1 2 3 4 5 ⇑ Latest ↑ Later Earlier ↓ Earliest ⇓ Nov 22, 1988
Three Britons held in mass swoop on cult — Daily Mail (UK)
Oct 18, 1988
Church can be sued on recruiting // Beliefs protected but not conduct, Justices rule — Los Angeles Times (California)More: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
Philip Hager Source:
Los Angeles Times (California) SAN FRANCISCO — In a major ruling on the separation of church and state, the California Supreme Court held Monday that a religious organization may be sued for fraud for allegedly "brainwashing" unknowing recruits into joining the church. The justices ruled 6 to 1 that two former members of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church can proceed to trial with claims that they were tricked by recruiters who denied they were church members and then used subtle "mind-control" techniques to ...
Oct 18, 1988
High court to rule on Scientology case — Los Angeles Times (California)More: link
Type: Press
Source:
Los Angeles Times (California) The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a government appeal in a Los Angeles case involving the Church of Scientology in order to decide how far the Internal Revenue Service can go in obtaining and using confidential documents in tax-fraud inquiries. The government launched an investigation in 1984 of the tax returns of L. Ron Hubbard, the church's founder who died Jan. 24, 1986. The IRS said it suspected that millions of dollars in church funds were transferred to Hubbard ...
Jul 24, 1988
Court ends $1-billion suit alleging Scientology fraud — Los Angeles Times (California)More: link
Type: Press
Source:
Los Angeles Times (California) A Los Angles Superior Court judge Friday dismissed a $1-billion class-action lawsuit filed by former members of the Church of Scientology accusing its late founder of stealing money from the organization and threatening critics. Judge Barnet Cooperman ruled that the plaintiffs failed to successfully back up their allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary responsibility. The suit was filed in January, 1987, by six former Scientologists and the organization Freedom for All in Religion, which claims to represent as many as ...
Jun 26, 1988
Hubbard: A writer who founded a religion — Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia)More: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
Patrick K. Lackey Source:
Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Virginia) You've probably seen television commercials for the book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health," by L. Ron Hubbard. They show a volcano erupting. Ten million copies of the book have been sold since a large portion of it appeared in the April 1950 issue of the pulp publication "Astounding Science Fiction." It remains on the best-seller lists even today. Yuppies are said to love it. Hubbard, who died in 1986 at age 74, was already one of the best-selling science ...
May 26, 1988
Cult to pay taxes // US court confirms Church of Scientology is a profit making organisation — East Grinstead Courier (UK)More: link
Type: Press
Source:
East Grinstead Courier (UK) THE church of Scientology has been ruled a profit making organisation. In the Supreme Court, Washington DC, last Monday, the cult was refused leave to appeal against a 1984 tax exempt ruling and must now pay $1.2 million back taxes for 1970 to 1972 and $287,614 in penalties for late filing. This will come as a severe blow to the church which has been fighting the Internal Revenue Service since the late 1960's to keep its tax exemption status. The United ...
Apr 4, 1988
Scientology group fuels debate over use of Ritalin — Associated Press
Feb 22, 1988
U.S. v. Kattar 840 F.2d 118
Jan 21, 1988
An open letter to the readers of The New York Review of Books From publisher Lyle Stuart: 'Danger: Cult at Work! The truth about Scientology' — New York TimesMore: link
Nov 27, 1987
High court to hear appeal of suit accusing Moon's church of fraud — Los Angeles Times (California)More: pqasb.pqarchiver.com
Nov 11, 1987
Scientologists lose bid for IRS records — Los Angeles Times (California)More: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
David G. Savage Source:
Los Angeles Times (California) WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court, rejecting an appeal filed by the Church of Scientology of California to obtain government tax records, ruled Tuesday that the public has no right to get information kept by the Internal Revenue Service. The tax agency "has no duty under the Freedom of Information Act" to disclose internal records, even if names and other confidential information could be easily deleted, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist said. Civil rights attorneys denounced the unanimous decision, saying the ruling ...
Nov 8, 1987
Rhodesian takeover bid [excerpt from "Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard"] — The Sunday Times (UK)More: link
Type: Press
Source:
The Sunday Times (UK) ON April 7, 1966, the CIA headquarters in the United States received a cable from an agent in Rhodesia: "Request traces of L Ron Hubbard, US citizen recently arrived." The reply confirmed that headquarters files contained no derogatory information about the subject, but a memo was attached giving excerpts from press reports. It concluded: "Individuals who have been connected with the organisations headed by Hubbard or who have had contact with him and the organisations, have indicated that Hubbard is a ...
Nov 1, 1987
Hubbard: bare-faced messiah — The Sunday Times (UK)
Sep 29, 1987
Scientology suit lacking fraud facts, judge says — Los Angeles Times (California)More: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
Joel Sappell Source:
Los Angeles Times (California) A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has ruled that there is insufficient evidence in a $1-billion lawsuit against the Church of Scientology to support charges that two corporations helped the religion's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, plunder church coffers. The action last Friday by Judge Norman R. Dowds undercut a key portion of the class-action lawsuit, filed in December by a group of disaffected church members who claim to represent 400 ex-Scientologists. The suit alleged that a profit-making firm run by high-ranking ...
Apr 30, 1987
The 'extended sting operation' of Scientology — The Listener
Type: Press
Author(s):
John Penycate Source:
The Listener Panorama 's investigation into the Scientologists revealed an organisation which uses its founder's 'mixture of half-practical, half-gobbledegook psychological techniques' to draw large sums of money from its adherents, with threatening consequences if they opt out. Religious cults are a problem. They enslave the minds and empty the pockets of gullible young people, causing heartfelt grief to their families. The Moonies, the Children of God and the other cults have a poor public image, but they almost always operate within the law. The ...
Apr 27, 1987
Panorama: Road to Total Freedom — BBC NewsMore: transcript
Type: TV
Source:
BBC News Description of video is in italics. VO=VOICEOVER shot of Church of Scientology, Los Angeles; apparently group of ex-members VOICEOVER: The Church of Scientology, one of the largest and richest new religious movements, is being sued for a billion dollars by former members for fraud and breach of trust. They regard Scientology as a dangerous cult. group of Scientologists VO: Yet the church goes on expanding, making converts and claiming it is "The Road to Total Freedom". ''"Panorama" opening credits; while music ...
Tag(s):
Annie M. Tidman (aka Annie Broeker aka Annie Logan aka Lisa Mitchell) •
Apollo (formerly, "Royal Scot Man"; often misspelled "Royal Scotman", "Royal Scotsman") •
Assault •
Auditing •
Author Services, Inc. (ASI) (dba, Galaxy Press) (subsidiary of Church of Spiritual Technology) •
BBC News •
Blackmail •
Body thetans (BTs) •
Church of Scientology International (CSI) •
Confidential preclear (PC) folder •
Cost •
Cyril Ronald Vosper •
David Miscavige •
David Miscavige: physical violence •
Dede Reisdorf •
Deprogramming •
Dianetics •
Disconnection •
Don Larson •
Doreen Lea Gillham •
E-Meter •
Extortion •
Fair game •
Fort Harrison Hotel (also, Flag Land Base) @ 210 South Fort Harrison Avenue Clearwater FL United States •
Frank Notaro •
Franklin Freedman •
Fraud, lie, deceit, misrepresentation •
Front groups •
Hana Eltringham Whitfield •
Harassment •
Harold Clarke •
Heber C. Jentzsch •
Inurement •
Jeffrey A. Dubron •
Jerry Whitfield •
John Travolta •
Judge Paul G. Breckenridge Jr. •
Ken Hoden •
Kidnapping •
L. Ron Hubbard •
L. Ron Hubbard's credentials •
L. Ron Hubbard's death •
Lawrence Levy •
Lawsuit •
Louis Jolyon West •
Ludis Birss •
Mary Clarke •
Mary Sue (Whipp) Hubbard •
Membership •
MV Freewinds (formerly, La Bohème) •
Narconon (aka Scientology drug rehab) •
Nazi labelling •
Norman F. Starkey •
Operating Thetan (OT) •
Patrick D. "Pat" Broeker (aka Mike Mitchell) •
Private investigator(s) •
Protest, picket •
Recruitment •
Religious cloaking •
Religious Research Foundation (RRF) •
Ruth Clarke •
Saint Hill Manor @ East Grinstead (UK) •
Scientology's "Clear" state •
Scott Mayer •
Sea Organization (Sea Org, SO) •
Supernatural abilities (aka OT powers) •
Suppressive person (SP) •
Thea Greenberg •
Threat •
Training Routines (TRs) •
United Kingdom (UK) •
Valerie Stansfield •
Wog •
Xenu (Operating Thetan level 3, OT 3, Wall of Fire) Apr 21, 1987
Scientology appeal rejected — Daily NewsMore: link
Type: Press
Source:
Daily News WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court let stand Monday a ruling that could force the Church Scientology of California to post a $60 million bond — an amount the church said would bankrupt it — to appeal a judgment against it. The court refused to hear arguments in the case, brought by the church seeking review of a California appeals court ruling. "We feel it's a grave injustice,” said Kathleen Thorn, president of the Church of Scientology of California. She refused to ...
Feb 23, 1987
The new menace that waits outside the school gates / Children as young as six are being lured by cult with 'hidden message' booklets — East Grinstead Courier (UK)More: link
Feb 5, 1987
Probers report on cults / 'Soul-traders abuse our laws,' MK says — Jerusalem Post
Jan 1, 1987
6 ex-Scientologists file $1-billion suit over funds, secrets — Los Angeles Times (California)More: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
Joel Sappell ,
Robert W. Welkos Source:
Los Angeles Times (California) Former members of the Church of Scientology filed a $1-billion class-action lawsuit against the organization Wednesday, accusing its late founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and a cadre of his most trusted aides of plundering church coffers, intimidating critics and breaching the confidentiality of sacred confessional folders. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court at a time when the church had hoped that its legal wars with its critics had been put largely to rest. Two weeks ago, the organization reached ...
Jan 1, 1987
Scientology hit with suit for $1 billion — Tampa Tribune (Florida)More: link
Type: Press
Source:
Tampa Tribune (Florida) LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than 400 current and former Scientologists filed a $1 billion suit against the church Wednesday, alleging efforts to compromise or pay off two Florida judges and siphon $100 million to foreign bank accounts. The class action filed by attorney Lawrence Levy contends Church officials or their representatives committed fraud and breached fiduciary duties. It says information obtained during purportedly confidential "auditing" sessions with a lie detector-like device is used "for purposes of blackmail and extortion." The ...
Aug 22, 1986
Charges of scheme to bilk church of $2M take new twist — Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)More: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
Raymond Howell Source:
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts) BOSTON — An international con artist has been charged in a scheme to bilk the controversial Church of Scientology out of $2 million, adding a new layer of intrigue to a Byzantine case that already involves a reputed organized crime figure, a disbarred lawyer and a financial swindler-turned-FBI-Informant. Ala Fadili Al Tamimi, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was arraigned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in connection with the scam against L. Ron Hubbard, the late ...
Aug 18, 1986
Scientologists settle 4 suits out of court — Tampa Tribune (Florida)More: link
Type: Press
Source:
Tampa Tribune (Florida) TAMPA — The Church of Scientology has reached out-of-court settlements in four multimillion-dollar lawsuits but U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich has sealed the records in all cases. The settlements were reached in cases involving former Clearwater Mayor Gabe Cazares and his wife Maggie; Tanja C. Burden of Las Vegas; former Scientologists Nancy and John McLean of Ontario. Canada; and former Scientologist Margery Wakefield, whose address was unavailable. Tampa attorney Walt Logan, who represented the plaintiffs in all four cases, said ...
Aug 17, 1986
Church of Scientology settles in multimillion-dollar civil suits — Orlando Sentinel
Type: Press
Source:
Orlando Sentinel The Church of Scientology has reached out-of-court settlements in four multimillion-dollar civil suits, but details were ordered sealed by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich. Settlements were reached with former Clearwater Mayor Gabe Cazares, a Democratic candidate for Congress; Tanja Burden of Las Vegas; Nancy McLean of Ontario, Canada; and Margery Wakefield, no address available. Tampa attorney Walt Logan, who represented plaintiffs in all four cases, said the files were sealed Thursday over our objections. The Cazareses sued the church for $1.5 ...
Aug 16, 1986
Cazares, 3 others settle suits against Scientologists — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)More: news.google.com
Jul 23, 1986
Scientologists must pay $30 million to critical ex-member — Los Angeles Times (California)More: link , @L.A. Times, differs from scanned version
Type: Press
Author(s):
Joel Sappell ,
Robert W. Welkos Source:
Los Angeles Times (California) A Los Angeles Superior Court jury Tuesday awarded $30 million in damages to a former member of the Church of Scientology who said the organization intentionally drove him to the edge of insanity and ruined him financially for criticizing the group. The 12-0 verdict in favor of Larry Wollersheim brought gasps from the Scientologists who packed Judge Ronald Swearinger's court-room, as they had throughout the bitterly contested five-month-long trial. Some sobbed. Wollersheim was awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $25 ...
Jun 3, 1986
What's the scam? // Trying to bilk the Scientologists — Boston PhoenixMore: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
Jim Schuh Source:
Boston Phoenix Back on the morning of June 7, 1982, a man walked into the New York branch of the Middle East Bank on the 25th floor of a Madison Avenue office building and tried to deposit a $2 million check. The man, a native of the United Arab Emirates, left without completing the transaction. The check, written on an E.F. Hutton money-market account handled by the Bank of New England, was a forgery. Although attempted bank fraud of that ilk is not ...
May 29, 1986
Was church cheated or part of a larger plot? — Lawrence-Eagle-TribuneMore: link
Type: Press
Author(s):
Paul Van Osdol Source:
Lawrence-Eagle-Tribune Four years ago, two men walked into a New York bank and tried to cash a $2 million check drawn on the Bank of New England account of L. Ron Hubbard, the head of the Church of Scientology. The bank refused to cash the check after it could not verify the signature. Since then, the church has been on the warpath to find out who forged their now-dead founder's check. It offered a $100,000 reward, bought full-page advertisements in the country's ...
May 20, 1986
High court rejects Scientology case — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Apr 27, 1986
Suit challenges tactics of church — New York TimesMore: nytimes.com
Type: Press
Author(s):
Marcia Chambers Source:
New York Times A former official of the Church of Scientology, testifying at the trial of his suit charging the church with fraud, says church staff members engaged in a pattern of lies, tricks and deception in efforts to keep him from disclosing how the organization operates. The former official, Larry Wollersheim, who says the church should pay him $25 million in damages because it ruined him financially and emotionally, has spent three weeks testifying before a Superior Court jury here. For its part, ...
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