There’s a lot going on in the lawsuit filed by Jane Doe 1 against Scientology, David Miscavige, and Sea Org recruiter Gavin Potter.
At the end of 2022, between the two criminal trials of Danny Masterson where she was one of the three Jane Doe victims, Jane Doe 1 filed this lawsuit under seal, taking advantage of California’s Childhood Sexual Abuse law, which has some advantages for plaintiffs suing over incidents that happened years ago.
In June, the case was unsealed and it was revealed that Jane Doe 1 was suing Scientology because as a minor she alleges she was forced into a marriage with Potter, and that any sexual relations she had in that marriage she considered non-consensual. She was married to Potter from 1991 to 1997.
Scientology went to its usual playbook and filed a motion to force the case into its own version of “religious arbitration,” saying they had found a 2002 contract signed by Jane Doe while she was at the Flag Land Base which contains the church’s infamous arbitration clause.
Judge Robert Broadbelt is scheduled to consider Scientology’s motion on February 16. But in the meantime, he granted Jane Doe 1 the right to have limited discovery, and now we’re getting some idea of what she was able to pry out of Scientology in the last few weeks.
Specifically, in a new filing are copies of documents that tend to corroborate her version of events, that when she went to Flag in 2002, it was to spend time with her good friend Lisa Marie Presley, and not to get “religious” services. More documents have been produced, for example, which show that no one from Scientology itself had signed the contracts that Jane Doe 1 says she was forced to sign merely for spending time there.
Documents recently produced by Defendants confirm that Scientology Defendants never accepted the Agreement and that Jane Doe did not participate in services at FLAG during her visit in 2002 or thereafter.
Her attorneys also make the point that Congress in 2022 passed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which makes it illegal to enforce arbitration in cases of sexual assault. (We expect that, as usual, Scientology will argue that “religious” arbitration is a separate animal.)
So, a big day in court is coming for Jane Doe 1 on Feb 16 over Scientology’s usual arbitration gambit. Today, however, the case has a hearing regarding David Miscavige’s attempts to stay out of the lawsuit by arguing that he hasn’t been properly served the lawsuit.
We’ve told you before, numerous times, about how Miscavige plays this game, sending his personal attorney Jeffrey Riffer to make a “special appearance” and claims that they haven’t been properly noticed of the lawsuit.
And last week, Riffer filed a new document with the court, asking Judge Broadbelt to take notice that three years ago the judge who forced the Bixler v. Scientology case into religious arbitration (which was later overturned by an appeals court) had agreed with Miscavige that efforts to serve him weren’t sufficient, and he wasn’t named a defendant.
Riffer, of course, is hoping that Judge Broadbelt decides similarly today and finds that the money and time Jane Doe’s team has spent on process servers has all been in vain.
Also, as for Tuesday’s hearing in Leah Remini’s lawsuit, we checked with the court and were told that Judge Randolph Hammock has taken the motion to strike and anti-SLAPP filed by Scientology under submission and has not yet made a ruling. And as for the attempt by Miscavige to stay out of that lawsuit, his motion to quash is scheduled to be heard a week from today, and Judge Hammock’s court confirmed to us that no decision has been made yet about whether the Scientology leader has been formally served.
Bonus items from our tipsters
Dear [redacted] —
There are fundraising events. And then there are FUNdraising events. And the Saturday February 18 event is definitely one for the fun!
Picture yourself in the FH Ballroom, circa the Roaring 20’s. The Fashion. The Tunes. The Dancing. Not to mention the exquisite dinner. The bubbly? (That’ll come from the group’s off-the-charts Tone Level, for sure.)
The FH was built in, what, 1926? So, bringing back the essence of the 20’s to its magnificent ballroom is quite fitting. Wouldn’t you agree, [redacted]?
And all for a cause that’s, well, so theta it’s magical: Creating the Ideal Org of Puerto Rico and bringing the life-saving Tech to some 45+ million in the Caribbean.
The best news? You’re SO invited, [redacted], to join in. We’ll all have a roaring great time—especially with you playing along. RSVP to events@flagotc.org and let us know who you’re bringing with you.
As you know, the Ideal Org of Puerto Rico is under construction. And we’re bringing the energy in tandem for procurement of the FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment)—you know, those tangibles that, together, make the Tech accessible. In anticipation of Saturday’s FUN, your flow this week counts towards our target. Donate at
https://puertoricoideal.org/
For all you do, [redacted], you deserve a roaring good time. And on Saturday, February 18th, in the FH Ballroom that’s where you’ll find it!
With much love and mucho gratitude,
David
Flag OTC Fundraising Team
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Good luck to the plaintiff, and we hope the criminal organisation known as the "church" of $cientology fails to bamboozle this judge.
California's look back law has some teeth in it. The issues of 'proper service' for Mustravige should be very simple. Either his 'official' place of business in LA is good for leaving papers or DM has falsified papers regarding the chirches tax documents. It is either time to announce that DM has been served or to do service by publication. No one is going to get near him in Clearwater, so publication would seem to be the best way to serve him. And where is Gavin Potter? Serving him may be much more difficult. In the mean time, I am heating up the tar and I have a few old pillows with feathers.
As for the Anti-Slap? The judge should see it for the excrement that it is. The Remini lawsuit has the ability to be in the news a lot. That really burns the Clam bed and the master clam. Rifler et al are going to be burning through the billable hours for every bit of crap they can throw.
Puerto Rico is still trying to recover from the hurricane. It isn't a disaster that can be fixed by throwing a few rolls of paper towels, the power grid is working, but so much damage is still 'unfixed' that the population of the island hasn't recovered. It isn't a disaster, it is a FUNdraising opportunity. Yeah, enjoy the dancing and 'flapper' life $cienoes, and keep your wallet open. The 'how much can you "postulate" and pay game' will be in full swing.