Jane Doe 1 attempts to serve David Miscavige in multiple places: Will court deem it enough?

Once again, it’s a game of “Where’s Dave?” as another plaintiff suing the Church of Scientology tries to hunt down the organization’s reclusive leader, David Miscavige, to serve him a lawsuit.

In this case, it’s Jane Doe 1 and her lawsuit against Scientology, Miscavige and Sea Org recruiter Gavin Potter, which was unsealed in June.

The suit accuses Scientology of forcing Jane Doe 1 to marry Potter after he sexually assaulted her when she was still a minor. She alleges that any sexual contact she had with him subsequently over the years 1991 to 1997 she considered non-consensual.

She then left the Sea Org but not Scientology, and she was close friends with Lisa Marie Presley and more casually acquainted with Danny Masterson. On May 31, a jury found that Masterson raped Jane Doe 1 in the early hours of April 25, 2003. The jury also convicted him on another count of forcible rape, and on September 7 he was sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison.

But this lawsuit is about the allegations about Potter that occurred several years before the Masterson attack, and it’s not a criminal case, it’s a civil lawsuit, which requires that Jane Doe 1 find David Miscavige to serve him papers that notify him that he’s a defendant.

Other former Scientologists suing the church have found this a difficult task, as Miscavige hides behind an elaborate barrier of security guards and locked facilities.

So we have in multiple cases that plaintiffs have tried to serve Miscavige through “substitute service,” giving the court papers to employees of the church.

In the Baxter trafficking case in Tampa, the plaintiffs were successful there as earlier this year a federal court found that Miscavige was purposely evading service and named him an official defendant. But at the same time, that case was derailed in favor of Scientology’s internal “religious arbitration,” which is now on appeal at the Eleventh Circuit.

Plaintiffs in Los Angeles Superior Court have had less luck, as courts there seem unwilling to find that Miscavige is being evasive. Will this latest effort by Jane Doe 1 be enough to convince a court that Dave has been served? (We’re also waiting to see what another court says about similar efforts made by Leah Remini in her lawsuit.)

Anyway, we thought you would be interested to see the report by the process server who spent several days in September trying to find Miscavige at various places in LA, including the Celebrity Centre and Scientology Media Productions, the elaborate studios that Scientology created from the old KCET campus.

Will this be enough to convince the court that Dave has been served by substitute service? Let us know what you think.

September 13, 2:30 pm: Scientology Media Productions (4401 Sunset Blvd)

Results: There is no front door entrance to a building at this address, there are only the driveways with gates in and out and a guard house in between. There is no call box, only a numeric keypad. I knocked on the metal gate by the guard house. The door slid open and a Caucasian male uniformed PAC (Pacific Area Command) security guard asked how he could help me. I asked if David Miscavige was there, he said no - what are you doing on my driveway? I told him that I was there to serve legal papers to David Miscavige and asked have you seen him, does he work here? He said he does not work here. I asked if he knew where I could find him, he said no.

September 13, 3:04 pm: Scientology Celebrity Centre International

Results: I pressed the intercom button at the front gate and it rang and rang, it reset with a busy tone, and began dialing again. I let it ring for about 2 minutes as this auto redial continued. I saw a couple and a woman with a dog on the property, I said hello, they ignored me. There is a sign that says deliveries go to the rear entrance on Yucca St. I walked to side of the building on Tamarind Ave. At the side entrance there was a white male plain clothed security guard. He asked if he could help me, I asked who he was, he said he was private security, I asked his name, he said Chuck. I asked have you seen David Miscavige, is he here? He said no and no. I asked if I should go to the delivery office, maybe they could help. He said they should say, err they will say the same thing. I asked if he knew where David Miscavige can be found, he said no.

September 13, 3:46 pm: Author Services Inc./RTC (7051 Hollywood Blvd

Results: The intercom at the Hollywood Blvd entrance does not work. There is a folding partition barrier just inside the front double doors which appear to not be in use. On the Sycamore Ave side of the building there is an intercom and camera at the driveway to the parking structure only, no formal entry/exit doorway other than what looks like one set of exit only double doors. The intercom rang and rang, hung up and auto redialed over and over for about four and a half minutes, there was no answer, no activity observed.

September 13, 4:45 pm: Advanced Org/ASHO (L. Ron Hubbard Way)

Results: I approached the doors and was quickly met by a security guard who asked what I needed, I told him that I was here to see David Miscavige, is he here? He said no. I asked where he can be found? He said I don’t have to answer that and we know why you are here and you are not welcome, I am asking you to leave. I asked him how about 1413 L Ron Hubbard way, does he work there? he said no, we know why you are here and you are not welcome. I said you know that I am trying to serve legal process and I am not welcome? He said yes and asked me to leave again.

September 15, 9:57 am: Author Services Inc/RTC

Results: I approached the Sycamore side of the building and saw two men next to a pickup truck parked in the driveway. They appeared to be plain clothes security guards, one of them had a walkie talkie. I asked if they worked here and they both said no. One quickly turned and walked away while making a call on his phone, the other quickly jumped in the truck and left. I rang the intercom, no answer. It disconnected and auto redialed a number of times. The gate opened and a Hispanic male in a Toyota pickup drove out. I waived motioning to open the window, he did. I asked if he worked there, he said no and mumbled something. I asked if David Miscavige was there, he got nervous, said no shaking his head quickly and drove off. The gate closed behind him. The man on his phone was watching me from across the street, then got in his truck and left. I tried the Hollywood entrance, same as last time, closed.

September 15, 10:36 am: Scientology Celebrity Centre (5930 Franklin Ave)

Results: I went to the delivery gate at the back of the property on S Yucca Street. The intercom does not work. I called the phone number on the sign, it rang and rang, no answer. I continued on Tamarind Ave toward the front of the building. At the side entrance there was a uniformed security guard, I said hello and began to ask if David Miscavige was there, he interrupted and said we know who you are, we can’t help you - I asked you know my name? He did not reply. I asked if he has seen David Miscavige, he said we know who you are, we know what you are doing, you are not welcome here and I can’t help you. I went to the front gate on Franklin and pressed the button on the intercom, it rang and rang, hung up, redialed and continued ringing - no answer. The security guard was watching me from inside the property.

September 15, 11:18 am: Scientology Media Productions (4401 Sunset Blvd)

Results: I checked the gated entrances around the side and back of the property looking for an intercom, none found - only numeric key pads. There are security cameras at every gate and around the entire property. I approached the front gate and guard house on Sunset Blvd. and called out- Hello. A female uniformed security guard came out of the building next to the gate. I said good morning and asked if David Miscavige was there - she interrupted and said please get off our driveway - I told her that I am a legal process server and I am not trespassing, I asked is David Miscavige here? She said no. I asked if she has ever seen him? she said can you please leave. I said have a good day and left.

September 15, 11:24 am: ASHO, L. Ron Hubbard Way

Results: I approached the entrance to 1413 and was met on the sidewalk by uniformed security guard Odo. I asked how he was, he said "I am, how are you" I asked if David Miscavige was here, he said no - wrong address, I told you that before. I said that attempt was at 4810 Sunset Blvd. He said none of these addresses are his. I asked if David Miscavige was affiliated with any of these businesses here? He said I can't help you. I said I will check at 1306 also. He said I will tell you the same thing about there. I asked - that he is not affiliated with that entity either? He said that it is not his address. I asked if he has ever seen David Miscavige, he said no.

September 15, 11:27 am: Advanced Org of LA, L. Ron Hubbard Way

Results: I continued to 1306, another guard was standing in front of the entrance. I asked him if David Miscavige was there. He said no sir wrong address. I asked if he was affiliated with Advanced Organization Los Angeles. He said no wrong address, but we know why you are here - I can’t help you. I asked him to tell me why he thinks I am here, he was silent then asked what are you here for? I said that I am here to serve legal process to David Miscavige. He said yes, and I can’t help you.

September 22, 12:27 pm: Author Services Inc/RTC (7051 Hollywood Blvd)

Results: I approached the side entrances of the building on Sycamore Ave. There is a small patio-like area between the two driveways and appears to be part of the property. I spotted two men seated in there, one with a walkie talkie. I recognized them as the same two men from my previous attempt. I asked if they worked here, they both said no. I asked if David Miscavige was here, they said no. I asked if they have seen him here, they said no. I asked if there was a manager here or any one in charge of the building, they said no. I asked if there was a specific time of day when a manager or someone in charge would be there, they said no. I asked if they were building security, they said no. I asked so you guys just hang out here? They said yes.

September 22, 12:45 pm: Scientology Celebrity Centre (5930 Franklin Ave)

Results: I approached the side entrance on Tamarind Ave and was met by plain clothes security guard, it was Chuck again (white, male, 65 yrs, 5’10”, 195 lbs, gray hair, sunglasses.) He said what can I do for you? I explained that I was a process server there to serve David Miscavige and I asked are you in charge of the property. He said I am hired private security, and I can tell you that he is not here. I asked if there was a manager that I could talk to? He said they're not going to come out. I asked, can I go in? He said oh God, no and repositioned himself more between me and the entrance. I explained I am not trespassing while serving legal process, He said they do not want you on the property - I understand, I know your job. I announced that I was substitute serving him on behalf of David Miscavige with summons and complaints for two lawsuits. He backed up and would not take the documents so I dropped them at his feet.

September 22, 1:05 pm: Scientology Media Productions (4401 Sunset Blvd)

Results: I knocked on the metal gate a few times. The same security guard from my 1st attempt came out of the guard house. White male, 38 yrs, 5'6", 1501bs. I told him I was a process server here to serve David Miscavige, is he here? He replied He is not here, now please get off my driveway. I asked if he was in charge of the property, he said no. I asked if there was a manager here, he said no. I said so you are the only one here in charge? He said please leave our property. I explained that I was not trespassing. I announced that I was substitute serving him on behalf of David Miscavige with two lawsuits, he stepped back quickly as I extended my arm through the gate and dropped the papers inside the gate at his feet.

September 22, 1:05 pm: Scientology Media Productions

Substituted service on: DAVID MISCAVIGE; 4401 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027; by serving: "John Doe" - security guard, person in charge. Caucasian male, 38 yrs, 5'6", 1501bs, black hair.

September 22

Mailed copy of documents to: DAVID MISCAVIGE 4401 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027

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