| The Underground Bunker

Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He's written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology's harassment of Paulette Cooper titled 'The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.' He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world from an undisclosed location in an underground bunker he shares with four cats and one of them wrinkly Shar Pei dogs. Despite his super-secret security protections, you can still reach him pretty easily by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you'd like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.) [Header image courtesy John Rickard]

Here’s the full appeal petition in the lawsuit against Danny Masterson and Scientology

[Chrissie and Cedric]

Last week we told you that Chrissie Carnell-Bixler and her fellow plaintiffs had filed a petition with an appeals court in an attempt to reverse the ruling that forced their harassment lawsuit against Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology into Scientology’s internal brand of “religious arbitration.” […]

Transcript: In the Danny Masterson lawsuit, Scientology continues to get its way

[Judge Steven Kleifield and attorney Stewart Ryan]

After Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield stunned us with a December 30 ruling for the Church of Scientology, denying the right to trial for former Scientologists who are suing the church and actor Danny Masterson, forcing them instead into Scientology’s internal “religious arbitration,” the decision left the […]

Hanan and Rizza Islam get trial date for $4 million Medi-Cal fraud at Scientology rehab

We have numerous legal updates for you today, starting with some news we’ve been waiting a long time to hear: Finally, there is a trial date set for Hanan and Rizza […]

Judge in Danny Masterson lawsuit doubts Scientology ‘arbitration,’ sets hearing

[Judge Steven J. Kleifield]

In what appears to be a pretty unusual turn of events, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield, after hearing Scientology’s argument on November 6 about why it should be able to force Danny Masterson’s rape accusers into “religious arbitration,” has decided to erase that hearing as if it never […]

Scientology chiro pleaded guilty to fraud, but we may get to see a sort of trial anyway

[Jay Spina, towering over Scientology leader David Miscvige]

With just a week to go before his sentencing on Medicare fraud was to happen, Scientology donor and Middletown, NY chiropractor Jay Spina threw a wrench into the process, causing his government prosecutors to ask for a delay. […]

Danny Masterson asks to halt civil lawsuit while criminal case is ongoing, as expected

On Thursday Danny Masterson filed a motion to stay a civil lawsuit brought against him in 2019 by Chrissie Carnell Bixler, her husband, and three other women. They’re suing Masterson, the Church of Scientology, and its leader David Miscavige for what they allege is a campaign of harassment since the women went to the LAPD […]

Danny Masterson’s attempt to get out of rape accusers’ lawsuit to be heard today

[UPDATE: Masterson’s demurrer was denied, as was Scientology’s, and the lawsuit passes an early hurdle. But with some caveats. More tomorrow.]

It’s another big day for Danny Masterson at Los Angeles Superior Court today, and we hope to bring you an eyewitness account from the hearing as soon as it’s […]

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS, Ep 9: Director Paul Haggis responds to a lawsuit’s rape allegations

‘Accused,’ the ninth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the […]

Miami chiropractor and Scientology donor Dennis Nobbe charged with COVID relief fraud

Wow! Another Scientologist chiropractor has been charged by the feds with defrauding Medicare, but also defrauding the PPP loan program intended to bail out small businesses during the COVID crisis. And this time, we know him well. It’s Miami Scientology promoter Dennis […]

Danny Masterson: Drop me from Scientology lawsuit if the ‘Jane Does’ won’t name themselves

[Danny Masterson]

In February Scientologist celebrity Danny Masterson responded to a lawsuit by saying the four women (and one man) suing him were merely seeking publicity and money. Since then, the five plaintiffs filed a new amended complaint which reset the case’s legal clock, and now the That ’70s Show actor has filed another […]

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