Scientology asks SCOTUS to give the church freedom to handle rape cases in religious arbitration

[essentialsaltes]

Scientology looms over actor Danny Masterson rape case. How much will come out at trial?

I dunno, but he was found guilty.

Danny Masterson, ‘That ’70s Show’ actor, found guilty of rape​

A Los Angeles jury has found actor Danny Masterson guilty on two of the three counts of rape in a retrial on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

There was a hung jury on the third count, the District Attorney said.

 

[essentialsaltes]

In addition to the women’s allegations that Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the rapes to police, the revelation that a church attorney obtained discovery materials in the case has sparked an LAPD investigation and allegations of impropriety from prosecutors.

The materials obtained by attorney Vicki Podberesky included redacted text messages exchanged between Masterson’s accusers and LAPD investigators, according to Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Reinhold Mueller.

A hearing to determine how Podberesky got the materials was set to take place Wednesday morning but was rescheduled by Olmedo because deliberations were ongoing. Podberesky said last month that she got the documents legally and did nothing wrong but declined to explain how they came into her possession.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Danny Masterson, ‘That ’70s Show’ actor, found guilty of rape​

Actor Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for two rapes​

US actor Danny Masterson has been sentenced to serve 30 years to life in prison for raping two women.

Prosecutors argued Masterson, 47, had relied on his status as a prominent Scientologist to avoid accountability.

Scientology officials told one survivor she would be kicked out of the Church unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement and accepted a payment of $400,000 (£320,000), according to prosecutors.

 

[Pommer]

Actor Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for two rapes​

US actor Danny Masterson has been sentenced to serve 30 years to life in prison for raping two women.

Prosecutors argued Masterson, 47, had relied on his status as a prominent Scientologist to avoid accountability.

Scientology officials told one survivor she would be kicked out of the Church unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement and accepted a payment of $400,000 (£320,000), according to prosecutors.

He should’ve got Spacey’s lawyers.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Scientology tried to ‘derail’ star’s rape trial by harassing prosecutor, suit says; church calls claim ‘false’​

lawyers for [Masterson's] victims filed a document that contained a stunning new allegation against the faith.

Submitted in a downtown Los Angeles court as part of a years-old civil lawsuit against Scientology, the document referenced a purported effort by the church to “derail” the criminal proceedings against Masterson.

“Defendants and their agents engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation directed at one of the prosecutors assigned to Defendant Masterson’s trial,” the declaration from civil attorney Simon Leen read. “That prosecutor’s home and car windows were broken, the prosecutor’s home electronics were tampered with, and Defendants’ agents surveilled the prosecutor.”

The December 2023 declaration didn’t name the prosecutor or offer any additional detail, and Leen declined to comment.

In a speech last fall, L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Reinhold Mueller delivered remarks that contained allegations nearly identical to those from the lawsuit, according to a video reviewed by The Times.

Mueller said he was “run off the road” and that his home was vandalized, according to the video. He also said that cellular and internet service had been inexplicably knocked out at his residence.

LAPD detectives who investigated the actor also said they “had been surveilled, watched” or experienced “some type of harassment” which “they attributed to agents or individuals from the Church of Scientology,” according to former LAPD Chief Michel Moore.

[Neither the DA nor police are making a case of it, but it's shown up in this private lawsuit.]

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

Scientology tried to ‘derail’ star’s rape trial by harassing prosecutor, suit says; church calls claim ‘false’​

lawyers for [Masterson's] victims filed a document that contained a stunning new allegation against the faith.

Submitted in a downtown Los Angeles court as part of a years-old civil lawsuit against Scientology, the document referenced a purported effort by the church to “derail” the criminal proceedings against Masterson.

“Defendants and their agents engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation directed at one of the prosecutors assigned to Defendant Masterson’s trial,” the declaration from civil attorney Simon Leen read. “That prosecutor’s home and car windows were broken, the prosecutor’s home electronics were tampered with, and Defendants’ agents surveilled the prosecutor.”

The December 2023 declaration didn’t name the prosecutor or offer any additional detail, and Leen declined to comment.

In a speech last fall, L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Reinhold Mueller delivered remarks that contained allegations nearly identical to those from the lawsuit, according to a video reviewed by The Times.

Mueller said he was “run off the road” and that his home was vandalized, according to the video. He also said that cellular and internet service had been inexplicably knocked out at his residence.

LAPD detectives who investigated the actor also said they “had been surveilled, watched” or experienced “some type of harassment” which “they attributed to agents or individuals from the Church of Scientology,” according to former LAPD Chief Michel Moore.

[Neither the DA nor police are making a case of it, but it's shown up in this private lawsuit.]

And why not? All the talk about RICO lately... this falls directly in line. They should raid that cult organization and charge them all. This is mafia style activity.

They do this kind of stuff down in Clearwater, FL where they own half of downtown and have seats on the city council. They really need to be squashed.

 

[Elliewaves]

Harassing anyone that disagrees with them is Scientology 101. It's been well documented and is in their literature in how to behave as a Scientologist.

 

[durangodawood]

I cannot stand cult/bully organizations like this. I hope their doom comes swiftly.

 

[Velaut]

Mandating internal arbitration proceedings to settle disputes, is just a way to cover up; protect the organization, keeping the good image.
At most i would agree with a 'possiblity' of internal trial. Never with an obligated one.
Have seen too many stories where the organization's goal is just to protect themselves.

A contract is a contract, i read. No, contracts can be illegal or have illegal clauses that don't need to be followed even when signed. ies

 

[FreeinChrist]

<see update in #20. I gather the church lost, because the criminal trial is moving forward>
Church of Scientology Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Force Danny Masterson Rape Accusers into Binding ‘Religious Arbitration’

The Church of Scientology is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case that questions whether religious groups can force their followers — and even their ex-followers — to submit to internal arbitration proceedings to settle disputes.

An intermediate California appellate court ruled on Jan. 19, 2022 that the respondents enjoyed a First Amendment right to leave the Church of Scientology and that their mandatory arbitration agreement with the church was terminated along with the respondents’ departure from the faith.

At times co-opting language from the Court of Appeal opinion, the church asserts in its petition to the U.S. Supreme Court that its followers consented to an “irrevocable agreement” to “submit disputes to Scientology arbitration” — which is just “one of the prices of joining [the Scientology] religion.”

Contracts are contracts, even when a church is a party. It should go without saying that contracts with churches are entitled to the same protection under the law as contracts with secular entities. The California Court of Appeal disagrees. It held that a voluntary party to an otherwise enforceable contract with a church may annul that contract by asserting a First Amendment right to “leave the faith” and “extricate” themselves from the church. While secular entities can enforce contracts over the objections of a party that no longer wishes to be bound, churches now cannot, as long as a party asserts a change of faith.

This reminds me of a situation that occurred in a local school (and where I worked later) involving Mormons. A school aged girl told the counselor that her father was molesting and/or raping her frequently. The counselor was in the same ward as the girl, and went to the school nurse who was also in the same ward. Instead of calling CPS or police, they called the Bishop of that ward and turned in over to him.

The result was the girl was raped or molested for another 6 months. She finally told her teacher who was not Mormon or in that ward, who told the principal who was not Mormon and they contacted CPS and police.

As a result of that, the father was arrested. The girl was moved to a different family home. The counselor and school nurse were fired from the district and both charged with failure to report. The ward bishop was also charged and if I remember right, so were a few of the leaders in that church who counseled but did not report.

Those people failed the girl and the same will happen if the church of Scientology gets control.

It is like they don't even think rape is a crime.