Posted on 06/20/2019 4:36:58 PM PDT by Windflier
The action claims the church engaged in human trafficking, child abuse, forced labor, exploitative commercial practices and intimidation campaigns aimed at anyone who spoke out against the church or its leader.
A group of lawyers representing a former member of the Church of Scientology who worked directly with its leader David Miscavige has filed a lawsuit alleging the organization is responsible for decades of human trafficking and intimidation, among other abuses.
More at Tony Ortega's blog: Church of Scientology and David Miscavige sued for abuse by major legal players
"Attorneys representing Jane Doe filed the first of multiple lawsuits to hold the Church of Scientology accountable for its extensive history of alleged abuse including its “Fair Game” policy that demands members destroy, by any means necessary, anyone who speaks out against the abuses committed within the Church
LOS ANGELES (June 18, 2019) – Today, attorneys representing Jane Doe, a former member of the Church of Scientology, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles, Calif., alleging years of heinous abuse, human trafficking, and intimidation by members including David Miscavige, the de facto leader of the Church of Scientology. Jane Doe worked within Scientology for years, including directly for Miscavige.
The complaint filed in the case details Scientology’s disturbing practices including rampant child abuse, exploitative commercial practices, horrific forced labor, and the devastating policies that seek to destroy families and escaped former members. This includes the official “Fair Game” policy which tells members to attack, injure, harass, embarrass, and destroy anyone who chooses to speak out against the Church of Scientology and Miscavige."
I haven't seen but snippets of Leah's series, but after forty years in the cult, I know quite a bit about what goes on behind the curtain in that cult.
I personally know some of the people who've appeared on the show, as well. Unfortunately, what you've seen on tv is only the tip of the iceberg. You honestly can't imagine what it's really like inside Scientology's Sea Org.
Exactly. All of these programmers/deceivers/criminals are interconnected philosophically and have the megaphone of the media to support them or suppress their exposure...NXIVM being a perfect example.
“”Supposedly Miscavige’s woof hasn’t been seen by more than a few close to her husband people in years. LAPD follow-upon a call and went there and the cop No other information provided..””
Needs some editing/correction - I don’t have any idea what you mean...
An excellent series and I hope Leah doesn’t give up. She doesn’t appear to be one who will back away. She’s been on a roll and I hope it continues. It’s way past time for this organization to lose its tax exempt status. Everyone needs to be up to date on reviewing the show on Clearwater, FL. Incredible what spreading some money around can do to kill a city!
Leah strikes me as someone I would be afraid to mess with. I could picture her sticking a knife in your back and walking around you.
Yes, and no. Scientology is a very different beast than NXIVM, which is a sex cult run by millionaires.
Scientology has shown itself to be very resilient and cunning in the legal arena. They've twisted the justice system to their advantage for decades, and have worn down nearly every plaintiff they've ever faced in court, through intimidation, stalling tactics, changes of venue, judge shopping, counter-intelligence, back room dealings, secret payoffs, witness tampering, legal threats against attorneys and journalists, and general skulduggery of all sorts.
And Scientology isn't just worth millions. They have billions of dollars at their disposal to fight off any threat, legal or otherwise.
This is a big lawsuit that will likely result in a huge judgement for the plaintiff, but even if the award is in the hundreds of millions (doubtful), it will barely put a dent in Scientology's war chest.
I suspect the plaintiff's attorneys have studied Scientology's prior court cases to pick apart their standard litigation playbook and dirty tricks.
This is where most prior lawsuits against the church have failed. The attorneys and law firms opposing them just weren't prepared for the intense level of warfare that hit them, so they lost. Even when the church was facing a losing battle in court, they more often than not, quietly settled out of court with the plaintiff, thus robbing everyone of real justice, and covering up the real atrocities.
Joseph Smith was a completely insane sociopath.
Mormonism still flourishes in some states.
All true. I've rubbed elbows with him enough to know.
Supposedly, he was groomed by Hubbard to take his place.
Not true. He was a key aide to Hubbard in the last years of his life, but Hubbard had drawn up a succession plan for the management of Scientology prior to his death which closely resembled the three branches of the US government, with three separate corporations, each with its own board of directors.
There was never supposed to be another apex ruler of Scientology after his death.
Miscavige weaseled himself into the position of being the sole point of contact between Hubbard and the organization, which gave him the ability to alter communications between Hubbard and all of Scientology management. If he didn't want them seeing something from Hubbard, he merely hid those orders away, then crafted a phony compliance report to transmit back to Hubbard.
Hubbard had sequestered himself away in several secret, remote locations in Southern California, and was completely undercover as a discrete private citizen. Neighbors had no idea who the reclusive old man was, and he kept well out of sight.
In this weird environment, it was all too easy for Miscavige to manipulate Hubbard and the organization. He simply communicated what he wanted to each of them. The organization never had any idea of Hubbard's succession plan for management, and Hubbard never had any idea there was a power struggle going on within the church.
Miscavige methodically busted every competitor off post and took complete control of the organization through sheer thuggery.
I don't know that there's any official interest as yet, but I'll bet there are a lot of individuals in the IRS who are very interested, seeing how Scientology filed hundreds of lawsuits against individual IRS agents prior to regaining their tax exempt status in 1993.
If COS loses these lawsuits the IRS would have to reexamine their eligibility for the religious tax exemption. Ouch!
That's what everyone on the outside is hoping.
It must have been in the 1970s that I read an article about a live rattlesnake being left in the mailbox of a critic of Scientology. The first time that I became aware of that cult’s fanatical hostility against its critics and its defectors.
That's called 'body routing'. It's a standard tool that staff members use to attract new people into Scientology. They've been doing it for sixty years.
‘Barefaced Messiah’ is another good history/expose of L Ron Hubbard.
And now you can even read it online for free:
http://avalonlibrary.net/ebooks/Russell%20Miller%20-%20Bare-faced%20Messiah.pdf
When the fate of the entire world is in the balance, no defense of 'the one true tech for man's salvation' is beyond the pale. That's what they actually believe.
It's why they give up their lives, their freedoms, their fortunes, their families, and their own self determination and common sense.
Yes, indeed. Another very informative and factual account. I haven't read it yet, but I'll get there.
Because of my involvement with the church, I already know all of the broad strokes of the story. My only interest now, is in the finer details that remain tough to ferret out.
Other than that, I'm just waiting til the big bad witch is dead.
wife hasn’t been seen
Cop said she was OK no further explanation
needs a federal investigation since violations are in various states
Leah Remini’s voice still drives me nuts.
But she is doing God’s work exposing these creeps.
We appreciate your first hand insight.
I have ended up following the exposure of much of this for the last seven years as my wife loves to follow this sort of story in great detail. She has read about six books and watched everything on cable that has been broadcast so I have watched a lot of it with her. Neither of us has had any involvement but my wife was in a pretty controlling church as a child.
Thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.