TODAY: Arguments on Scientology honcho David Miscavige being served in trafficking suit
There’s an interesting showdown happening in Tampa today, and we’ll have someone on the scene who will give us a report on it.
Starting at 2 pm Eastern, attorneys will be giving their arguments in Judge Thomas Barber’s federal district court about whether Scientology leader David Miscavige should be declared an official defendant in a labor trafficking lawsuit that was filed in April.
Valeska Paris and two other former Sea Org workers, Gawain and Laura Baxter, filed the lawsuit against Scientology and Miscavige, alleging that they had been trafficked as children and adults, forced to do labor and treated horribly on Scientology’s floating cathedral, the cruise ship Freewinds.
Scientology is attempting to derail the lawsuit the way it usually does in this kind of litigation, by arguing that contracts these former Scientologists signed while they were members obliged them not to sue but to take their grievances to Scientology’s own brand of “religious arbitration.”
A hearing on that question was held on November 17, and we are awaiting a ruling from Judge Barber.
In the meantime, Valeska and the Baxters have struggled to get Scientology leader David Miscavige officially named a defendant in the case, and they have made numerous filings written by attorney Neil Glazer alleging that Miscavige is purposely evading service. The other defendants, institutional Scientology subsidiaries, all accepted service and are fighting the lawsuit with a high-priced army of lawyers. But Miscavige only recently sent down an attorney to represent him on the question about him being served. It’s Florida Bar past president William Schifino.
We reported on Schifino’s rather astounding answer to Glazer’s argument that Miscavige be considered served. Schifino literally argued that Miscavige does no business in Florida, and that the Scientology leader is actually a resident of California and attempts to serve him in Florida were a waste of time.
We pointed out, however, just the year before Scientology’s attorneys were arguing in a Los Angeles courtroom that it was a waste of time for Danny Masterson’s accusers to serve Miscavige in LA because he was clearly in Florida. So which is it?
In fact, Scientology itself advertised to its members that Miscavige was in Clearwater to bring in the new year at the Fort Harrison Hotel, just as he had the two years previous.
And as for doing business in Florida, how’s about this notable date in Scientology history, in 2013, when Dave presided over the opening of the new Flag Building across the street from the Fort Harrison.
Wow, if opening an $80 million dollar building with offices for you inside isn’t “doing business” in Florida, what is?
We have a feeling Glazer is well aware of these facts and will have a field day with them at the hearing today. And won’t it be fun to see Schifino make the Florida Bar proud by arguing that David Miscavige is a phantom without an address or place of business and that the trafficking lawsuit is a bunch of hooey.
Thankfully for us, Clearwater city councilman Mark “Wise Beard Man” Bunker plans on being in attendance today. If you remember, he gave us a great report from the November 17 hearing in this lawsuit, and we expect something fun from him today.
So keep an eye on your inbox for that to arrive later today!
Thank you for reading today’s story here at Substack. For the full picture of what’s happening today in the world of Scientology, please join the conversation at tonyortega.org, where we’ve been reporting daily on David Miscavige’s cabal since 2012. There you’ll find additional stories, and our popular regular daily features:
Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history
Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea
Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time
Past is Prologue: From this week in history at alt.religion.scientology
Random Howdy: Your daily dose of the Captain
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We already have the excellent remark below about the Black Heart of defendant David "he is NOT insane!" Miscavige. I look forward to new explanations of what a miserable cur this non-existent person is...
'As the Church of Scientology International’s attorney Ricardo Cedillo put it in court Wednesday, it doesn’t matter if his client has a “black heart,” what matters is that it’s a religious dispute that the courts shouldn’t be involved in.'
From https://tonyortega.org/2014/01/10/black-hearts-and-burning-crosses-scientology-litigation-is-getting-weird-in-texas/
Where is hiding on the Toneless Scale? Ok judge, slap down the gavel and declare Miscavige 'served'.
I know Tony is being cheeky when he says 'floating cathedral' to describe the Fleecewinds, but I would call it a barely floating Auschwitz. In this case, Arbeit does not macht frei.