grant Cardone was getting involved in blowing up the sales of such products. “In my opinion, Mr. Cardone is involved in helping sell fake stem cell products to the public. I have no idea if he knows that what AMI teaches chiro clinics to sell is misrepresented,” Centeno wrote.

Sales gurus with books are a dime a dozen. There are countless self-help guys who tell you how to improve your life and your business. They often have become successful because they know how to build social media hype and sales funnels. The most disturbing thing for me is when they move from selling books or helping chiropractors book more adjustments, into selling investigational care or therapies like this which are misrepresented. For me, that crosses a line that should never be crossed. The upshot? Every sales and marketing guru is now officially in the fake “stem cell” business, helping clinics push these treatments. If federal regulators want to get at the heart of how the regenerative medicine space is spinning out of control, a healthy look at the sales funnels created by Mr. Cardone and many others would be a good place to start.

In a third blog post, Centeno points out that Cardone isn’t the only Scientologist selling dead stem cells through chiropractic offices. WISE members David Singer and Brent Detelich have long histories with Scientology and with pushing its business ideas on chiropractors, dentists, and veterinarians.

In an earlier blog post, Centeno had demonstrated that Singer was selling dead tissue to chiropractors, not realizing that Singer had a long history as a Scientology promoter.

Detelich, meanwhile, is a convicted felon who continued to appear on Scientology’s WISE list after a 2007 federal trial found him guilty of health care fraud.

“The fact that we have exosome and umbilical cord salespeople linked in with the business arm of the Church of Scientology is very strange indeed,” Centeno concluded in his most recent post.

We have a feeling that if Centeno was more familiar with Scientology’s long history of fraud and its resentment for “wog” law, he wouldn’t be so surprised!

 
——————–

Attorneys hoping to be admitted to Scientology/Masterson lawsuit make their case

On February 22 we told you that Scientology had filed an overheated opposition to some out-of-state attorneys who are representing Chrissie Carnell Bixler and the other women suing the Church of Scientology and actor Danny Masterson, and who are seeking to be admitted formally to the lawsuit.

Even though they filed the lawsuit last summer, Brian Kent, Stewart Ryan, Marci Hamilton and several other high-profile attorneys, mostly from Pennsylvania, are still not formally admitted to the case and have been relying on Burlingame attorney Bobby Thompson to handle things, with some disappointing results.

But now Thompson has filed what appears to us to be a very effective and well written response to Scientology’s objections which, we had pointed out, seemed rather overblown to begin with.

Check out the filing here, and we’ll see how things go in the March 11 court date when the matter will be heard.

Ask a Scientologist!

Here’s a question that came in to askascientologist@tonyortega.org, and we thought Christie Collbran would be the best person to answer it. If you have a question for one of our many experts, please send it in!

I know Sea Org members are not allowed to have children but it would be interesting to know the difference between a Sea Org Scientologist and your everyday Scientologist. The many courses and auditing sessions should probably take a toll on a new mother. I’ve also heard that women are not allowed to make noises during birth? Is there a preferred type of birth — C-section/ vaginal/ all natural meaning no drugs at all?

Since Scientologists do not like drugs in general, most Scientologists lean toward having a natural birth experience and avoiding pain medication. Many Scientologists are likely to give birth at home with a midwife and to avoid going to the hospital altogether. Others do opt to go to the hospital to give birth there. Yes, L. Ron Hubbard did write about being silent during labor and birth in the book Dianetics. He said if there are words spoken during labor and birth they could supposedly have a negative affect on the baby and have lasting effects for life. So it depends on how literal the individual Scientologist wishes to take this information. I know of many ex-Scientologists who were not silent during labor and birth, and some that tried very hard to implement this idea. Some even educated local midwives in the community about their “silent birth” wishes so that they could be supported by their care providers to accomplish this goal. Regarding the course load and auditing sessions taking a toll on a new mother — I’m sure this has happened to some new mothers because this happens to Scientologists in general. It just depends on their dedication and involvement in Scientology, their ability to withstand the pressure of the church and how much money they have to spend on it. There are a lot of Scientologists who are not active, but still consider themselves Scientologists. Maybe they volunteer in some other Scientology activity because they can’t afford services at the moment. Remember these services are really expensive! You have to have a lot of money to burn to be on course and doing auditing sessions full time.

— Christie Collbran

 
——————–

Source Code

“Scientology has various ends. Out of Scientology you could formulate, for instance, a very fine type of ‘thought warfare’ which — much better than an atom bomb. No, an atom bomb just kills people — but you could take in ‘thought warfare,’ you could enslave them utterly. You could, you’d make complete slaves out of them, with a very simple contraption. Very simple. We’re doing it the honest way in Scientology, because with a very simple contraption, with the greatest of ease, we could go around and anybody who was opposing Scientology would all of a sudden start being madly, insanely in favor of it. But that’s the easy way to do it, and that’s what’s wrong with the race, is everybody has tried it the easy way — control, restraint, more engrams, more punishment.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 3, 1952

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“All of history of man is about off-world implanting during the past long amount of time. It’s quite apparent that meatballs aren’t dead in the head because they made a mistake in 3rd grade about the nature of consciousness. If you push the matter of consciousness is NOT brain, your preclear may die that night. It has happened to me.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Seeing as how boxers get knocked out more than any other group, RTC is missing a golden opportunity to prove the efficacy of Dianetic theory by grabbing some punch-drunk pugilist off of Skid Row and giving him six months of auditing and then calling a press conference where the former rummy could recite Shakespeare and explain quantum theory to all present. Why doesn’t C.O.B. think of these things?”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ (Valerie’s options.)
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: March 11 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice, defense motions to quash), March 20 (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), March 27 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, April 20 hearing set (motion to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Complaint filed.

 
——————–

Start making your plans…

 
Head over to the convention website and meet us in St. Louis!

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology claims to be the experts on drugs — their actual materials beg to differ
[TWO years ago] Garcias ask for hearing on farcical ‘arbitration’; Scientology files 600 pages in Laura D case
[THREE years ago] LAPD PROBING SCIENTOLOGY AND DANNY MASTERSON FOR MULTIPLE RAPES, COVER-UP
[FOUR years ago] Scientology, in forced-abortion case: It’s not abuse if you don’t complain when it’s happening
[FIVE years ago] How’s this for a gift on L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday? ‘Going Clear’ in theaters March 13
[SIX years ago] John Travolta’s fun night at the Oscars
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Get Your Infant Audited!
[EIGHT years ago] SCIENTOLOGY FILES FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AGAINST DEBBIE COOK

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 3, 2020 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, 1995-2019 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

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

 Today we have a remarkable account from a woman who asked not to be named. We’re also not identifying by name the business she has written about. But considering stories we’ve done recently (and some in years previously), we feel that her narrative is very timely and provides a really stunning look inside a Scientologist-run [...]]]>

 
Today we have a remarkable account from a woman who asked not to be named. We’re also not identifying by name the business she has written about. But considering stories we’ve done recently (and some in years previously), we feel that her narrative is very timely and provides a really stunning look inside a Scientologist-run business operating on Scientology principles and interacting with some of this country’s biggest and most important corporations. For years, we’ve written about businesses run by Scientologists that are involved in the World Institute of Scientology Enterprises (WISE), a Scientology front that tends to target chiropractors, dentists, and veterinarians. Here’s a look at one WISE clinic that is pulling millions out of Silicon Valley firms in the name of “wellness.”

 
In 2010 I was hired by a business claiming to be a medical center, and at my initial interview I was advised that they ran the business using the L. Ron Hubbard business model. They explained that it was a legitimate business practice that had nothing to do with Scientology.

I was hired because of my extensive experience in medical billing, especially success with appeals and my understanding of physical therapy billing.

The clinic was owned and run by a couple who had been Scientologists for decades. Their children had attended the Delphi boarding schools, and they were high up in the local org. They were both chiropractors, but they had also obtained certifications in nutrition. The wife had jumped on the anti-gluten bandwagon a few years before and had written a book about how bad gluten is.

The location was strategic, being located in the heart of Silicon Valley and surrounded by Google, Apple, Paypal, Ebay, and many other high tech businesses. The couple knew that large corporations receive incentives from their Workers Compensation carriers to promote “wellness” and ergonomic programs. The medical center promoted itself to these corporations to provide “wellness” discussions to their employees. Our office had done extensive research of the health benefit packages of each corporation that was solicited to receive wellness talks by the co-owner.

The clinic did not have contracts with any insurance companies in order to avoid routine audits of their practices by the insurance companies. It was important to target companies that had out-of-network benefits.

At the wellness discussions, attendees were given cards to fill out with name, phone number, email, and generic health questions. They were asked if they would like a free consultation to discover if they had food sensitivities or intolerance. Our office, which employed almost all Scientologists, had an employee whose only job was to call the people on the cards to schedule their “free consultation.”

There was a part-time MD who came in twice a week to see the people for the consultation. “Patients” were administered a saliva food sensitivity test that is not scientifically proven to be accurate. After the consultation, the patient would then meet with the “case manager,” who is like a “reg” at a Scientology org. She would attempt to sell “personalized” treatment plans (not actually personalized, other than to get the maximum the clinic could through their out-of-network benefits). The plan was almost identical to every other patient. She would calculate a total of the patient’s share for their treatment, and attempt to collect the full amount up front or payments over the following two to four weeks. That ensured the patients would follow through with treatment even if they figured out it was bullshit. Front desk people who were also Scientologists attempted to sell supplements and gluten-free products.

We had weekly staff meetings where everyone would show their stats and discuss ways to improve. We also had Knowledge Reports, and I had to fill them out to obtain office supplies, which included what the consequence would be if I didn’t get small Post-it notes, or paper clips.

The most fraudulent practice was the physical therapy all patients had to receive once they signed up for a treatment plan — whether they needed it or not. Some patients had up to 48 sessions. Physical therapy is for the recovery of an injury, but since these people did not have injuries, “muscle strain” and “muscle pull” were put on their claims. Some insurance companies got wise and started asking for the notes, and the physical therapist found ways to justify the treatment, but it was bogus. I wrote successful appeals focused on patient progress that obtained payments. That was when I realized I was lying for my employers and could be prosecuted for knowingly billing and writing appeals for unnecessary treatment.

Physical therapy was a cash cow for the clinic, but it cost the patients and the insurance companies millions a year to this one business.

When I started working there they had me read a lot of Scientology literature and gave me weird tests. After seeing a lot of documentaries I realized that they were indoctrinating me, hoping I wasn’t aware.

They gave me the Oxford Capacity Assessment personality test at my interview. I didn’t know what it was at the time.

My first day during orientation I had to do a test where I went to the bathroom, looked around, went to the waiting room, touched the far wall, went to the bathroom, washed my hands, etc. Next I spent the rest of my day reading L. Ron Hubbard writings that had nothing to do with my job. I knew it was weird Scientology stuff.

Every Thursday we would hold a staff meeting. Every single person had stats. We all had to share our stats and explain how we were going to improve them.

A few months after I started working there, an older gentleman started to assist me. He questioned me a lot about the Scientology stuff. I just told him it didn’t affect our work and it was a paycheck. After our first staff meeting, he went to his desk, told me they are a cult and left for lunch. He never came back. The next day the office manager called me into her office and asked me if he had said anything to me. I told her I thought he had a problem with them being Scientologists. She asked, “Why? We are not pushing it on him.” I explained, “Scientology gets a lot of bad press.” She was baffled by that statement.

It was hard to discuss the Scientology thing with anyone that works there because you didn’t know who was the Scientologist and who wasn’t. The accounting woman told me she was not but I was fearful of even discussing it with her. I just kept my mouth shut about the whole thing while I worked there.

The Knowledge Reports were one of the weirdest things about working there. I could never just request anything verbally. I could never discuss anything about my work verbally. And all had to be in a Knowledge Report. I feel a lot of time was squandered doing that.

After a year, I gave my two-week notice. First the case manager worked on me using flattery and guilt to get me to stay. Then the co-owner smiled and told me “nobody stops working for me that I don’t want to stop working for me.” I walked out of her office and “blew.”

I did not fulfill the two weeks.

 
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Meanwhile, in Colombia…

…the Scientologists prepare for total war. Or something.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs’ — our new project

Hey, gang. We’re super glad that you enjoy the blog format here at the Bunker. Every morning at 7 am eastern we serve up something new and fresh, and another day of illuminating and fun conversation begins.

But as much as we try to provide links to our past stories in order to build up the knowledge base here, the blog form is not always ideal for maintaining a database about Scientology subjects. So we’re embarking on a new project this week, creating landing pages for specific areas that we can go back to again and again when those subjects come up. And we’re hoping you’ll pitch in to help us build up those pages.

We started yesterday with two of David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, his celebrities and his ‘Ideal Orgs.’ For the next several weeks, we’ll post a couple of pages each day, and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about each of them, in order to build a record and maintain a watch as Scientology continues its inexorable decline.

Yesterday, we put up Anne Archer and Portland, Oregon. We couldn’t turn on comments for them yesterday, so please head on over now and contribute your thoughts.

Today it’s Beck Hansen and Sydney, Australia!

 
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MEANWHILE, AT FACEBOOK…

 
Please join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 13, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, 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, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten 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

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