Verdict watch: Will defense attorney Philip Cohen’s sartorial splendor be a factor?

Yesterday, our daily sartorial splendor alert indicated that defense attorney Philip Cohen had stepped up his game at the Danny Masterson retrial.

Continue reading Verdict watch: Will defense attorney Philip Cohen’s sartorial splendor be a factor?

After final rebuttal from prosecution this morning, the jury gets the case

[Defense attorney Philip Cohen, DDAs Reinhold Mueller and Ariel Anson, and Danny Masterson. Photos by @MeghannCuniff]

We’re still marveling this morning at the display put on yesterday by Deputy DA Ariel Anson as she began the government’s closing at the Danny Masterson retrial in Los Angeles.

Continue reading After final rebuttal from prosecution this morning, the jury gets the case

Closing arguments today at the Danny Masterson retrial: We’re ready for fireworks

[Is it going to be a split-squad performance by Anson and Mueller today?]

Judge Charlaine Olmedo gave both sides in the Danny Masterson retrial the day off yesterday to prepare their closing arguments as this proceeding has sped to a conclusion more quickly than the first trial last fall.

Continue reading Closing arguments today at the Danny Masterson retrial: We’re ready for fireworks

Scientology celebrates Nancy Cartwright for upping her donations to $21 million

The new issue of Scientology’s Impact magazine is here, and it contains a surprise!

Impact is our favorite of Scientology’s publications because it provides us with reports from the church’s celebrations of its biggest donors. (We call them “whales.”)

Continue reading Scientology celebrates Nancy Cartwright for upping her donations to $21 million

PODCAST: Kate Bornstein is plugged into our Danny Masterson retrial coverage

We can’t believe it’s been 11 years since we put Kate Bornstein on the cover of the Village Voice.

Continue reading PODCAST: Kate Bornstein is plugged into our Danny Masterson retrial coverage

Not surprisingly, Scientology opposes an appeal in the Baxter trafficking case

On May 2 we told you that the plaintiffs in the Tampa labor trafficking case — Valeska Paris and Gawain and Laura Baxter — had asked Judge Thomas Barber for permission to appeal his decision forcing them into “religious arbitration” and derailing their lawsuit.

Continue reading Not surprisingly, Scientology opposes an appeal in the Baxter trafficking case

Legal battle for the ages to unfold this morning at the Danny Masterson retrial

[You’ve been served, loudmouth]

OK, so it’s not the legal battle for the ages, but we are looking forward to this morning’s session at the Danny Masterson retrial when we will be dealing with our second subpoena in the case.

Continue reading Legal battle for the ages to unfold this morning at the Danny Masterson retrial

When it was revealed that Scientology has the DA’s documents in the Masterson trial

[Scientology attorney Vicki Podberesky and Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller]

We’re still stunned at what happened yesterday morning at the Danny Masterson retrial in Los Angeles, and we’re still working to find out what the implications are going to be.

Continue reading When it was revealed that Scientology has the DA’s documents in the Masterson trial

What in the world is Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon up to?

We expect another full day of testimony at the Danny Masterson retrial in Los Angeles, and you can expect our reports to start hitting your inboxes at the usual times later today.

Continue reading What in the world is Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon up to?

Former London staffer tells his story: ‘Abuse is fundamental to Scientology’s very nature’

You can’t leave the room until you’ve written down everything you’ve done wrong. “Have you ever masturbated?” I was asked. “Write down every instance you’ve done this in as much detail as you can: when, where, how many times. Did you watch porn? What type? How long for?”. These were my last few moments in Scientology, and the last time I’d set foot in a Church as a Scientologist in ‘good standing’.

Continue reading Former London staffer tells his story: ‘Abuse is fundamental to Scientology’s very nature’

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