Leah Remini, the actress and producer, who fled Scientology 10 years ago this summer, filed an expansive lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige in California today.
OMG!!! I have never been more impressed by or proud of another human being as I am today! This is huge! This took guts! This is monumental! Way to go, Leah! You have a small army supporting you.
Please tell me Leah has local California counsel for this. The top of the caption shows law firms in other states, which is not permissible (they can apply pro hac vice, but there must be a CA attorney with state bar number, email address, physical address, phone number, etc. listed). Litigating in CA is very different from other states and attorneys from other states rarely know the correct procedures to follow. The first line of the first page should not say "Attorneys for Plaintiff, LEAH REMINI." That goes below the names, bar numbers, firm names, address, etc. of the law firms. In addition, they are called "Causes of Action," not "Claims."
I haven't read the whole thing, but I guarantee I'd have a red pen all over it. "Liquidated damages for any future violations" in the prayer? That one is a puzzle. Lines numbered 1-21 in the left margin instead of 1-28 and none of the text is lined up with those numbers. Sigh. Turns out one of the FL lawyers is barred in CA, so this must be a draft we've been looking at with the blank line next to "Bar No." for him. I sure hope so. The final Complaint filed should look a whole lot better than this.
That doesn’t really matter much. The official one filed with the court will have an electronic date stamp on it and what’s on file with the court is the official document. Los Angeles County Superior Court doesn’t require documents that are e-filed to be pdfs that can’t be edited. So…anyone who wants to make sure they are reading the actual complaint on file with the court and not an altered one would have to download a copy from the court’s website (which, unfortunately, isn’t free).
I'm guessing part of this has to be argued in Florida bc that's where the Clearwater ORG is.... and where Leah was held... right? That said, I do hope she's got California representation, too......!
Cases cannot be argued in pieces in different states. It was filed in CA and that’s where it stays unless there is a successful motion for change of venue. This one is going to be an interesting one to watch and I’m going to keep my eye on it.
Sadly, the complaint was filed exactly as what was shared on social media, bad form, typos and all. It was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and the the case number is 23STCV18300. There is a Case Management Conference set for Nov.30th, but more importantly an OSC re failure to file Proof of Service set for Sept.25th (which doesn’t allow for much time to get the defendants served and we all know they will evade service at every possible turn). The judge assigned to this case is William F. Fahey. Let’s see what happens next.
Go Get'm! I'm thrilled to see you both dismantling this cult - to the house of cards it always was. Because then, so many other parishioners in other religious institutions may hold their leaders accountable for their abuses, by following the map you're drawing via this lawsuit. Great job and God Speed!
I pray she is successful and am so happy she and Mike have been so vocal about this very dangerous cult.
This is amazing. I hope she's successful and you both get some peace!
This is so important and potentially altering for that exploitative cult. I commend her.
If anyone can successfully sue Scientology, Leah can!!!!
What I wrote on Leah’s Substack.
OMG!!! I have never been more impressed by or proud of another human being as I am today! This is huge! This took guts! This is monumental! Way to go, Leah! You have a small army supporting you.
YESSSSS
Please tell me Leah has local California counsel for this. The top of the caption shows law firms in other states, which is not permissible (they can apply pro hac vice, but there must be a CA attorney with state bar number, email address, physical address, phone number, etc. listed). Litigating in CA is very different from other states and attorneys from other states rarely know the correct procedures to follow. The first line of the first page should not say "Attorneys for Plaintiff, LEAH REMINI." That goes below the names, bar numbers, firm names, address, etc. of the law firms. In addition, they are called "Causes of Action," not "Claims."
I’m hoping they’ve already been sponsored, but concerned about “DECLARATORY JUDGMENT –
CALIFRONIA CODE CIVIL PROCEDURE” on page 1, they really have to be on the ball to take this on.
I haven't read the whole thing, but I guarantee I'd have a red pen all over it. "Liquidated damages for any future violations" in the prayer? That one is a puzzle. Lines numbered 1-21 in the left margin instead of 1-28 and none of the text is lined up with those numbers. Sigh. Turns out one of the FL lawyers is barred in CA, so this must be a draft we've been looking at with the blank line next to "Bar No." for him. I sure hope so. The final Complaint filed should look a whole lot better than this.
Thanks Debbie and Val... I'm learning by osmosis
The PDF she sent can also be opened and edited..... I just typed all over it...
That doesn’t really matter much. The official one filed with the court will have an electronic date stamp on it and what’s on file with the court is the official document. Los Angeles County Superior Court doesn’t require documents that are e-filed to be pdfs that can’t be edited. So…anyone who wants to make sure they are reading the actual complaint on file with the court and not an altered one would have to download a copy from the court’s website (which, unfortunately, isn’t free).
Gotcha
I'm guessing part of this has to be argued in Florida bc that's where the Clearwater ORG is.... and where Leah was held... right? That said, I do hope she's got California representation, too......!
Cases cannot be argued in pieces in different states. It was filed in CA and that’s where it stays unless there is a successful motion for change of venue. This one is going to be an interesting one to watch and I’m going to keep my eye on it.
Yeah, me too... so odd that she named a lawyer out of Florida and another from SC
Paralegals for Leah’s attorney, please proofread better. A typo on the first page is bad form.
Other than that, this is one case I am hoping grows giant legs! You go Leh!
*Leah*
Sadly, the complaint was filed exactly as what was shared on social media, bad form, typos and all. It was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and the the case number is 23STCV18300. There is a Case Management Conference set for Nov.30th, but more importantly an OSC re failure to file Proof of Service set for Sept.25th (which doesn’t allow for much time to get the defendants served and we all know they will evade service at every possible turn). The judge assigned to this case is William F. Fahey. Let’s see what happens next.
Go Get'm! I'm thrilled to see you both dismantling this cult - to the house of cards it always was. Because then, so many other parishioners in other religious institutions may hold their leaders accountable for their abuses, by following the map you're drawing via this lawsuit. Great job and God Speed!
Hooray!!
David Miscavige what is happening?
He’s a gigantic cult leader and thoroughly evil.
Yashar, you've either got an infiltrator or L Ron Hubbard is finally back from the afterlife. ;)
Going Clear is required reading.