We’re in Nassau County again for what we expect to be an explosive day as Susanne Gold-Smith testifies and then is cross-examined by the man she says raped her, retired NYPD Detective and former Scientology private eye Yanti Michael Greene.
In the meantime, we are watching other stories and we wanted to bring you up to date on a new development in the Bixler lawsuit, the one brought by Danny Masterson’s victims that Scientology recently managed to put into a year-long deep freeze.
The Bixler lawsuit was actually filed in 2019, before Masterson was charged criminally, and alleged that the That ’70s Show actor and the Church of Scientology were conducting a yearslong harassment campaign against the Jane Doe victims because they had come forward to the LAPD in the fall of 2016. But that lawsuit was put on hold as Masterson’s criminal trials for forcible rape took place in 2022 and 2023, resulting in his conviction and sentencing to 30 years to life in prison.
After Masterson’s sentencing last September, the Bixler lawsuit finally got going again, but Scientology tried to stop it in its tracks with multiple motions to strike and anti-SLAPP motions. Judge Upinder Kalra denied those motions outright, and in the meantime the Jane Doe plaintiffs submitted a new proposed amended complaint on December 27, asking Judge Kalra for leave to allow it in. The proposed new complaint would not only add a new victim (actress Tricia Vessey, who testified in the first Masterson trial), but also would add sexual battery charges against Masterson and racketeering allegations against Scientology.
Before Kalra could grant that request and allow in the new complaint, Scientology appealed his denial of their motions to strike. And Judge Kalra ruled on May 29 that as long as that appeal is pending — and he acknowledged that it could take a year to 18 months — the entire lawsuit would be on hold.
Now, attorneys for the Jane Doe plaintiffs have filed a motion for reconsideration, asking Judge Kalra to rethink that decision. While the motions to strike that were denied might be on appeal, does that really mean the entire lawsuit has to be on hold?
In their filing, they argue that Scientology’s appeal only applies to the motions to strike that were denied. So why is the judge extending the hold to anything else, including of course their attempt to bolster the lawsuit and add racketeering charges?
That sure seems reasonable to us, but in Scientology litigation, up is always down and down is always up. So we’ll be interested to see how the church responds, and how Judge Kalra rules.
Turning to another matter, we wanted to tell you about our recent follow-up with Alanna Warren. A little more than a year ago, we published a remarkable statement by her as she identified herself as a former Scientology private investigator who had been paid to stalk Mike Rinder, Christie Collbran, Amy Scobee, Mat Pesch, and others for the church in 2010. And she had the photographs and other records to prove it.
Just recently, we checked in on her to see how she was doing, and we were saddened to learn that she is not doing well at all. About the time she had sent us those pieces, she was diagnosed with a rare condition that required major abdominal surgery in November. She has ongoing medical issues that are being compounded by a tough financial situation and now her car has died. And all of it is making things very tough for this single mother of an 8-year-old daughter.
You can read more about the unfortunate combination of factors that are making things very difficult for Alanna at a GoFundMe she has set up. If you can spare some change to help her out, we’d appreciate it.
And speaking of former Scientology private investigators, we’re looking forward to day two of the Yanti Michael Greene trial today on Long Island at the Nassau County Supreme Court. After a frustrating morning of musical courtrooms yesterday, we landed in the domain of Judge Leonard Steinman, who seemed to take the matter very seriously.
And today he’ll have his hands full as he monitors the cross-examination of Susanne Gold-Smith by her alleged attacker, Greene. We will have our impressions for you later in the day.
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Susan Gold-Smith gets to be cross examined by her rapist? (alleged rapist) I hope the judge keeps a taser handy for when Yanti tries to intimidate Sue.
Delay, delay and more delay. Give the $cieno lawyers their due, they are going to bill you for it anyway, one way or another.
Today’s reports from Tony say one simple thing. Scientology hires rapists and Scientology defends rapists. That says it all regarding the organization that’s going to save our planet.