Leah Remini and Scientology agree to slow down her lawsuit a little after heated exchanges
We’ve been telling you about the way that Scientology attacked Leah Remini’s lawsuit, with a massive motion to strike and anti-SLAPP in an attempt to cripple the suit before it really gets going. We’ve been looking forward to Leah’s reply, but it turns out we’re going to have to wait a little longer.
Yesterday, the two sides notified the court that they had worked out a new schedule that will allow more time for both camps to make arguments about Scientology’s motions, and Judge Randolph Hammock has signed off on the new schedule.
Leah first filed her lawsuit on August 2, alleging that she’s been the target of years of harassment, defamation, and interference of her ability to make a living from Scientology’s “Fair Game” campaign against her. After she initially filed the suit, she then added more allegations that the harassment has only gotten worse since she took the church to court, and she also asked for a preliminary injunction from the court that would end Scientology’s antics.
As we told you in a number of posts, Scientology fired back with more than 1,000 pages of motions and exhibits claiming that it was Leah who had started the war of words, that Scientology could investigate her with private eyes as a form of “pre-litigation,” and that any complaints to her media companies was just protected speech by a religious organization.
Both sides have taken some pretty vicious shots at the other in these early exchanges, and it’s been exciting to watch.
But now, the two sides, recognizing perhaps how large these claims and counterclaims are, have worked out this schedule going forward:
Leah will file her opposition to Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion on or by Friday, December 1.
Scientology will then file its reply to her opposition on or by Wednesday, December 22.
And the two sides have asked Judge Hammock to move his hearing on the motion from November 28 to Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Leah’s motion for a preliminary injunction will then be heard on Friday, January 19.
Mark your calendars, people!
Scientology is booming in Ireland!
A video made by Irish writer/director (and non-Scientologist) Terry McMahon extolling the virtues of Scientology’s Dublin Community Center — he called it a “sacred space” that had singlehandedly preserved Irish culture during the pandemic — prompted a discussion about Scientology in Ireland here at the Bunker recently, and in particular among the regulars at our Group Therapy podcast.
As usual, we pointed out that in a national census, only 87 people in Ireland had indicated they were Scientologists. But Pan, our enigmatic New Englander, pointed out to us that back in May a new Irish Census had been released, and we simply failed to notice it at the time.
It turns out that Scientology leader David Miscavige’s massive investment in Ireland — with a new National Affairs Office, Ideal Org, Community Center, and even a (still to be opened) Narconon facility — has resulted in a massive 65 percent growth in Irish Scientology membership!
If only 87 people identified as Scientologists in 2016, in the new 2022 census that number has increased to 132 in a country of 5,149,139 people. Hip, hip, hooray!
This country will be cleared in no time.
Bonus items from our tipsters
Chris Shelton is going Straight Up and Vertical
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When I take Leah’s point of view on her court case I feel she has sacrificed a lot in her life to make it happen. I for one would not want to have a court case hanging over my head whether I was the plaintiff or defendant. Even though Scientology is as guilty as sin, the stress of dealing with our justice system is immense. I am grateful for what Leah has done and is doing. I think I’ll write a song that supports the courage she has shown and the courage I’ve seen from Tony, Mike, Chris, Jon, Marc and Claire and newcomer Alex and other committed bloggers who aren’t letting up. 👏🏼
“If only 87 people identified as Scientologists in 2016, in the new 2022 census that number has increased to 132 in a country of 5,149,139 people. Hip, hip, hooray!”
Outstanding! Reminds me of to hedge fund managers fighting over who has the biggest returns.
Manager 1: we grew our assets by 150%.
Manager 2: we grew our assets by 18%.
Manager 1 asks manager 2 how many assets are under management? $2 trillion.
Manager 2 asks Manager 1, how many assets do you manage? $5k!
Facts don’t lie, but they do misrepresent...:)