tetloj
Silver Meritorious Patron
Indeed there is a hearing today and Tony is in LA to cover it
http://tonyortega.org/2016/04/27/li...escenzos-scientology-forced-abortion-lawsuit/
http://tonyortega.org/2016/04/27/li...escenzos-scientology-forced-abortion-lawsuit/
Today, in a Los Angeles courtroom, the Church of Scientology will try to convince a judge that it can treat its own workers as harshly as it wants to and a US civil court can have nothing to say about it.
Last night, after arriving in Los Angeles, we learned that Scientology attorney Bert Deixler may be fighting uphill today. Judge Doyle has issued a tentative ruling denying Scientology’s motion, but we were cautioned by court observers that this could change, depending on what happens in the courtroom today.
Scientology then filed another motion for summary judgment, this time saying that the lawsuit should be dismissed because it violates the church’s First Amendment rights to treat its “ministers” however it sees fit. Laura answered that she was hardly a minister — she was a twelve-year-old child when she went into the Sea Org and was then punished for admitting to missing her family. Judge Rolf Treu, who handled the case after Sohigian’s retirement, asked both sides to resubmit their filings on the motion (plaintiff, defense), but then he was replaced with Judge Doyle.
So that’s where we are. And Scientology attorney Bert Deixler will try to convince Judge Doyle today that Scientology’s religious rights are being trampled by Laura’s lawsuit, and that its First Amendment protections prevent a civil court from considering her claims.