37 VOLUME 9 |ISSUE 2 |2018
and damages. ...Although now-retired Judge Ronald Sohigian
previously dismissed the case, a three-justice panel of the 2nd
District Court of Appeal reversed his decision in June 2011 and sent
the case back to the judge to determine whether the church was
permitted to raise the statute of limitations as a defense. According
to a sworn declaration by DeCrescenzo, she began volunteering to
do church work at age 6 or 7 in Orange County. She says that at age
7, she was part of a Scientology group organized to picket the very
civil courthouse where trial of her lawsuit will take place. ...When
DeCrescenzo was 12, she was recruited to join the organization’s
elite Sea Org, which she said is responsible for overseeing the
delivery of the religion worldwide. DeCrescenzo alleges she was
initially required to work daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and that
two more hours were later added to her work day. DeCrescenzo
says she remained with Sea Org until 2004, when she was 25.
...DeCrescenzo alleges she became pregnant in February 1996
and was convinced by the church to abort her fetus to show her
allegiance to Sea Org and its long hours.” (Lawest Media, 11/15/17)
Western World wins dispute over Scientology-based rehab
operation
”A federal district court has largely ruled in favor of Western World
Insurance Company in a dispute with an insurer that provides
coverage for nonprofits, in a dispute as to whether it is obligated
to provide defense costs for a Church of Scientology-affiliated
drug rehabilitation operation. The issue in the litigation in Western
World Insurance Company v. Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of
California is which insurer must provide the defense in two lawsuits
filed against Los Angeles-based Narconon International, which
oversees a Scientology-based treatment program implemented
by local state affiliates, according to Tuesday’s ruling by the U.S.
District Court in San Jose. The first lawsuit was filed on behalf
of Patrick Desmond, who was a patient at Narconon affiliate
Narconon of Georgia. In June 2008, after consuming alcohol
provided by Narconon staff at a staff member’s apartment, Mr.
Desmond left with two former patients to purchase heroin and
died early the next morning from a heroin overdose, according
to the ruling. Mr. Desmond’s family sued Narconon of Georgia
and Narconon International for claims including negligence. The
second lawsuit was brought on behalf of Heather Landmeier,
who was a patient at Narconon of Oklahoma. Litigation in the
case alleges that employees provided drugs and alcohol to Ms.
Landmeier and allowed her to enter into sexual relationships with
staff members. In March 2008, Narconon of Oklahoma forced Ms.
Landmeier to leave the facility, and a day later she overdosed on
heroin and OxyContin, leaving her in a vegetative state paralyzed
from the neck down. A lawsuit filed by her family also claimed
negligence, among other charges. … NIAC’s [Nonprofits Insurance
Alliance of California’s] policy had commercial general liability,
liquor liability and improper sexual conduct coverage forms. The
CGL [commercial general liability] coverage form also included
an exclusion for bodily injury due to the ‘failure to render any
professional service.’ The NIAC refused to provide a defense to
Narconon, and Western World filed suit in the District Court seeking
summary judgment on NIAC’s duty to defend. … The ruling also
held NIAC was obligated to provide a defense in both cases under
the professional service exclusion and, in Ms. Landmeier’s case, the
improper sexual conduct form. The court ruled in favor of NIAC
with respect to the liquor liability coverage form because, it said,
the situations in the lawsuits did not involve providing alcohol in a
business or formal setting.” (Business Insurance, 1/12/2018)
Church of Scientology claims victory after Hungarian court
rules raid was illegal
The Church of Scientology is claiming victory after a Hungarian
court declared a government raid last year at its Budapest
headquarters was illegal and that materials seized must be
returned. ‘This is also a victory for religious freedom and human
rights for our church,’ the church said in a statement. The National
Investigation Bureau raided the church’s headquarters in October,
as part of an investigation into possible exploitation of personal
information and other criminal acts. ...The bureau declined to
release more information shortly after the raid occurred because
the investigation was still underway, nor has it commented on the
court’s decision.” (VOA News, 03/01/18)
Clearwater, Florida stars as Scientology launches its TV
network
“Televangelists have dominated religious broadcasting for decades
with their use of TV to preach gospel into living rooms, some
soliciting donations from viewers through one simple phone call
in the name of Jesus Christ. Now the Church of Scientology has
stepped into the broadcasting arena with Monday evening’s launch
of the Scientology Network on DIRECTV’s channel 320, streaming
devices like AppleTV and Roku, and apps on iTunes and Google
Play. ...In the network’s opening moments, viewers saw panoramic
aerial video of downtown Clearwater [Florida]. After that came a
long stream of footage showing Scientology’s churches around
the world, depictions of its outreach programs and courses, and
images of its technological hardware, all set to pulsating music.
The Scientology Network follows the launch of Scientology Media
Productions in 2016, a five-acre broadcasting studio on Sunset
Boulevard in Los Angeles. Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw
declined to answer specific questions about the network Tuesday.
The Network’s catchphrase is ‘Curious?’ But whether the 64-year-
old religion can use its newfound platform to recruit believers
and control its message is yet to be seen. It is launching amid
increasing media scrutiny, allegations of rampant abuse and
financial exploitation of parishioners, and ridicule by late night talk
show hosts. ...The church has boasted its membership to be in the
millions worldwide. But [Stephen] Kent [‘a professor of sociology
at University of Alberta who has studied Scientology for 30 years’]
said a more reasonable estimate is closer to 50,000 globally.
That comes from census figures reported in various countries,
low activity at refurbished buildings known as Ideal Orgs, and
analysis from former high-level insiders, Kent said. ‘The fact that
Scientology is targeting its broadcasting through new media
is indicative of the problems the organization is having with its
image,’ Kent said. Last week, comedian and political commentator
Samantha Bee had a segment on her TBS show Full Frontal, telling
National Rifle Association members if they wanted to be part of a
‘money-making scheme’ and ‘brainwashing cult,’ they could ditch
the AR-15s and join Scientology instead. And in September, A&E’s
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath won an Emmy award
for its series that detailed stories of physical, mental, sexual and
and damages. ...Although now-retired Judge Ronald Sohigian
previously dismissed the case, a three-justice panel of the 2nd
District Court of Appeal reversed his decision in June 2011 and sent
the case back to the judge to determine whether the church was
permitted to raise the statute of limitations as a defense. According
to a sworn declaration by DeCrescenzo, she began volunteering to
do church work at age 6 or 7 in Orange County. She says that at age
7, she was part of a Scientology group organized to picket the very
civil courthouse where trial of her lawsuit will take place. ...When
DeCrescenzo was 12, she was recruited to join the organization’s
elite Sea Org, which she said is responsible for overseeing the
delivery of the religion worldwide. DeCrescenzo alleges she was
initially required to work daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and that
two more hours were later added to her work day. DeCrescenzo
says she remained with Sea Org until 2004, when she was 25.
...DeCrescenzo alleges she became pregnant in February 1996
and was convinced by the church to abort her fetus to show her
allegiance to Sea Org and its long hours.” (Lawest Media, 11/15/17)
Western World wins dispute over Scientology-based rehab
operation
”A federal district court has largely ruled in favor of Western World
Insurance Company in a dispute with an insurer that provides
coverage for nonprofits, in a dispute as to whether it is obligated
to provide defense costs for a Church of Scientology-affiliated
drug rehabilitation operation. The issue in the litigation in Western
World Insurance Company v. Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of
California is which insurer must provide the defense in two lawsuits
filed against Los Angeles-based Narconon International, which
oversees a Scientology-based treatment program implemented
by local state affiliates, according to Tuesday’s ruling by the U.S.
District Court in San Jose. The first lawsuit was filed on behalf
of Patrick Desmond, who was a patient at Narconon affiliate
Narconon of Georgia. In June 2008, after consuming alcohol
provided by Narconon staff at a staff member’s apartment, Mr.
Desmond left with two former patients to purchase heroin and
died early the next morning from a heroin overdose, according
to the ruling. Mr. Desmond’s family sued Narconon of Georgia
and Narconon International for claims including negligence. The
second lawsuit was brought on behalf of Heather Landmeier,
who was a patient at Narconon of Oklahoma. Litigation in the
case alleges that employees provided drugs and alcohol to Ms.
Landmeier and allowed her to enter into sexual relationships with
staff members. In March 2008, Narconon of Oklahoma forced Ms.
Landmeier to leave the facility, and a day later she overdosed on
heroin and OxyContin, leaving her in a vegetative state paralyzed
from the neck down. A lawsuit filed by her family also claimed
negligence, among other charges. … NIAC’s [Nonprofits Insurance
Alliance of California’s] policy had commercial general liability,
liquor liability and improper sexual conduct coverage forms. The
CGL [commercial general liability] coverage form also included
an exclusion for bodily injury due to the ‘failure to render any
professional service.’ The NIAC refused to provide a defense to
Narconon, and Western World filed suit in the District Court seeking
summary judgment on NIAC’s duty to defend. … The ruling also
held NIAC was obligated to provide a defense in both cases under
the professional service exclusion and, in Ms. Landmeier’s case, the
improper sexual conduct form. The court ruled in favor of NIAC
with respect to the liquor liability coverage form because, it said,
the situations in the lawsuits did not involve providing alcohol in a
business or formal setting.” (Business Insurance, 1/12/2018)
Church of Scientology claims victory after Hungarian court
rules raid was illegal
The Church of Scientology is claiming victory after a Hungarian
court declared a government raid last year at its Budapest
headquarters was illegal and that materials seized must be
returned. ‘This is also a victory for religious freedom and human
rights for our church,’ the church said in a statement. The National
Investigation Bureau raided the church’s headquarters in October,
as part of an investigation into possible exploitation of personal
information and other criminal acts. ...The bureau declined to
release more information shortly after the raid occurred because
the investigation was still underway, nor has it commented on the
court’s decision.” (VOA News, 03/01/18)
Clearwater, Florida stars as Scientology launches its TV
network
“Televangelists have dominated religious broadcasting for decades
with their use of TV to preach gospel into living rooms, some
soliciting donations from viewers through one simple phone call
in the name of Jesus Christ. Now the Church of Scientology has
stepped into the broadcasting arena with Monday evening’s launch
of the Scientology Network on DIRECTV’s channel 320, streaming
devices like AppleTV and Roku, and apps on iTunes and Google
Play. ...In the network’s opening moments, viewers saw panoramic
aerial video of downtown Clearwater [Florida]. After that came a
long stream of footage showing Scientology’s churches around
the world, depictions of its outreach programs and courses, and
images of its technological hardware, all set to pulsating music.
The Scientology Network follows the launch of Scientology Media
Productions in 2016, a five-acre broadcasting studio on Sunset
Boulevard in Los Angeles. Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw
declined to answer specific questions about the network Tuesday.
The Network’s catchphrase is ‘Curious?’ But whether the 64-year-
old religion can use its newfound platform to recruit believers
and control its message is yet to be seen. It is launching amid
increasing media scrutiny, allegations of rampant abuse and
financial exploitation of parishioners, and ridicule by late night talk
show hosts. ...The church has boasted its membership to be in the
millions worldwide. But [Stephen] Kent [‘a professor of sociology
at University of Alberta who has studied Scientology for 30 years’]
said a more reasonable estimate is closer to 50,000 globally.
That comes from census figures reported in various countries,
low activity at refurbished buildings known as Ideal Orgs, and
analysis from former high-level insiders, Kent said. ‘The fact that
Scientology is targeting its broadcasting through new media
is indicative of the problems the organization is having with its
image,’ Kent said. Last week, comedian and political commentator
Samantha Bee had a segment on her TBS show Full Frontal, telling
National Rifle Association members if they wanted to be part of a
‘money-making scheme’ and ‘brainwashing cult,’ they could ditch
the AR-15s and join Scientology instead. And in September, A&E’s
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath won an Emmy award
for its series that detailed stories of physical, mental, sexual and
