Tony Ortega's Blog, page 358
December 4, 2020
WHOA! Scientology to Judge Kleifield: Wrecking human lives IS our ‘commerce’
[David Miscavige: “Bite down on this, judge.”]
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield shocked us last month when he vacated a hearing in the lawsuit between Danny Masterson’s rape accusers and the That ’70s Show actor and the Church of Scientology. Kleifield wiped out the hearing and then asked Scientology’s attorneys to submit a new argument for its motion to force the plaintiffs into “religious arbitration.”
Scientology has been on a winning streak with its arbitration strategy in lawsuits brought by former members. The church argues that Scientologists sign contracts that contain arbitration clauses that preclude them from suing in a court of law. Twice previously judges have denied former Scientologists the right to a trial because they signed such agreements. And now, for a third time, Scientology looked like it was well on its way to derailing another lawsuit by forcing Chrissie Carnell Bixler and the other women suing Masterson into Scientology’s version of arbitration.
But then Kleifield stunned both sides by pointing out something neither of them had brought up. Scientology’s gambit of forcing arbitration on its former members was based on the Federal Arbitration Act, which became law in 1926. Kleifield noted, however, that the act governed agreements of “commerce,” and was it really commerce, the stuff of dollars and cents, which was at stake in this lawsuit? These women are alleging that they’ve been stalked and harassed and slandered because they came forward to the police with their rape allegations. What does that have to do with contracts that govern commercial transactions?
Kleifield told Scientology’s attorneys they had a little more than two weeks to come up with an answer to his question, and they had to limit their response to five pages.
We have been highly anticipating what Scientology’s attorneys, William Forman for the Church of Scientology International, and Matthew Hinks for the Religious Technology Center, would come back with on behalf of church leader David Miscavige.
AdvertisementWe now have that document for you, below, and we can tell you that it should go down in the history of Scientology watching as an all-timer. This is Forman and Hinks unmasked, David Miscavige unleashed, L. Ron Hubbard bare knuckled.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Scientology revealed.
Their first argument is that the “commerce” of the Church of Scientology involves taking donations from members and then using that money for its “social betterment” initiatives. Also, they point out, the contracts govern whether a member can get a refund.
“The Agreements in the aggregate plainly affect both interstate and international commerce as they are a condition for the provision of Scientology services worldwide and govern the conditions for the receipt and return of religious donations — the primary source of the Church’s funding enabling its global ministry.”
And if Scientologists sign agreements that govern whether they can get ‘spiritual’ services, and whether they can get their money back, disputes over these matters can be quite varied.
They then cite case law saying that courts have interpreted broadly the notion of the sorts of disputes that might be covered under an arbitration agreement.
“Courts regularly enforce arbitration clauses with express terms that require arbitration of disputes beyond those that ‘arise out of’ the contracts or transactions,” the attorneys say.
But that’s not even necessary, they add, because the disputes in this lawsuit do arise directly out of the agreements that were signed.
Remember, these are plaintiffs who are suing because they say they’ve been surveilled, harassed, libeled, stalked, and their pets have even been poisoned, all in order to punish them for reporting violent rapes by a celebrity Scientologist. How, one wonders, could these be disputes that arise “directly out of the agreements that were signed”?
And this is when things get really interesting.
Scientology now drops all pretense that it isn’t the vicious, retaliatory, and paranoid organization that has long been established in court records and journalistic exposes.
The attorneys say the plaintiffs are wrong when they argue that the agreements only govern transactions involving Scientology services. In fact, the attorneys now argue, when Scientologists sign these contracts, they are promising to abide by everything L. Ron Hubbard laid down as the law of Scientology.
The Agreements define “Religious Services” broadly to include: “the beliefs and practices set forth in the writings and spoken words of LRH [L. Ron Hubbard] on the subjects of Dianetics and Scientology,” “all services or application of the principles of Mr. Hubbard provided to me by the ministers or staff of the Church,” “auditing,” “the application of Scientology Ethics and Justice technology, which are both exclusively religious components of the practice of the Scientology religion,” “the study and the application of the principles contained in the administrative writings of LRH used with the Church” and “any and all other services or use of the technology of L. Ron Hubbard, without limitation provided to me by the ministers or staff of the Church and all other Scientology churches and organizations.”
Then comes the hammer blow:
Advertisement“Plaintiffs’ claims, as pled by them, have their genesis in their relation with the Church as created and defined by the Agreements.”
The attorneys then list what those claims are, as evidence that they arise directly from a member’s relationship with the Church of Scientology.
— “Each pleads that Mr. Masterson assaulted them when members of the Church, that he was in the Church’s employ and acted as the Church’s agent at the time of the supposed assaults…”
— “that the Church then conspired to cover-up the assaults and dissuade the Plaintiffs from reporting the assaults to the police…”
— “Each alleges that Church doctrine forbade them from reporting their assaults, that they were then declared ‘Suppressive Persons’ for making such reports, and then targeted under the alleged Church doctrine of ‘Fair Game’ for harassment for the violations of Church doctrine.”
Instead of denying that any of this occurred, Scientology here is listing these claims by Chrissie Carnell Bixler and the others as proof that they arise from their relationship with the Church of Scientology.
The “commerce” of Scientology, in other words, is pledging your life to the policies of L. Ron Hubbard, which spell out explicitly that you will be harassed, stalked, and much worse if you cross the church.
And after citing more of the specific claims of how these women were subjected to humiliating Scientology rituals intended to keep them from going to the police, and were targeted by Fair Game harassment after they did come forward, Scientology argues that this only confirms that the disputes come out of the agreements they signed to be bound by L. Ron Hubbard’s word that they would be Fair Gamed and excommunicated if they spoke out.
Thus the claims explicitly include Church conduct against Plaintiffs while they were members, including instruction and religious services they received from the Church in response to reporting the assaults, application of Church doctrine against them, and their status within the Church.
Judge, they are saying, it’s true that the policies of L. Ron Hubbard spell out that these women would be terrorized if they went to the police. So it’s really not up to you to decide whether or not that’s something that’s covered by the agreements they signed. This is the commerce of Scientology, and so the church can decide what will be arbitrated or not.
AMAZING.
We can’t help thinking of another time that Scientology had its back against a wall in a lawsuit and reacted by dropping its mask and speaking plainly what it was all about.
We’re referring to another lawsuit that alleged Fair Game harassment, which was brought by Monique Rathbun in Texas in 2013. You may recall that when it was obvious that attorney Ray Jeffrey was running circles around Scientology’s lawyers and that David Miscavige might actually be hauled into court for a deposition, Scientology’s attorneys dropped all pretense.
Like now, we were stunned then to see Scientology openly admit what we’d been saying about them for decades…
AdvertisementIn its motion, Scientology is making stunning admissions: That, for example, the Church of Scientology International now admits being involved in sending the “Squirrel Busters” crew to South Texas and paying some of their expenses so they could protest outside of the Rathbun home from April to September 2011 (earlier, CSI attorney Les Strieber had denied in court that CSI had sent the Squirrel Busters). Scientology private investigator David Lubow is admitting that he helped run the operation. Two other defendants in the lawsuit, Monty Drake and Steven Gregory Sloat, are similarly admitting to being part of Scientology schemes to surveil the Rathbuns.
When Scientology is up against it in court, it drops the mask and says outright that yes, the words of L. Ron Hubbard really are the policy of Scientology, and that operating Fair Game campaigns against former members is simply what Scientology does as a result of those policies.
Once again, as if we ever really needed it, Scientology is openly agreeing with what we have been saying here at the Underground Bunker for years, what Leah Remini and Mike Rinder have been saying on their television show and podcast, and what so many other journalists and former members have been saying since the 1950s about this paranoid, vindictive organization that uses the courts as a weapon.
So now, will admitting that wrecking human lives is, in fact, the “commerce” of Scientology force Judge Kleifield to agree with them that his hands are tied? In our discussions with legal experts, it’s been pointed out to us that a 2019 US Supreme Court ruling, in New Prime v. Oliveira, found that a judge like Kleifield can decide whether or not the federal act applies. And that’s one more reason why we’re really looking forward to what this judge decides.
Here then, is the stunning document itself…
Bixler v. Scientology: Supp… by Tony Ortega
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“It’s very simple to take a thetan and knock him into a state of somnolence and make him believe he is someplace else and then actually operate with him at that new place. You could, for instance, take a, go down the street here and find a lady of easy virtue and put her into a super trance and then tell her very convincingly while she’s in this super trance that you’re going to take care of her body, but you simply want her to go down and uh, be Mrs. Eisenhower. The darndest things would happen to Mrs. Eisenhower. This is one of the oldest political gimmicks in this universe. This is so old and so worn out as a political gimmick that nearly everybody has done it and he is now guilty of an overt act every time he thinks of it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 4, 1952
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“We have obtained permission from local authorities to burn paper on the dock. An incinerator is being constructed and will be used to burn confidential papers. So — paper hoarders, get your trash ready and work out how and when you will burn the trash at the end of the dock.” — Lt. N.F. Starkey, Captain, December 4, 1971
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“The internal combustion engine doesn’t work in outer space or inner space. An entirely different system of propulsion is required that is not logically deductible from the internal combustion engine and if we continue with the same successful action beyond the limits of its scope or operating space and operating principles, we are baulked and parked in a repetitive cycle until we step outside the box and into the present time location and environment, here and now, accordingly to our ability to reach: and find out where we actually are. The Confusion Formula is actually a very high gradient of confront when applied as an autonomous spiritual being here on Earth in present time. Where are we and how on earth did we get here? Where do we originate from? Originate is the key term.”
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1998: Karsten Lorenzen attended the Clearwater picket and gave testimony in the Lisa McPherson civil case concerning another isolation watch. From the St. Petersburg Times: “A former Scientologist from Denmark said Friday that he helped force bread, fruit and liquids into the throat of an unconscious woman as part of an effort help her recover from a mental breakdown. Karsten Lorenzen’s detailed account at a news conference held by a group of Scientology critics resembles the experience of Lisa McPherson, as documented by state investigators and Clearwater police. Church officials said Friday they had not fully investigated the Denmark man’s story but called it another in a series of unsupported and fantastic allegations by critics who, they contend, have serious credibility problems. They said force-feeding is not a prescribed procedure in Scientology.”
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“David Miscavige is the Sarah Winchester of cult leaders. He just keeps building and building, trying to keep the ghosts of his and Hubbard’s victims at bay.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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] Danny Masterson is served rape lawsuit in papers delivered to his wife Bijou Phillips
[TWO years ago] Scientology is known for its use of spies — and tonight, you’ll hear from one
[THREE years ago] Yes, L. Ron Hubbard wrote even more about children and sex, and we need to talk about it
[FOUR years ago] A new technology shows promise for treating depression, so Scientology wants to kill it
[FIVE years ago] How Scientology ‘caretakers’ could stand by and watch Lisa McPherson deteriorate
[SIX years ago] ‘Chicago Fire’ actor Christian Stolte sets off an alarm about Scientology and the actors’ union
[SEVEN years ago] TEXAS SHOWDOWN: Can Monique Rathbun Get an Order to Depose Scientology Leader David Miscavige?
[NINE years ago] Scientology Cruise Ship as Hellhole: The Ramana Dienes-Browning Story
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,140 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,644 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,164 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,184 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,075 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,382 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,250 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,024 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,828 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,144 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,710 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,629 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,797 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,378 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,639 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,677 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,390 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,915 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 270 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,445 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,996 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,145 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,465 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,320 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,439 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,795 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,098 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,204 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,606 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,478 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,061 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,556 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,810 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,919 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 4, 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, 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
December 3, 2020
More Scientology orgs and missions got Covid bailouts than we knew: The detailed breakdown
[Scientology worked the pandemic to its advantage in various ways]
This summer when the Trump Administration first released limited information about which businesses had received Covid bailout loans, we reported that among them were three Scientology churches — the New York and DC ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and the Belleair, Florida mission — as well as two Narconon drug rehab entities and Scientology’s nuttiest front group, Citizens Commission on Human Rights. We also pointed out that four Scientology-affiliated schools received PPP loans, including Scientology’s “Hogwarts,” its premier boarding school in Oregon.
Now, the administration has released more detailed information about the exact dollar amounts of the PPP loans, and it turns out that several more Scientology entities are on the list. We have the full breakdown for you, which includes not only dollar amounts but also the identity of the lenders involved.
“It’s insane,” Leah Remini told the Daily Beast when she was asked about Scientology getting Covid bailouts of taxpayer money in July. “Mike [Rinder] and I have tried to meet many times with the IRS, and the IRS knows what they’ve done. They’ve known that they’ve cleared the way for Scientology to misappropriate their money. It’s run like a business for profit. And this just says that!”
Rinder added, “The PPP loans were about ensuring that people don’t lose their jobs, and Scientology, when confronted about the fact that they don’t pay minimum wage or anything, say these people are volunteers! Staff members of Scientology organizations are ‘volunteers,’ they’re not employees, and they’re getting loans so that people don’t lose their jobs?”
It does seem insane. And now we know the full extent of it.
AdvertisementFirst, the Scientology orgs:
Founding Church of Scientology of Washington DC
Amount: $184,837
Lender: TD Bank
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard created the first “Church of Scientology” corporation in December 1953 in Camden, New Jersey, and the first actual church opened in February 1954 in Los Angeles. The DC church didn’t open until 1955, but it’s still called the “Founding Church of Scientology” by the organization. It opened its “Ideal” version, on 16th St NW, on October 31, 2009, and that’s the facility that received the PPP loan on April 30.
Church of Scientology of New York
Amount: $184,071
Lender: Kabbage, Inc.
Just off Times Square, the New York “Ideal Org” on W 46th Street was formally opened on September 26, 2004.
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Church of Scientology Mission of Belleair
Amount: $150,000
Lender: Regions Bank
Although Belleair is only a mission, its proximity to Clearwater means it is under more scrutiny by church leadership than most.
Church of Scientology of Harlem
Amount: $133,043
Lender: Bank of America
The Harlem Ideal Org and its community center were opened on July 31, 2016.
Church of Scientology of Michigan
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Amount: $91,067
Lender: The Huntington National Bank
The Detroit Ideal Org is a newer one, having opened October 14, 2018.
Church of Scientology Mission of Los Feliz
Amount: $82,855
Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank
Sandlot actor and Scientologist Patrick Renna opened the Los Feliz mission in 2013.
Church of Scientology of Boston
Amount: $54,200
Lender: Citizens Bank
Boston’s few Scientologists are still raising money for the grand opening of their Ideal Org, which will be housed in a nondescript office building next to a highway (see photo). In the meantime, the “church” is an out of the way office somewhere.
Church of Scientology of Missouri
Amount: $40,130
Lender: Royal Banks of Missouri
St. Louis is another place where Scientologists have been hit up for donations for a new “Ideal Org” for literally decades. After one disastrous real estate misadventure, the latest plan seems to be to merely add on to their existing building.
Church of Scientology (Lake Forest, CA)
Amount: $39,455
Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank
The Lake Forest “Ideal Mission” was opened on July 18, 2017.
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Church of Scientology Mission of Baton Rouge
Amount: $32,909
Lender: First Horizon Bank
The Baton Rouge Ideal Mission was opened on July 8, 2017.
Church of Scientology Mission of Sherman Oaks
Amount: $17,574
Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank
We’re surprised to hear this place exists at all at this point.
Church of Scientology of Puerto Rico
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Amount: $14,500
Lender: Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
Fundraising for an Ideal Org in Puerto Rico had begun in earnest before the pandemic hit. This is an artist’s rendition of what it will look like.
Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre of New York
Amount: $13,733
Lender: Kabbage, Inc.
Not to be confused with either the Hollywood Celebrity Centre or the “Ideal Org” off of Times Square, the small “Celebrity Centre” on 82nd Street in Manhattan has a much lower profile.
Church of Scientology of Illinois
Amount: $12,831
Lender: Bank of America
Another project that has gone through years and years of fundraising, the Ideal Org in Chicago was nearing its grand opening when the pandemic lockdown stopped everything in its tracks.
Church of Scientology Mission of Houston
Amount: $10,497
Lender: BBVA USA
The largest city in North America without a Scientology “org,” Houston got a new “Ideal Mission” last year as a consolation prize.
Church of Scientology of Buffalo
Amount: $8,600
Lender: Evans Bank
One of the first Ideal Orgs created, the Buffalo version went through a rededication in 2012.
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Church of Scientology Battle Creek
Amount: $6,990
Lender: Kabbage, Inc.
Another small mission on life support that managed to snag a loan.
The Narconon rehabs:
Narconon Fresh Start
Amount: $481,447
Lender: Wells Fargo Bank
Fresh Start operates several Narconon rehabs in Southern California.
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Narconon Suncoast
Amount: $199,905
Lender: Regions Bank
After the flagship rehab in Oklahoma hit on hard times, Scientology put a lot of effort into a new large Narconon center in Clearwater and close to its spiritual mecca, the Flag Land Base.
Narconon Louisiana – New Life Retreat
Amount: $133,052
Lender: First Guaranty Bank
The rehab near Baton Rouge was opened in 2006.
Narconon Pacific Coast
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Amount: $125,679
Lender: Wells Fargo Bank
Scientology bought Larry Hagman’s estate in beautiful Ojai, California in order to turn it into a boutique Narconon for celebrities who needed to dry out. Business must be bad, though. Not only did they apply for a PPP loan, but they have a GoFundMe now that Juliette Lewis is pimping.
Narconon of Oklahoma
Amount: $74,900
Lender: The Bank National Association
Narconon Arrowhead in Oklahoma was Scientology’s flagship rehab, designed to house more than 200 patients at a time. But three patient deaths in a nine-month period in 2012 brought a lot of unwanted attention, and the place has been a shell of what it once was.
The schools…
Delphi Schools, Inc.
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Amount: $947,000
Lender: KeyBank
The Delphian School in Sheridan, Oregon has been called “Scientology’s Hogwarts,” and it’s a place where wealthy Scientologist parents park their kids to prepare for service in the church. This warped institution received the single biggest PPP loan.
Clearwater Academy International
Amount: $255,900
Lender: BankUnited
Has become known as much for its football program than for its Hubbardism, Clearwater Academy specializes in recruiting European students who have talent for American football.
True School
Amount: $251,955
Lender: The Bank of Tampa
Also known as the Delphi Academy of Florida, this Clearwater school is another feeder for future Sea Org workers.
Delphi Academy of Boston, Inc.
Amount: $216,500
Lender: The Bank of Canton
“An independent, coeducational, non-sectarian day school,” it calls itself. Sure.
The Front Groups…
Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Amount: $307,440
Lender: Bank of America
CCHR is Scientology’s most unhinged front group, openly attacking the mental health profession and offering Hubbardism as a replacement. Its most over-the-top move is operating the “Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Museum” on Sunset Boulevard. After the Delphian School, this monument to insanity received the largest PPP loan.
Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Austin
Amount: $28,485
Lender: BancorpSouth Bank
CCHR Texas director Lee Spiller got his very own episode on the Scientology TV channel.
Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida
Amount: $24,300
Lender: Regions Bank
CCHR regularly lobbies against any advancement in mental health that threatens to make its way into law.
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Applied Scholastics of Northern California
Amount: $122,865
Lender: Bank of America
Applied Scholastics is a Scientology front that tries to get school districts to accept its educational materials, without telling them that it’s a way to get L. Ron Hubbard into the schools and, eventually, Scientology itself.
Applied Scholastics Online Academy
Amount: $37,396
Lender: Bank of America
An online private school that Applied Scholastics operates, and that has a Perris, California address. Not sketchy at all.
The Way to Happiness Foundation
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Amount: $33,701
Lender: Pacific Premier Bank
A Scientology front group that prints an anodyne pamphlet with ripped-off tenets of basic morality that it then presents as the answer to all of life’s ills.
Hubbard College of Administration
Amount: $113,863
Lender: CDC Small Business Finance Corporation
L. Ron Hubbard considered himself a genius of business organization, and so Scientology tries to rope in business executives with his administration schemes.
Valley Life Improvement Center
Amount: $9,208
Lender: Cross River Bank
Granada Hills Scientologist and Stand League blogger Joe Hochman managed to snag a PPP loan for his field operation, the Valley Life Improvement Center. Such field outfits used to be a lot more numerous and fed the orgs with beginning Scientologists.
So let’s add it up:
Scientology orgs and missions: $1,077,292
Narconon rehabs: $1,014,983
The schools: $1,671,355
The front groups: $677,258
For a grand total of $4.4 million in taxpayer money going to Scientology and its affiliated groups, an organization that is filthy rich in donations and real estate and already pays its workers minimum wage or less.
What a country.
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“In the final run of it, he gets up to a fairly comprehensive idea of what he’s been and done….He gets himself one Godawful amount of time blocked out. Oh, some terrific amount of time blocked out. He gets up to trillions to the eighth power. Time, you know. Oh man, time, you see. First he gets horrified, you see, at the idea of twelve trillion years ago or something like that. He gets finally, up to a point where trillions to the eighth power take him back to some of the earliest implants. And he’s perfectly happy at this level that there’s an awful lot of track….Now, his track goes sizzling back to trillions to the 200th power. Well that’s, of course, one of these ridiculous figures. That’s trillion written two hundred times. Or one with two hundred times you write all the ciphers of a trillion. That gets to be quite a few ciphers and every one of those things is a year. You’re getting into the sweep of time by this time. Well, I myself have had, I just thought I was doing fine when I was doing some research this last summer. I said, ‘Gee, you know we’re getting clear back here.’ Trillions four, you know. Whew, you know? Dizzying. Concepts of time. Trying to date one of these confounded things, you know. Trying to handle these fantastic periods of time with arithmetic, and trying to dream up other methods of going into all this. Rough! Because it just took the auditor too tall, too long to say anything so you got crude rough approximations like, trillions 4.5, see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 3, 1963
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——————–
“PORT: All is cool. They didn’t even come aboard to clear us in. Customs and police just wrote us down as cleared in. We are now popular here after the attempted attack and our then asserting PRO Area Control. They are honestly glad to see us. We will be here about six days. It has rained so hard here they couldn’t unload ships and the storm drove even more ships in because it made crews nearly 100 percent seasick on other ships. Trust you had a good liberty.” — The Commodore, December 3, 1969
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“The World Government is being implemented right now before our faces. Scientology OTs should have been working on LRH’s One World Government since the 60’s. International City. L. Ron Hubbard Lecture of 24 March 1964. LRH explains the plans for world peace by setting up an International City in Northern Africa.”
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2002: RTE reported that a former Scientologist is suing Scientology for psychological injuries while she was a member. “A Dublin woman who claims she was brainwashed by a cult has begun a High Court legal action for damages. 40-year-old sports shop owner Mary Johnson from Westwood, Foxrock, was a member of the Church of Scientology for two years between 1992 and 1994. She is now suing the organisation because of the experiences and pressures she claims she suffered while a member and the threats and intimidation when she tried to leave. In the High Court today her lawyer Sean Ryan said the evidence in the case will show how she was sucked into the organisation and subjected to processes and procedures which brought her under its control and influence. It is claimed she suffered psychiatric and psychological injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. She was introduced of Scientology in 1992 when she was upset after a relationship break-up.”
——————–
“The really scary thing to me about Carla Moxon is that there are literally millions of others like her in this world that are seriously mentally deluded due to magical thinking and they are among us doing jobs that could cause the rest of us harm if they just go off a tad too much at the wrong time. Anybody keeping track of all the problems going on with members of the ICBM defense system? And that’s not even due to magical thinking.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientologist says the church is telling Clearwater members not to vote for Mark Bunker
[TWO years ago] Thar she blows: The ‘whales’ who are keeping Scientology afloat in 2018
[THREE years ago] Scientology loses another outlet for attracting young acting talent in Hollywood
[FOUR years ago] In Scientology, dancing in a conga line might end up costing you thousands
[FIVE years ago] Augustine: How Scientology changes its story to fit what it’s trying to get away with
[SIX years ago] About that Tom Cruise Scientology ‘co-leader’ nonsense spreading in the media
[SEVEN years ago] Our Experts Prepare Us for the Wall of Fire — Scientology’s Operating Thetan Level Three!
[NINE years ago] Scientology Capsize: Commenters of the Week!
[ELEVEN years ago] David Cross Endorses Scientology In a Way Only He Can
——————–
Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,139 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,643 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,163 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,183 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,074 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,381 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,249 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,023 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,827 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,143 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,709 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,628 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,796 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,377 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,638 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,676 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,389 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,914 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 269 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,444 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,995 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,144 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,464 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,319 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,438 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,794 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,097 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,203 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,605 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,477 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,060 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,555 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,809 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,918 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on December 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, 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
December 2, 2020
The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 8: The ghost private eyes
One of the hallmarks of Scientology harassment is the “noisy” nature of it. Usually, when you’re the target of a Scientology “Fair Game” campaign (and your proprietor can confirm this from personal experience) you know very well that it’s happening. Scientology wants you to know that your friends and family are being called and visited by Scientology foot soldiers (such as a person we previously profiled in this series).
But in recent years we’ve also learned about a different set of operatives that Scientology uses and is willing to spend exorbitant amounts on. These more ghostly individuals are tasked with surveillance that can go to extreme lengths to keep someone under the watchful eye of Scientology leader David Miscavige, while keeping the target unaware that it’s going on.
We learned a stunning amount of detail about this when two of the ghost PIs made the extraordinary move of coming forward in 2012.
Paul Marrick and Greg Arnold were former police officers who had spent 24 years silently stalking a figure that terrified Miscavige, his former Sea Org partner in crime, Pat Broeker. After the death of L. Ron Hubbard in 1986, much of the Scientology membership believed that Broeker and his wife Annie would be successors to the church founder. But Miscavige muscled them out of the way and Broeker went into exile. A paranoid Miscavige wanted to know every move Broeker made, 24 hours a day, so for nearly the next quarter century he paid Marrick and Arnold to tail Broeker.
AdvertisementThe two former spies told us that they had gone as far as to rent a house next door to Broeker’s and took advantage of early wireless telephone vulnerabilities to listen in on his phone calls. They had used intermediaries to befriend Broeker for even more information. And they had followed him to Europe and around the US.
And their number one rule, they told us, was never to let Broeker know that he was being watched.
[Paul Marrick and Greg Arnold]
Marrick and Arnold had been told they had jobs for life as long as they didn’t break this rule. But after Marty Rathbun alluded to their operation (but not by name) in the epic 2009 Tampa Bay Times series “The Truth Rundown,” Miscavige cancelled the program and cut Marrick and Arnold loose. So they sued for breach of contract and went public for one really amazing day that we got to spend with them in Texas. (And please read our story about it if you haven’t.) The Tampa Bay Times guys got them the next afternoon. And when Miscavige got wind that the duo were talking to the press, he quickly settled the lawsuit to make them clam up.
Since then we learned about another, similar operation, when Ron Miscavige, Dave’s dad, revealed that he’d been the target of a stalking operation. In this case it was a father-son pair, Dwayne and Daniel Powell (see photo at top) who were following Ron after his 2012 escape from the Sea Org. This time, the two private eyes talked openly about their operation, but in this case it was because they were facing weapons charges for what police found in their car, and they sang like canaries.
Like Merrick and Arnold, the Powells were charged with following their target and making sure he didn’t know it. They put tracking devices on his car, and also used intermediaries to befriend him. But the most important thing they were doing was feeding information daily for David Miscavige’s consumption, and for the price of $10,000 a week in cash.
At one point, when they were watching Ron across a Wal-Mart parking lot, they saw him clutch for his chest. Ron, then 74, was actually reaching for a cell phone that was falling out of his shirt pocket. But from across the parking lot the Powells thought they were seeing an older man having a heart attack. They told police that they called their Florida handler, who immediately put them in touch with Miscavige. Dwyane Powell said that the Scientology leader told him to do nothing. “If he dies, he dies,” Miscavige supposedly said.
It was more important for the PIs to maintain their cover, and to make sure that Ron never knew he was being followed, than to intervene and possibly save his life.
Are there Scientology ghost PIs working today, silently following people that David Miscavige wants watched around the clock? Almost certainly. We can think of a dozen people Miscavige is terrified of that he would want watched.
And so these former cops and private eyes, whoever they are today, help Dave maintain his Fair Game empire.
The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology
8: The ghost private eyes
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9: The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office
10: Political shills
11: Gary Soter
12: The city of Clearwater, Florida
13: Google and other tech titans
14: The Los Angeles Times
15: Jeffrey Riffer
16: James Packer
17: Louis Farrakhan
18: Mark “Marty” Rathbun
19: Wally Pope
20: Gensler
21: Parents who subscribe to ABCMouse
22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers
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23: The apologist academics
24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel
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“Sex — it’s interesting, but aberrative value of sex compared to the aberrative value of eight is zero. Of course, what happens to somebody like Freud that concentrates on sex, is he really doesn’t have guts enough to just kick completely outside all agreements with his civilization. And for somebody in 1894 to have suddenly said, ‘God — well, I tell you about God, he’s a trick!’ They probably would have lynched him. They’ll probably lynch me yet, but anyway … For somebody to have kicked outside the confines of the church at that time would have been too adventurous to contemplate. It almost is now.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 2, 1953
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“A Court of Ethics is convened on MSM Ann Tidman. She did not come on duty till 0930. This violates Policy No. 10. Ann Tidman is to appear before the Court at 1930 in the Aft Lounge. Court Officer is Ens. Wayne Alkire.” — Ens. C. Cariotaki, T/3rd Mate, Convening Officer, December 2, 1970
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“At a fundamental level of case address the Factors, Qs, Axioms of Scientology, Logics, Scales and Action Definitions plus associated LRH Source References are ORIGINATED by each person in their own terms and within their own context simply because as LRH states in THE STABILITY OF SCIENTOLOGY providing one actually APPLIES the subject these fundamental truths of life and existence are simply there to be found by anyone who does the spiritual work. THIS IS ALSO THE ACID TEST OF ANY RESEARCH ROUTE. DOES THE PERSON END UP ORIGINATING BASIC LRH PRECEPTS IN THEIR OWN TERMS AND CONTEXT? That’s WHY Scientology as defined by LRH is stable, WHY ‘Standard Tech’ exists and WHY one exercises the self-discipline to study and apply the PRINCIPLES of the subject as defined by LRH who quite simply was able to define these principles at a level of As-Isness beyond individuation because he created the opportunity for himself to test, verify and do so. Scientology was discovered and is there to be found by anyone who studies and applies it.”
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1996: Jason Scott, victor in his case against the Cult Awareness Network, has changed attorneys. Scientologist Kendrick Moxon, who has attempted to liquidate CAN, was dismissed. In his place, Graham Berry. “In replacing Kendrick Moxon, Jason Scott said that he had not seen a penny of his judgment against the Cult Awareness Network and that he was now retaining Graham Berry to try and negotiate a settlement that would both put a reasonable sum of money in his pocket and perhaps enable the Cult Awareness Network to emerge from the bankruptcy it filed as a result of his judgment against it. In addition, Mr. Scott said that he was tired of being a Scientology poster-boy, and that he felt Kendrick Moxon had discarded him after he had obtained the judgment against the Cult Awareness Network. Now, said Mr. Scott, he merely wants to settle his claims against CAN, obtain some money, reunite with his wife and family and put this whole saga behind him.”
——————–
“I’m an old punk who never had much time for hippies, but in retrospect I gotta admit they accomplished more than we punks did. We just had better fashion and got the music back to where it should be. I don’t know, but it always seems that after a certain point in any movement that the soldiers outlive their usefulness and the diplomats always take over.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] TWO MORE WOMEN COME FORWARD TO LAPD WITH DANNY MASTERSON RAPE ALLEGATIONS
[TWO years ago] How to finance a Scientology church in a city without any Scientologists
[THREE years ago] DOX: Scientology’s pricey Florida ‘spiritual mecca’ keeps up its value in latest tax records
[FOUR years ago] You saw Bonny Elliott talk about her battle with Scientology; Now hear it from her husband
[FIVE years ago] Hey, Legoland: A former Scientology youth explains what your money will buy
[SIX years ago] Another Riffer-ific salvo from Scientology leader David Miscavige in our legal roundup
[SEVEN years ago] Here Comes Scientology, Here Comes Scientology, Right Down Hollywood Boulevard!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Targeting Eagle Scouts In New Initiative
——————–
Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,138 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,642 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,162 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,182 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,073 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,380 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,248 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,022 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,826 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,142 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,708 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,627 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,795 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,376 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,637 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,675 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,388 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,913 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 268 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,443 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,994 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,143 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,463 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,318 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,437 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,793 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,096 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,202 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,604 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,476 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,059 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,554 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,808 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,917 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on December 2, 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, 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
December 1, 2020
If the feds are sniffing around, they might look at Danny Masterson’s besties
[Danny Masterson stalwarts: Ben Shulman and Brie Shaffer]
In October we reported on a new development in the lawsuit filed by Danny Masterson’s rape accusers against the That ’70s Show actor and the Church of Scientology.
The lawsuit was filed in August 2019, alleging that Masterson and the church had conducted a campaign of harassment against the women since they came forward in 2016 with their allegations to the Los Angeles Police Department. The lawsuit was about that harassment, and not about the rape allegations themselves.
But then on June 16 Masterson was charged by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for raping three of the women who are suing him. He’s facing 45 years to life in prison, and he’s scheduled to be arraigned on January 6.
The new development we reported on October 11 was that Masterson, as expected, had filed a motion asking the court in the civil lawsuit to put a hold on some things as he’s facing criminal charges and the possibility of a rape trial. It could be potentially disastrous to him if the civil case requires him to give a deposition, for example, which would be testimony that could be used against him by the DA’s office. So it makes sense that Masterson wants to rein in the civil case in the meantime.
But even if that motion was expected, there was something very surprising in that court document which we referred to in our story, and so far none of the other media has bothered to point it out.
AdvertisementIn a letter attached to Masterson’s motion, it was revealed that one of his accusers, the woman going by “Jane Doe #1” in the lawsuit and that we have also been referring to as Victim B, asked Masterson to turn over any documents related to “Grand Jury proceedings” and also any information about the involvement of other law enforcement agencies besides the LAPD and District Attorney’s office.
We figure it was a bit of a bombshell that one of Danny Masterson’s accusers, at least, seems to think he knows about a grand jury looking into this case, and the prospect of another agency investigating, which seems to be a pretty clear reference to the feds.
Are the feds looking at this situation? We can’t say for certain, although we’ve certainly heard some interesting things. And what would the feds be looking into? The victims in this case have repeatedly complained about the church conspiring to keep them from getting justice. And there’s plenty that they’ve alleged in the civil lawsuit for law enforcement to dig into.
It’s a tantalizing possibility, and we’ll keep looking for a sign that a federal case is also being developed.
In the meantime, we wanted to bring up one odd situation that we hope investigators take some time to look into.
It’s something that we learned about very soon after we first broke the news of the LAPD investigation into Masterson in March 2017. And it involves some property swaps that sure look suspicious.
As we’ve reported before, Victim B/Jane Doe #1 alleges that she was attacked by Masterson at his house on the night of a party in April 2003. In subsequent weeks, she alleges that the Church of Scientology tried to keep her from going to the LAPD with her allegations, and also put her through about $15,000 of past life therapy to help her understand what evil things she had done in previous centuries and millennia that would explain why she had become a victim in this lifetime.
But despite that treatment by the church, in June 2004 she went to the LAPD, which opened an investigation. The church responded by convincing the LAPD to close the case by filing numerous affidavits by church members denying that the attack had occurred. In September 2004, with the LAPD investigation shut down, Masterson then had his attorney, famous entertainment lawyer Marty Singer, present the woman with an offer for payment as long as she signed a non-disclosure agreement and promised never to talk about her allegations. Pressured by the church to sign the agreement or she would be excommunicated (“declared a suppressive person”), she signed and received something in the low six figures.
That same month, in September 2004, Danny Masterson then made two curious financial moves.
On September 15, 2004 he transferred ownership of a two-story, seven-bedroom, 3-unit apartment house on Clinton Street in Echo Park to his assistant, a woman named Brie Shaffer.
[1913-1915 Clinton Street]
The same day, Masterson and his close friend Ben Shulman transferred ownership of another property, a 4-unit apartment house on Edgeware Road in Silver Lake, also to Shaffer.
[827-833 Edgeware Road]
Why, the same month Masterson had convinced his rape accuser to sign an NDA, would he transfer two of his properties to his assistant?
Legal experts point out to us that although Victim B had signed an NDA and had promised not to speak out, Masterson must have known that there was still the possibility that she might sue him. Any property he owned, they tell us, might have been drawn into the conflict.
But Victim B had only two years to file a lawsuit based on the incident that happened in April 2003.
And it’s what Masterson did in April 2005, two years later, that really caught our attention.
After those two years had passed and it was obvious that Victim B was not going to sue Masterson, the actor made two financial moves.
On April 15, 2005, Brie Shaffer transferred ownership of 1913-1915 Clinton Street back to her boss, Danny Masterson.
And on April 28, 2005, Shaffer transferred ownership of 827-833 Edgeware Road back to Masterson.
The Clinton Street house today is valued at about $1.2 million. The Edgeware Road building at $1.9 million.
[Scientologists Brie Shaffer and her husband, actor Michael Peña]
Did Brie Shaffer help her employer Danny Masterson keep properties out of Victim B’s reach while she had the chance to sue Masterson for allegedly raping her? We tried to ask Shaffer that question by messaging her and her attorney, Scientologist R. Rosser Cole, several weeks ago. We got no response.
AdvertisementWe also messaged Masterson’s criminal and civil attorneys for comment. On the criminal side Masterson is represented by legendary defense lawyer Tom Mesereau, who has responded to our questions in the past. But he didn’t respond this time. And neither did Masterson’s civil attorney, Andrew Brettler.
And funny thing about Brettler. He works for Marty Singer at the law firm Lavely & Singer, the same Marty Singer who pressured Victim B to sign an NDA. It has struck us that no objection has been raised by Victim B’s legal team that Masterson is being represented by the law firm whose principal is literally a witness and significant figure in the case. An attorney we’ve turned to for advice about this case tells us he’s astonished that Victim B’s attorneys haven’t filed to have Brettler disqualified from the case.
Well, what do we know. We’re just looking at records and asking questions. And if the feds are doing the same, we have a feeling they’ll be interested in these property records and the story they appear to tell.
We hope, for example, that they have better luck getting in touch with Shulman. We wanted to ask him about giving up his partial ownership of the Edgeware Road building when it was transferred to Shaffer, because when she gave it back, she gave it only to Masterson, property records indicate.
[Masterson and best bud Ben Shulman]
Shulman is an interesting figure. Not only is he totally dedicated to his friend Danny Masterson (he was part of the scrum that showed up for Danny’s court appearance on September 18 that threw the court into confusion and delayed a hearing), he’s had an interesting connection to other Scientology celebrity families.
He was married to Brandy Lewis, Juliette’s sister, who is now married to actor Ethan Suplee. After his marriage to Brandy, Shulman was then paired with another Scientology celeb, Rebecca Minkoff, as her bag business exploded.
Embed from Getty Images
[Ben Shulman with Rebecca Minkoff, and on the left Ben’s younger brother Nicky, in 2008]
And another aside we can’t help throwing in. Ben’s younger brother Nicky has his own interesting journey in Scientology. We’ve confirmed with a couple of former Sea Org members that Nicky was with Serge Obolensky when Obolensky blew his hands off with a pipe bomb.
Obolensky’s story is a sad one and has been told in various forms before. But what we’d like to confirm with Nicky is something we were told that we hadn’t heard before: That the reason Obolensky was handling explosives was that he was on a mission to blow up newspaper boxes in Hollywood that had carried negative news about Scientology (“entheta”) and as a way to strike a blow against the “psychs,” the psychiatric profession that Scientology sees as the universe’s greatest evil force.
Nicky’s out of Scientology, we hear, but we were unable to reach him. If he’s listening, we sure would like to talk to him about Obolensky, about his brother Ben, and about his own observations of what Masterson and his besties were up to. The more we look into it, the more we find.
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SOME OF OUR PAST REPORTING ON THE MASTERSON CASE
March 3, 2017: LAPD probing Scientology and Danny Masterson for multiple rapes, cover-up
March 8, 2017: Danny Masterson: Victim C gets support from a veteran actress
March 11, 2017: Scientology made Danny Masterson’s Victim B search past lives to explain being raped
May 9, 2017: Masterson hires Michael Jackson criminal defense attorney Tom Mesereau in rape probe
Nov 2, 2017: Read the threatening letter Danny Masterson’s attorney Marty Singer sent a victim’s husband
Nov 26, 2017: EXCLUSIVE: Scientology interrogated Danny Masterson and accuser, didn’t notify LAPD
Feb 14, 2018: PROSECUTORS PREPARE CHARGES CARRYING LIFE SENTENCE FOR DANNY MASTERSON
Apr 27, 2018: Strange days for a woman accusing Danny Masterson of rape — and for her rocker husband
July 8, 2018: Masterson witness fears for safety as investigation drags on and on
Nov 30, 2018: LEAH REMINI: Los Angeles DA Jackie Lacey, do your job already
Aug 14, 2019: RAPE ACCUSERS SUE DANNY MASTERSON, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY, AND ITS LEADER
Jan 22, 2020: Cedric Bixler-Zavala blames Scientology for poisoned dog he had to put down yesterday
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Feb 3, 2020: Here’s Scientology actor Danny Masterson’s legal response to his rape accusers
Feb 10, 2020: Another dog poisoned: Bobette Riales says harassment worse since suing Scientology
Feb 26, 2020: SEVENTH victim comes forward to LAPD accusing Scientology actor Danny Masterson
Feb 29, 2020: Amended complaint filed against Danny Masterson with new stalking allegations
March 14, 2020: Danny Masterson’s victims speak out in sworn documents in lawsuit against Scientology
June 17, 2020: SCIENTOLOGY CELEB DANNY MASTERSON CHARGED ON MULTIPLE RAPE ALLEGATIONS
June 19, 2020: Records show that Danny Masterson is a woeful Scientologist — would he turn on the church?
June 23: 2020: The key thing about Danny Masterson’s ‘DJ Donkey Punch’ nick is why he stopped using it
Sept 30, 2020: Could Danny Masterson’s odd legal fight over his Hollywood house endanger his freedom?
Oct 11, 2020: Danny Masterson asks to halt civil lawsuit while criminal case is ongoing, as expected
Oct 12, 2020: Bijou Phillips on her husband Danny Masterson: A macho ‘Strong Island’ guy
Oct 16, 2020: Danny Masterson ‘accidentally’ outs Jane Doe accuser after judge told him not to
Nov 16, 2020: Judge in Danny Masterson lawsuit doubts Scientology ‘arbitration,’ sets hearing
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Nov 19, 2020: Danny Masterson takes another expensive and futile swipe at his criminal charges
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“All this of course is, is, I’m just, I’m just kidding you mostly. I don’t believe that you’ve been in the universe seventy-six trillion years. I don’t believe you have any past before birth. I don’t believe that there’s any reason whatsoever for this universe to be here except that some fellow called the devil or something that built it. Uh, I don’t believe any of these things. And I don’t want to be agreed with about them. It infuriates me to be agreed with about them, so I’m not asking for anybody to agree with me. But I’m not asking for anybody to disagree with me either.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 1, 1952
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“NEXT PORT: The next port has its drawbacks but also its advantages. It is a bit dusty and occasionally smelly. But it is very quiet. It has an interesting native area. And you can have ash trays by the ton at the pottery shop. Remember to bargain hard. Offer a third or less of what is asked and come up a bit when buying odds and ends.” — The Commodore, December 1, 1970
——————–
“I used to wonder what if I accidentally ended up in a female body next time around. Oh my god, I couldn’t act like a woman, that’s just not me. Would I also solve this with a sex change or just turn dyke? Well into Solo NOTs, that’s no longer a concern, as these considerations on gender-beingness and identity have gone out the window since and I no longer have any issues or concerns which one I end up with, as I would be comfortable now operating whichever lot fell my way. It’s really just a matter of willingness to assume a beingness and take responsibility for it which I previously would have rejected as … ugghh, puke. I’m pretty sure Bruce Jenner could have been contented with his sex and accepted it for what it is had he gone up the Bridge instead of under the knife. Psych alter-is = complications, non-comprehensibles = professionals trained in the schools of false data = MONEY, STATUS. Who’d wanna mess with a such a good thing?”
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——————–
Past is Prologue
1995: Judge Leonie M. Brinkema dismissed the case of the RTC against the Washington Post. “A lawsuit against The Washington Post by the Church of Scientology has been dismissed by a federal judge, who ordered the church to pay all attorney fees in the suit. US District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema said that the church had no grounds to prohibit The Post from printing brief excerpts from religious texts that the church has tried to conceal from the public. The excerpts were published in a Style section story on litigation between the church and former members who have put the disputed texts on the Internet. In her ruling, filed yesterday, Brinkema said The Post’s quotations from copyrighted church texts were brief and fell within fair use doctrine, which allows publications to quote some copyrighted materials in covering matters of public interest.”
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“I’m putting out a shoop challenge. I’m envisioning a shoop of LRH with a doll of Miscavige sitting on his lap and Tiny Cancer has a Tom Cruise doll sitting on his lap. The prize to the winner is a chicken dinner or a quadrillion Howdy bucks.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology amps up shattering suppression in the wake of Leah Remini’s onslaught
[TWO years ago] President George H.W. Bush dies at 94, and we remember a fateful October 1991 day
[THREE years ago] How L. Ron Hubbard used ‘past lives’ to set a trap for Scientologists
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini: Scientology’s new attack has a Katie Holmes angle they aren’t talking about
[FIVE years ago] Legoland theme park donates $10,000 to Scientology front on behalf of Jenna Elfman
[SIX years ago] Hey, Dr. Phil, get a clue about Scientology and stop stiff-arming Lori Hodgson
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Fundraising Mailers Galore!
[NINE years ago] Melissa Paris, Valeska’s Sister, And Her Own Ordeal in Scientology’s Cadet and Sea Orgs: Forced to Marry at 16
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,137 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,641 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,161 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,181 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,072 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,379 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,247 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,021 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,825 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,141 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,707 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,626 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,794 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,375 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,636 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,674 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,387 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,912 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 267 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,442 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,993 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,142 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,462 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,317 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,436 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,792 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,095 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,201 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,603 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,475 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,058 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,553 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,807 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,916 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on December 1, 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, 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
November 30, 2020
Kirstie Alley is wrong on Leah Remini & Shelly Miscavige. We know because we broke the story.
Yesterday, Kirstie Alley actually responded to a Twitter reader who asked her about Leah Remini and Shelly Miscavige.
In her response, Kirstie got a lot wrong about Leah Remini’s 2013 filing of a missing-person report on Scientology leader David Miscavige’s missing wife, and perpetuated some misinformation about that story which the media always tends to get wrong about it.
We know because we’re the ones who broke the story.
First, here’s the tweet Kirstie was responding to and her reply…
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We know the rest of the media is never going to get this story right, (and we know that Kirstie has no regard for the truth) but we’ll try yet again to set the record straight.
We broke the news here at the Underground Bunker in July 2013 that Leah had left Scientology. A few weeks later, on Monday, August 5, 2013 Leah filed a missing-person report on her friend Shelly Miscavige with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Why the LAPD? Because while she was still in Scientology, whenever Leah wanted to send a card or gift to David or Shelly Miscavige, she was told to use their official church address, which was 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Guaranty Building, a Scientology landmark.
That’s a Los Angeles address, and that’s why Leah went to the LAPD. (By then, however, we had already been reporting for more than a year that multiple lines of evidence pointed to a San Bernardino County address for Shelly’s whereabouts, but we’ll get to that in a minute.)
On Wednesday afternoon, two days after Leah made her report, we got wind of it.
The next morning, on Thursday, August 8, 2013, we broke the news that Leah had filed a missing-person report with the LAPD. Naturally, reporters began calling the police department that day asking questions about it. And that afternoon, we began hearing that the LAPD was telling reporters that Leah’s report was “unfounded,” and that Shelly was fine.
Now, because we had just reported the story that morning and the LAPD was calling Leah’s request “unfounded” that same afternoon, an impression grew in the press that her missing-person report had been submitted and rejected on the same day.
That was never the case.
Leah filed her report on Monday, August 5. Our story came out on the morning of August 8. And that afternoon, the LAPD told reporters that Shelly wasn’t missing.
So how did they know that? We later followed up with Lt. Andre Dawson of the LAPD, who told us that two of his detectives, after receiving Leah’s report, had visited with Shelly, and that Shelly had told them that she didn’t want to make a public statement.
AdvertisementWhen we asked Lt. Dawson if this conversation had taken place in the presence of other church officials, he quickly blurted out, “That’s classified.” That’s all we got out of him.
So, we will point out again, after Leah filed her report, over the course of a couple of days, the LAPD went to visit Shelly and determined that she didn’t want rescuing.
Shelly herself made no public statement, and still hasn’t been seen in the seven years since. She vanished from Gold Base near Hemet, California in late summer 2005, she was seen at the funeral of her father in the summer of 2007, and the only other indications of her existence we have are from the LAPD in 2013 and from church attorneys in a couple of more recent statements to the press.
There is not a single piece of evidence which disputes what we’ve been saying about Shelly since 2012: That her husband banished her to a small mountain compound, the headquarters of the Church of Spiritual Technology, a Scientology subsidiary, near Lake Arrowhead, California, where she works on an L. Ron Hubbard archiving project, and can never leave.
Not only is Kirstie Alley wrong that it took only “two hours” to refute Leah’s report, but it also had nothing to do with Leah’s book, which came out in 2015, or her television series Scientology and the Aftermath, which premiered in 2016.
And as far as Leah “acknowledging” what the police concluded, here’s the cold, hard truth: Although the LAPD was telling reporters the result of its investigation that afternoon in 2013, the police department never had the courtesy or courage to tell Leah directly the result of her missing-person report. She later had to threaten legal action just to get a response from the department.
It may be hard for Kirstie Alley to understand, but Leah Remini did in fact file a missing-person report on her friend Shelly out of concern for her.
If Kirstie has any concern for Shelly, why hasn’t she done something herself about Shelly’s disappearance?
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A quarter century already? The hell you say.
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Twenty five years ago today, your proprietor went to a strange and wonderful event in downtown Phoenix, where the local alternative weekly newspaper, the New Times, was throwing an artsy party to celebrate its own 25th anniversary. Blowups of covers from the past were mounted on the walls of the Icehouse, a rehabbed party space, showing the evolution of the newspaper over that time. And that week’s issue, which had come out that morning, was also blown up and hanging on the wall. Here’s what that issue looked like, along with a more recent image of the subject of the cover story, cult expert Rick Ross…
“Cult Buster” was the headline on the front page. “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans” was the clever headline on the story inside, which had been dreamed up by Jeremy Voas, the paper’s managing editor and our mentor on the piece.
Scientology considered Rick Ross an enemy and so it was a prominent player in the story.
A quarter century has now passed since our first published story about Scientology. And here’s the hell of the thing: If you asked us what our favorite story on Scientology is in all that time, we’d still tell you, “the next one.”
——————–
“Clearing, actually, is not nice. And if you’re looking for some nice, sweet procedure, why, you know, be an art critic and don’t get audited. Spend all your time in the galleries where it’s quiet and serene and nothing ever happens.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 30, 1961
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“Good News: ASHO, AOSH DK and AOLA all have higher stats. Clarice Jackson is reported to be doing absolutely fantastically and one of the most respected people in the whole area known widely in the US for her first actions. She issued ‘writs of expulsion from the church’ on Berez, Taunton, Deitsch and Bernie Green and things are cooling off. Big factors in the upsurge are said to be sending Fred Hare, the new stable datum materials and new OT III results. Guardian lines show us fighting on enemy terrain for the first time, not our own. She had loads of good news and is overjoyed with her Gdn offices.” — The Commodore, November 30, 1969
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“Forgettingness is part of aging. It has to do with shedding responsibility for the stuff of this lifetime. I’m not saying it’s inevitable; I’m just saying that it’s common out in the world. One thing that can happen: thetan goes along, and lifetime after lifetime, he lives to about the same age. He gets used to that. Now along comes a lifetime where he’s surpassing that age. But he starts to experience the symptoms of aging at the time he would normally be dying, even though he’s nowhere near dying this lifetime. Habit. Interesting comment about the body remembering what the thetan isn’t paying attention to. I often wondered about that. I rather suspect the GE has its own bank going on. I think maybe the GE records everything, but I’m (thetan) more selective. I tend to draw a blank during times of injury, and it’s not from being engrammically anaten; rather, I tend to exteriorize when the body is about to get hurt (when I don’t prevent the injury in the first place), because I don’t like or want to experience the pain. The GE probably gets it full force, but I don’t.”
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2000: Mark Bunker posted an update this week to his case for allegedly trespassing in the Scientology org in Chicago. “We had a hearing on a motion to dismiss the case because the cops stole the videotaped evidence. The judge denied that motion and set a court date for next February 5. We’ll have a jury trial at that time. Elliot Abelson came up to me after the hearing and said. ‘Doesn’t look good. Not a good sign.'”
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“Professors Kent and Touretzky are the go-to guys in the academic study of Scientology and cults in general.”
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——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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] Guy White opens his big mouth: The former Hubbard family member spills on Scientology!
[TWO years ago] The Valerie Haney interview: Scientology smear tactics, and where Shelly Miscavige is
[THREE years ago] The new list of Scientology donors is out early this year — and the biggest whale is missing!
[FOUR years ago] Amy Scobee: ‘Even on her deathbed, my mom was fighting Scientology and disconnection’
[FIVE years ago] Where it all began for us: Rick Ross, David Koresh, and the Church of Scientology
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: An oily and super powered edition of our weekly feature!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Celebrates its Legal Defense Slush Fund, and What a Party!
[EIGHT years ago] Miscavige Gets His Wish: Marty Rathbun Pulling Up Stakes?
[NINE years ago] Hey, Scientology Celebrity, Here’s Your Media Training Checksheet!
[TEN years ago] Scientology “Dark Ops” Program Exposed, Says Former Top Official
[TWENTY FIVE years ago] Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans (the Rick Ross story)
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,136 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,640 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,160 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,180 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,071 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,378 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,246 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,020 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,824 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,140 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,706 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,625 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,793 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,374 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,635 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,673 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,386 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,911 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 266 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,441 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,992 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,141 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,461 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,316 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,435 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,791 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,094 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,200 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,602 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,474 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,057 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,552 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,806 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,915 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 30, 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, 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
November 29, 2020
Another social media harvest that reveals Scientology’s planetary takeover
Once again our source has given us a sampling of the sorts of social media posts that Scientologists are sharing with each other on their way to taking over the world. Got your TRs in? Great, let’s dive in.
We mentioned that we were somewhat surprised at the lack of Charlie Wakley in some recent publicity shots from the London Org. But this week Charlie explained that he’s been busy disseminating Scientology to the English equivalent of high school students. Hip, hip, hooray?
Cooper Stith? As in, related to Scientology goon Randy Stith?
“Completed all 3 Ls” = about $75,000 of L. Ron Hubbard mumbo jumbo…
Another one finishes off the last of her space cooties by finishing OT 7!
The SRD cures heart failure!
Another Scientology ‘win’ that isn’t vague at all…
Another reference to the “Sea Org crew” at Columbus…
New Zealand may have virtually no Scientologists, but will that stop them from going Saint Hill Size? Not a chance!
The Goal: An OT Planet!
Remember Luke Ayers and his hip-hop stylings? Anyone recognize his “mega famous” friend?
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Bonus items from our tipsters
A reader sent in this great shot from the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego.
“The two islands L. Ron Hubbard shelled during the war — they belong to Mexico but can be seen from Coronado,” he says. What a great shot of the Coronado Islands which Hubbard had his ship, the USS PC-815, open fire on in May 1943 because he was bored out of his skull. It became an international kerfuffle and was one more dubious achievement for the Navy lieutenant in his disastrous World War II experience. For more about Hubbard’s war, please see Chris Owen’s excellent book, “Ron the War Hero.”
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“Every thetan is, unless he’s knocked flat out — you know, unless he’s been eating some of the recent food preservatives — this fellow is operating to some degree, even if he’s just an effect. You see, he’s, he still can put out an impulse. See, he’s mostly effect, but he can put out a little bit of an impulse, see? Well, actually that would be an interiorized thetan who was very wog. And the word ‘wog,’ of course, is in essence a ‘worthy oriental gentleman’ as been defined by the Royal Air Force. There’s nothing derogatory in being called a wog. As a matter of fact, that was the source of a general order issued in Egypt on the complaint of the Egyptian government. The air force officers were calling Egyptians wogs. So the commanding officer defined it. And he said, well, wog, that means ‘worthy oriental gentleman,’ and insisted his officers use it. Those were in the days when the Empire wasn’t dead! Anyway, this means a common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, garden-variety humanoid. And a garden-variety humanoid means a person who has human characteristics. By which we define not that he is human in his treatment of things, he isn’t. It’s simply that he is a body, he is a body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 29, 1966
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“DARBY: The DARBY started at midnight last night. See ED 11 Flag for the thrilling details of this race. You too can be a winner.” — The Commodore, November 29, 1971
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“Don’t forget that an infant or toddler has just recently been through the potentially traumatic experience of dying, depending particularly on how s/he died, and need time to sort this out and get some distance from it. Studies of children who recall a past life seem to generally find young children who are old enough to have developed some verbal skills and some distance from that experience. I think LRH mentioned this, too. Thus they need kindness and safety, not evaluation and invalidation.”
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2005: A story by Richard Leiby surfaced in the Washington Post: “Secret Flying Saucer Base Found in New Mexico? Maybe. From the state that gave us Roswell, the epicenter of UFO lore since 1947, comes a report from an Albuquerque TV station about its discovery of strange landscape markings in the remote desert. They’re etched in New Mexico’s barren northern reaches, resemble crop circles and are recognizable only from a high altitude. The circles etched into the desert match the logo of the Church of Spiritual Technology, a Scientology corporation. Also, they are directly connected to the Church of Scientology.”
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“Scientology is a racist philosophy. It’s anti homo sapiens.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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 coming November 1 to 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’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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology moves to dismiss the ‘Jane Doe’ lawsuit in Miami, and we have the docs
[TWO years ago] While Leah Remini asks for government action, the government covers for Scientology overseas
[THREE years ago] DOX: Sworn testimony that a U.S. state was too afraid to take on the Church of Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Live blogging ‘Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath’ during its A&E premiere
[FIVE years ago] Jonny Jacobsen: Why the Moscow ban on Scientology may be built on shaky foundations
[SIX years ago] Jon Atack excavates the Scientology mind for L. Ron Hubbard’s most harmful implants
[SEVEN years ago] Tonight: Scientology Gets Its IAS Gala On — Let’s Get Dauntless, Defiant, and Resolute!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s Master Spies
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Cruise Ship as Prison: The Voice Interviews Valeska Paris
——————–
Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,135 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,639 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,159 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,179 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,070 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,377 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,245 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,019 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,823 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,139 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,705 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,624 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,792 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,373 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,634 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,672 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,385 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,910 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 265 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,440 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,991 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,140 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,460 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,315 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,434 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,790 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,093 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,199 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,601 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,473 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,056 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,551 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,805 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,914 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 29, 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, 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
November 28, 2020
Chris Shelton: What it’s like to spy for Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs
This week I interviewed Shane Rybacki. He is a former Scientologist who had a short stint on the EPF, worked for the Office of Special Affairs in Orange County and was eventually kicked out of the Church and disconnected from his family because he dared to disparage Scientology in a public forum. He reached out to Tony and me to start telling his story and he had a lot to say.
This interview is a bit more “raw” than my usual interviews; we just get right into it and we don’t follow a chronological order or even get his whole story. Instead, we focused mainly on his experience in the OSA office, including how he had to cover up a sexual crime involving his own minor girlfriend and an adult staff member; and how he was sent around to spy on people, destroy property and other nonsense to try to maintain a good public image for Scientology. For legal reasons, I bleeped out the name of the offending staff member but listeners will definitely get the idea of what went on.
— Chris Shelton
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“Be the space of your body. The space of this room. The space of your body. The space of this room. Be the space of your body. The space of this room. The space of your body. The space of the building. The space of your body. The space of the building. The space of your body. The space of the building. The space of your body. The space of this building. The space of your body. The space of this building. The space of your body. The space of Camden. The space of your body. The space of Camden. The space of your body. The space of Camden. The space of your body. The space of Philadelphia. The space of your body. The space of Philadelphia. The space of your body. Space of Philadelphia. Space of your body. Space of Philadelphia. Space of New York. Space of your body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 28, 1953
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“MISUNDERSTOODS: I wrote a piece in the OOD yesterday about Nixon’s misunderstoods. I hope no one accumulated any misunderstood words reading it. I found ‘hilarity’ in the first sentence wasn’t known. It means ‘high amusement,’ or ‘boisterous merriment’.” — The Commodore, November 28, 1971
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“OMG there’s talk now of No Jab-No Flight rules and an electronic way of checking at airports if people have gotten the jab. Just today they mentioned this in the mainstream media. Of course, we knew this was coming. When you get good at spotting conspiracies you can predict this sort of disgusting rubbish. The communist world order wants you vaccinated, and they are going to force you to do it. Well I ain’t touching their untrustworthy drugs/medicines/vaccines/advice/science just everything really. Over my dead body, baby!”
Advertisement
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2001: The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported that Scientology is shooting a movie at Gold Base, near Hemet, California. “A booming cannon shoots toward a row of cottonwood trees on the lush, grassy fields of 17th-century France. Fifteen minutes later, the fire lands among a cluster of charging soldiers wearing goatees, creamy white cravats and feathers in their hats. Three of them drop. Then they get up and try it again. When it’s finished, Golden Era Productions will have an educational video showing how war never solves mankind’s real problems. Golden Era Productions, located in Gilman Hot Springs northwest of San Jacinto, makes educational and training films for the Church of Scientology. Staff members who work on the 520-acre site do everything from sewing costumes to acting and filming. The film will be used for educational purposes in Scientology churches all over the world.”
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“Third party law was specifically created by Hubbard to handle mothers-in-law.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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 coming November 1 to 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’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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] On this Thanksgiving, we’re thankful again for people we will never forget
[TWO years ago] Scientology responds to Leah Remini’s season premiere with smeariest smear video ever
[THREE years ago] Ugh. We just found a troubling L. Ron Hubbard Scientology lecture about little boys and sex.
[FOUR years ago] How Liz Gale came to disconnect from her own mother, Scientology style
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s apocalyptic ‘expansion’: A hint at the real story in a Brighton shiny moment
[SIX years ago] The richest Scientologists in the world get a new trophy for donating another pile of cash!
[SEVEN years ago] Jefferson Hawkins Explains the Ethics of Scientology’s “Suppressive Person”
[EIGHT years ago] More McPherson Cover-Up Corroboration: “I Watched Them Drain $20 Million In Reserves”
[NINE years ago] Scientology Held Woman Aboard the Freewinds for 12 Years Against Her Will: Aussie TV
——————–
Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,134 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,638 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,158 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,178 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,069 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,376 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,244 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,018 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,822 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,138 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,704 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,623 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,791 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,372 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,633 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,671 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,384 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,909 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 264 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,439 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,990 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,139 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,459 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,314 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,433 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,789 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,092 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,198 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,600 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,472 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,055 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,550 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,804 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,913 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 28, 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, 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
November 27, 2020
Superhuman Scientology OT 8 makes news for being unable to control matter, space, and time
This is my Scientology OT8 sister. She has made the local news for becoming the victim of a misunderstanding: Her business has a similar name to an online camera vendor, and angry customers unable to find a phone number for the camera company are calling her Niagara Falls resort on her toll-free phone line. The phone number was apparently being given out by Amazon, which didn’t realize it was directing angry camera customers to the wrong “Campark.”
My sister doesn’t look very happy at all in spite of having done the entire Scientology Bridge. She will never admit to having “pulled this situation in.” In Scientology when something bad like this happens to a wog (a non-Scientologist), they obviously “pulled it in,” but if a Scientologist who is in the upper echelons has this happen then it’s definitely a “suppressive person” in the area causing the problem. But never themselves. You can feel the righteous indignation.
If she were really to apply Scientology to this she would sit down and write up all of her overts and withholds on Amazon. I can assure you this will never happen.
And so much for Scientology “Cause over Life.” After a year of trying to handle this we see that it hasn’t resolved at all.
AdvertisementWillie and I were chuckling that since her troubles on this started shortly after we arrived she would very possibly attribute me as being the “SP in the area,” even though we have no contact with her.
If the CHCH News station had dug a little deeper they’d find that the owners of Campark, Niagara Falls are Scientologists. They’ve donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Scientology over the years.
In fact all around Campark (the campground, not the camera company) they have Hubbard quotes printed on the sides of their trash cans.
Scientology is an abusive cult that has destroyed and broken up thousands of families, been investigated for human trafficking, stalked and harassed its ex-members through their policy of Fair Game, and have numerous lawsuits against them for their abuses. Complaining about a bit of extra phone bill pales when compared to nearly a million dollars given to a dangerous cult.
I know this might sound like I’m a bit mean towards my sister, but I do have to admit I still carry a little grudge. She is the one who knowingly broke up my family and got our kids to disconnect when she reported our errant Facebook connections with a few Scientology exes to OSA at Flag. (Yes, that’s all it was about originally.).
I do hope she gets out of Scientology at some point but she is the most hard core of all of us, and I find it very unlikely she will wake up.
— Phil Jones
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“Let’s start back a little further, where you will find quite a few PCs. And that is the Marcab, or the Big Dipper area of this particular galaxy, which received the immigration from another galaxy into this galaxy, and which set up a society which kept going for a very, very long time — a society which is something on the order of about 208,000 years back on the track. Now, that period rather ended and ceased and desisted for that particular society somewhere about 10,000 years ago. So you see, that is a long, rough society. Well now, oddly enough, people went out of that society as thetans and came back into it again. So you get that society, the Marcab society, punctuated with lives spent in completely unidentified, Lord-knows-where planets. And you get such odd things, you know, as fish people. You know? Well, where did they come from? Who are they?” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 27, 1959
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Avast, Ye Mateys
“MISUNDERSTOOD NIXON: Imagine my surprise and hilarity to find that President Nixon is pursuing current economic policies because of a misunderstood word…The word ‘inflation’ is being used in a mis-defined definition by the Administration. All this Wage-Price freeze that Nixon has been putting on is because he thinks the word ‘inflation’ is caused by and means ‘prices increasing.’ He and his beer hall buddies publicly state that ‘the rate of increase in prices is synonymous with the rate of inflation.’ Therefore, all one has to do is freeze wages and one will cure inflation…Looking over this literature I see that when I studied economics at Princeton University I came to some conclusions which were so obvious to me that I thought they were a part of the textbooks…Anyway, the economic trouble we are handling and our hard work to survive and remain viable is being made necessary because of a misunderstood word.” — The Commodore, November 27, 1971
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“I have experienced the overwhelm that OT3 handles, and it is not pleasant and it invalidates the state of Clear. So I have a firsthand knowledge of what Ron says when he says Clears are at risk. I’m not saying this to frighten Clears or Preclears reading this, mine was, hopefully, an unusual sort of case that got handled on OT3 and then the Nots auditing knocked it out of the park and resultant freedom and relief from those levels are hard to describe. I have met and seen on TV those classified as insane, and it’s obvious that many are in a total dramatization of the OT3 phenomena. For psychiatrists to then drug or shock them, lays in the engram on top of that pitiful state, so I tend to be understanding when Ron gets a tad critical of the psychiatric profession as even well done objectives will do much to help them. I just wanted to comment to those out there wandering whether to keep going or not. Do!”
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1996: John Travolta appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show and discussed Scientology with an uncritical Oprah and audience.
“OPRAH: I know back there my producers are going OOHH my God Scientology…
TRAVOLTA: You can be a Catholic Scientologist …and a Protestant Scientologist and a Baptist Scientologist. We have every denomination.
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OPRAH: So what is the center… I never understand, what is it…
TRAVOLTA: It’s mainly to help you survive better on the planet. We’re in trouble on this planet, you know, in a lot of ways…
OPRAH: So is it… It’s not a religion?
TRAVOLTA: Well it is technically, because by law, and by the dictionary, you have to go… that term. Because it deals with the spiritually end… through spiritually and physically at times… Like Dianetics is the body… It deals with injuries, and emotional upsets, and things like that… That’s very specific and it deals with the body, and the mind. And the Scientology deals with church… of the trade, to survive better, on the planet.”
——————–
“In ‘Road To Xenu’ Margery Wakefield recounts sitting around in the Sea Org cafeteria watching Star Trek and they were laughing because the wogs didn’t realize that the stuff on the screen was the writer’s suppressed whole track memories. Hubbard said somewhere that science fiction, if not all fiction, was whole track memories unbeknownst to its authors.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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 coming November 1 to 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’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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] The rapey Danny Masterson movie clip someone doesn’t want you to see
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini starts third season with bombshell Scientology escape story
[THREE years ago] Don’t give short shrift to one of Scientology’s most defining qualities – its arrogance
[FOUR years ago] What you’ll find on the menu at the clinic run by a physician who’s also a Scientologist
[FIVE years ago] Scientology wants to force a drug rehab center on Maryland: Here’s the local county’s response
[SIX years ago] An iconic Scientology building in Hollywood is in pre-foreclosure, and what that portends
[SEVEN years ago] Vivian Kubrick Surfaces in the Oddest Possible Way: At an Alex Jones Rally
[EIGHT years ago] Stephen Kent’s New Article on Scientology’s War With Psychiatry
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Service: Mind Control and Your Open Thread
——————–
Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,133 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,637 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,157 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,177 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,068 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,375 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,243 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,017 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,821 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,137 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,703 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,622 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,790 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,371 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,632 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,670 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,383 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,908 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 263 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,438 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,989 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,138 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,458 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,313 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,432 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,788 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,091 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,197 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,599 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,471 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,054 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,549 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,803 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,912 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on November 27, 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, 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
November 26, 2020
On a Thanksgiving like no other, we’re thankful again for people we will never forget
It feels so strange to say that we hope on this Thanksgiving Day that you are not gathering with friends and family to celebrate the holiday.
But then this has been a year like no other in our lifetimes. In March when we all went on lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic, we had no idea that we’d still be isolating ourselves in November. It’s really gotten old, but it’s very important that we all do our best to continue to follow guidelines and protect ourselves and our loved ones. So please, celebrate with your family virtually, and spend some time with us here at the Underground Bunker as well.
Once again this year, we are giving thanks by remembering people who deserve never to be forgotten. Here again is our tribute…
In 2013, the Church of Scientology slaughtered a couple of innocent live oak trees that had been standing in the way of a party the church wanted to throw itself.
AdvertisementOur longtime readers no doubt remember it. It was a classic example of Scientology’s disregard for local laws when they get in the way of what the church wants. In this case Scientology wanted to put up a giant tent for the grand opening of their “Flag Building” (also known as the Super Power Building) in downtown Clearwater, Florida, where healthy old live oak trees are a rare and precious commodity. The city told Scientology not to cut down the trees and were working on a plan to relocate them, but the church defied that recommendation and cut the trees down anyway, and paid a $2,000 fine.
It was so characteristic of this smug, superior organization and it struck a chord with us. We decided that those two majestic trees should not be forgotten, and an idea came to us. We asked Observer, with her wonderful skills, if she would help us put together a scene we had in mind.
We imagined those two lovely trees now giving shade to several other people who had faced the Scientology buzzsaw in one way or another. We loved the result, which Observer titled, “Not Forgotten.”
And today, for the Thanksgiving holiday here in the U.S., where we gather with friends and family and take stock of the things we hold precious in life, we have a new version of Observer’s touching tribute. We asked her to add Nan McLean, a hero of ours who died in 2019 at the age of 96.
Do you recognize them all? That’s Lisa McPherson standing on the right. She was killed by Scientology’s quack mental health ideas after being held for 17 days at the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1995. Sitting in front of her is Ida Camburn, a wonderful woman who lost a son to Scientology, and who used to send us emails early in our career, encouraging us to expose the church. Sitting on the bench there is Robert Vaughn Young, who at one time was Scientology’s spokesman but then became one of its biggest critics. Next to him is Bob Minton, the wealthy businessman who financed the Lisa McPherson Trust and was caught up in vicious attacks by the church. And on his right is Gabe Cazares, the brave Clearwater mayor who first revealed that it was Scientology that had secretly infiltrated the town, and paid for it with elaborate operations run against him by Scientology’s spy wing intended to destroy his reputation. Standing behind them is Denise Brennan, who helped us understand the byzantine early-1980s reorganization of Scientology, and whom we miss very much. And next to her is Nan, who was still sharp as a tack and fighting against Scientology into her 90s.
Standing next to the bench is Alex Jentzsch, who died of a simple ailment because he was denied by Scientology any contact with his mother, Karen de la Carriere, because she had dared to criticize the church. And sitting in the foreground is Quentin Hubbard, who just wanted to be a pilot, but happened to be the son of the Great Thetan, who hated him for being gay. Quentin committed suicide in 1976.
We give thanks that each of these people exposed Scientology’s true nature, each in their own way.
Please, tell us what you’re thankful for this year, and what you’re looking forward to in the next.
——————–
“Once in a while, you will exteriorize a thetan and he will try to steady himself by putting a beam on the wall, and the wall will eat up the beam. The beam, you see, is very, too close to the wavelength of that wall, and the, he’ll stick….It isn’t that he’s drifted down in combating the wavelength forever, he just mocks up on that level with great ease, and he’s got a real body. He’d be visible, to some slight degree, even to MEST eyes. They’re, scare people stiff if they happen to turn around and see one of these boys, because they’re real rough-looking characters, there’s no doubt about it. Of course, they have a sort of a humor about their roughness. I ran into one, one time, that had a beautiful tail. This solid black, sort of furry, with a beautiful tail, and a cat’s face, and long electronic — this sounds like something out of a nightmare, I know — and long electronic claws. And, I asked this character a few questions, one way or the other, I mean, I exteriorized him just that way, you see, exteriorized him in his body, and I asked him to knock a piece of paper off the desk, and he simply reached over and he knocked the piece of paper all right, but he also charred it! And, he reached around a moment later and took hold of the sofa and stuck to it. He couldn’t get his hand free instantly, startled him, and he did an immediate flip back into the body. But he was quite visible to MEST eyes. It was like a dark shadow standing in the room. If you can imagine a shadow, a quite plain shadow, standing upright in the room with a quite bright set of streamers coming out of its hands, you’d have this. This is very, very strange. This fellow, by the way, was quite afraid of demons. And he’d mocked his, he had mocked himself up this way because for many centuries he had fought demons. And of course he went in and mocked up, then, the winning valence: the demons.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 26, 1953
——————–
Avast, Ye Mateys
“LRH COMM FLAG: Norman Chouinard is appointed LRH Comm Flag, part of the double hat Ken Urquhart had been wearing in addition to LRH Personal Comm. LRH Comm Flag continues the duties of LRH Comm FAO but now for all Flag internal LRH projects and Eds and orders. The FAO LRH Comm post simply broadens. All LRH Comm actions aboard, internal and External come under LRH Personal Comm Flag.” — The Commodore, November 26, 1971
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“When LRH was on lines in the MEST universe one could always write him a letter with questions about Tech and Policy and he would graciously send us his answer. Now ‘all’ we have is his works which he left for us to study and apply, plus ourselves, plus each other as friends and team mates. That’s ‘all’ we’ve got. Sounds like we’ve been bequeathed a spiritual fortune. Sounds like we’re rich to me.”
——————–
2002: “Phineas Fogg” posted a disconnection letter he received from his sister, a Scientologist. “Don’t bother sending any email or responding to this one, they are automatically trashed and even if I do see that they are there, like this morning, they won’t be read. I have instructed Mother and Sandy not to forward any comm from you. Just to ensure there is no misduplication Phineas, I have disconnected from you. Sorry things have come to this but when I saw where your head was really at, I had no choice but to disconnect from the venom you have against what I do spiritually – and I’ve commented on your venom several times. I suppose it wasn’t the venom per se, but the fact that I saw nothing would change it. I cannot be connected to someone who is so against me spiritually and by whose actions are clearly destructive, though purporting, all the while, not to be.”
Advertisement
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“Every Thanksgiving my Dad would get in a bad mood and start saying stuff like the Native Americans should have slaughtered the pilgrims as soon as they landed.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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 coming November 1 to 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’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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] David Miscavige: Valerie Haney’s lawsuit is a publicity stunt and I want no part of it
[TWO years ago] When the person who certified Scientology ‘Clears’ discovered that there were no Clears
[THREE years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Scientology interrogated Danny Masterson and accuser, didn’t notify LAPD
[FOUR years ago] ‘Radar’ magazine latest to peddle ‘Tom Cruise leaving Scientology’ fake news
[FIVE years ago] We’re giving thanks here in the Underground Bunker, and we hope you’ll help us out
[SIX years ago] Scientology asks court in Monique Rathbun’s case to take note of Vance Woodward’s loss
[SEVEN years ago] Bizarre and Pricey! Auditing Scientology’s Operating Thetan Level 2 with Claire & Bruce
[EIGHT years ago] Florida Court Hears Scientology Testimony in Strict Secrecy
[NINE years ago] Scientology Leftovers: Commenters of the Week!
——————–
Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,132 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,636 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,156 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,176 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,067 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,374 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,242 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,016 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,820 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,136 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,702 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,621 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,789 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,370 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,631 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,669 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,382 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,907 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 262 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,437 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,988 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,137 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,457 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,312 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,431 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,787 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,090 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,196 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,598 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,470 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,053 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,548 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,802 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,911 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 26, 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, 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
November 24, 2020
Steve Cannane vindicated as Australian judge denounces ‘Deep Sleep Therapy’ doctors
In a thorough and lengthy thrashing, Justice Jayne Jagot of the Australian federal court dismissed a case of defamation brought against journalist Steve Cannane and his book about the history of Scientology in Australia, Fair Game.
Scientology is only a shell of what it once was in that country, but in one chapter of his book, Cannane explained that if Scientology had a high water mark Down Under, it may have been when its anti-psychiatry agenda led to uncovering a nightmare going on in a psychiatric hospital where patients were being kept in a perpetual state of semi-consciousness known as “Deep Sleep.”
The practice, which briefly found a number of adherents among doctors in the 1970s and 1980s, proved to be extremely dangerous and caused numerous deaths. And after Scientology helped expose the situation a royal commission thoroughly investigated these doctors and denounced the practice.
Thirty years later Cannane related the story, drawing from the official documents of the royal commission. But Australia doesn’t have the same legal protections for journalists as we enjoy in the First Amendment here in the United States. When two of the former doctors sued Cannane claiming that they had been defamed by the book, the Australian court found that Cannane and his publisher would have to go through a trial and prove all over again what the royal commission had found in the early 1990s.
AdvertisementIt was a ludicrous notion and such a trial would never have happened here in the US. But we watched as the former doctors (now very elderly) testified, and experts lined up to explain how reckless they had been.
(And we’d like to thank the Australian court for allowing us to observe the proceedings via an online link, something that American courts are struggling with in the pandemic.)
In a 273-page ruling (yes, it’s massive, and we have the whole thing for you below), Justice Jagot thoroughly thrashes the former doctors for not only participating in such a dangerous and lethal practice, but then trying to change history and hang it on Steve Cannane.
She dismissed the lawsuit and awarded Cannane and his publisher court costs. It was a thorough victory, but hard won after weeks of court testimony.
“I am thrilled by the decision,” Cannane tells us. “What I wrote was the truth and Justice Jagot acknowledged that in her damning judgment. My publisher HarperCollins defended me all the way. A publisher brave enough to take on a book about Scientology and then defend it in the courts in a multi-million dollar case that stretched out over three years deserves enormous credit. Our legal team were amazing. Gill and Herron have never shown any remorse for their role at Chelmsford Hospital. In this legal case they made out they were the victims. They weren’t,” he says.
“I wanted to acknowledge the true victims of this sorry saga. The 24 people who died as a result of dangerous experimental treatments, their families and friends and all the other people who were harmed there. A number of victims gave evidence on my behalf. They were so brave. They had to relive the awful traumatic experiences they went through again on the witness stand. They told me they didn’t want Gill and Herron to get away with it again. They didn’t.”
Here’s the ruling…
HerronVHarperCollins.pdf by Tony Ortega on Scribd
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“I remember trying to pick a little girl up out of a bombed carriage one time, about 1685, and I had quite a lose because I didn’t succeed in making her get on her feet, she was half blown to bits. And mechanisms didn’t work, and so forth, and tried to pick her up and dust her off, you know, as a thetan. And it didn’t work and it gave me a big lose and I got all confused and upset about the thing and then that was an overt not to have done it, you get the idea? But I was guilty of an overt in the first place, I eventually realized and found out, in that I was riding as the, as a bodyguard on this particular carriage, see, and I didn’t do it, you know. Something bad went wrong, see, something bad happened. Well, that’s guilty of an overt act right then. Don’t expect to control a situation that you’ve caused to that degree. Got the idea?” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 25, 1959
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Avast, Ye Mateys
“CLASS X: We have now graduated two Class X Internes. This is a good win and breaks the log jam. It takes quite a while to make a Class X in view of the intervening courses such as SHSBC, Class VIII, Class IX, to which are currently added a long Interneship of Class VII. There has been a very slow making of auditors in the field. The New York Org has just telexed that it has made its first Class IV in a year and a half…We are putting a new regulation into HCOs that 50 percent of all its recruits must go to Tech. In other words, for every two recruits, one of them must be put into full time training. Recent HCOs have had a tendency to neglect the establishment of Tech and Qual Divisions with qualified personnel.” — The Commodore, November 25, 1971
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“I don’t think it is fair to blame Ron for what the Church of Scientology turned into or for any of its actions either. The only people who are doing that are people who either do not really understand Scientology, have a strong misanthropic streak, are covering up their own overts, or possibly some simply have a compulsion to be in the limelight no matter what cost to anyone. I never expected Ron to be perfect in the first place. He never said he was, and in fact he said that he wasn’t. His many accomplishments, however, pass for perfection for many people, including me. His life work is unprecedented in all of history to my recollection. So no, blaming Ron for anything that occurred back then has nothing to do with anything I said or think.”
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1999: The St. Petersburg Times reported that Medical Examiner Joan Wood will re-examine some of the evidence in the death of Lisa McPherson. “Lawyers for the Church of Scientology have given Wood new evidence that, they say, casts doubt on Wood’s original opinion: that McPherson was severely dehydrated when she died while in the care of Scientology staffers. Scientology’s evidence includes sworn statements from laboratory employees involved in the original testing of McPherson’s eye fluid, a clear, jelly-like substance used by medical examiners to assess a body’s condition at death. It includes other scientific information that, according to the church, shows McPherson’s death had nothing to do with dehydration.”
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“I’ve always wanted to move to Australia. I could hang out at the pub all day with Nick Cave and the Cosmic Psychos, get a dingo, collect funnel web spiders and tiger snakes and swim with white pointers and salties. Send me a ticket and a few thousand dollars to tie up lose ends and I’ll be right over.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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 coming November 1 to 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’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] Leah Remini calls Beck’s sudden Scientology defection a ‘pussy move’
[TWO years ago] Kirstie Alley calls on her fellow Scientologists to pounce on another disaster
[THREE years ago] After a landmark court case, Scientology watchers should be celebrating, not sniping
[FOUR years ago] That time when Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard didn’t invent surfing in California
[FIVE years ago] Lisa McPherson and the doctors: Hamstrung by the ‘spiritual’ needs of a thetan
[SIX years ago] Scientology Armageddon: Now Sears — yes, Sears — is piling on the embattled church
[SEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DECLARES ACTRESS LEAH REMINI A “SUPPRESSIVE PERSON”
[EIGHT years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Braces for the Holidays!
[NINE years ago] Scientology vs. Pollution, a Lisbon Cocktail Party, and More: Sailing on the Apollo Nov. 20-26
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,131 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,635 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,155 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,175 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,066 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,373 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,241 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,015 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,819 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,135 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,701 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,620 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,788 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,369 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,630 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,668 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,381 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,906 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 261 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,436 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,987 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,136 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,456 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,311 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,430 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,786 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,089 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,195 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,597 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,469 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,052 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,547 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,801 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,910 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 24, 2020 at 17:00
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
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