| April 2, 1982 | Suit Against Church Whittled | A District Judge has dismissed seven of 14 allegations of wrongdoing against the Church of Scientology by a Boston-area woman and said he will consider whether the First Amendment bars some of the remaining allegations in the $200 million class action suit. The claims were filed by a former member of the church, La Venda Van Schaick, who claimed she was induced into joining the church by false representations, defrauded, subjected to emotional distress, locked in a room, and harassed in many other ways. | |
| May 6, 1982 | Sect hearings open calmly | "So began testimony in the much-awaited and much-publicized hearings that city officials said could result in two ordinances aimed at curbing Scientology solicitation and alleged fraudulent activities." | |
| April 12, 1983 | Scientology Suit Allowed to Go to Trial | A federal judge opened the way Monday for four former Scientologists to sue the church for fraud over a variety of claims including promises that it could prevent colds, raise intelligence and solve obesity. The judge ruled that while Scientology is a religion, many of the claims it makes appear to involve non-religious matters, such as statements that it can improve a person's health and career. | |
| January 2, 1985 | Real Estate Agent Charged With Fraud In Church Funds | Miami Herald: Real Estate Agent Charged With Fraud In Church Funds | |
| May 18, 1985 | Oregon jury awards $39 million in Church of Scientology fraud case | San Francisco Chronicle: Oregon jury awards $39 million in Church of Scientology fraud case | |
| May 20, 1985 | Scientology Backers Hit Fraud Ruling | Philadelphia Daily News: Scientology Backers Hit Fraud Ruling | |
| May 20, 1985 | Scientologists protest fraud judgement in Oregon | San Francisco Chronicle: Scientologists protest fraud judgement in Oregon | |
| May 21, 1985 | Scientologists Rally Over Fraud Judgment | Lexington Herald-Leader: Scientologists Rally Over Fraud Judgment | |
| May 21, 1985 | Actor John Travolta defends Scientology at fraud award protest | San Francisco Chronicle: Actor John Travolta defends Scientology at fraud award protest | |
| May 22, 1985 | Scientologists march to Oregon state capitol over fraud ruling | San Francisco Chronicle: Scientologists march to Oregon state capitol over fraud ruling | |
| May 24, 1985 | 'is Your Religion Next?' Scientology Protest Of Fraud Judgment In Full Swing | Detroit Free Press: 'is Your Religion Next?' Scientology Protest Of Fraud Judgment In Full Swing | |
| July 17, 1985 | Judge Orders New Trial Set In Fraud Case Against Church | (brief mention of Scientology) | |
| July 17, 1985 | Oregon court throws out fraud judgement against cos | Los Angeles Times: Oregon court throws out fraud judgement against cos | |
| July 17, 1985 | Fraud Award Against Scientologists Is Voided | Miami Herald: Fraud Award Against Scientologists Is Voided | |
| July 17, 1985 | Oregon judge overturns fraud conviction of Church of Scientology | San Francisco Chronicle: Oregon judge overturns fraud conviction of Church of Scientology | |
| April 7, 1986 | Courts Wrestle With Claims Of Church Fraud | A jury has listened to weeks of accusations that the Church of Scientology defrauded a man when it promised him emotional and financial security and higher intelligence through Scientology. The man, Larry Wollersheim, who was a member of the church for 11 years, is seeking $25 million. Mr. Wollersheim said he spent more than $100,000 on church programs, including personal counseling, in the belief that they would make him more healthy, stable, confident and productive. | |
| January 2, 1987 | Fraud By Officials Alleged Scientology Members Suing Church | Charlotte Observer: Fraud By Officials Alleged Scientology Members Suing Church | |
| March 3, 1987 | Man Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charges | (brief mention of Scientology) | |
| April 21, 1987 | High Court Is Told It Was Fooled Lawyer Charges U.S. Fraudulently Imprisioned Japanese Americans | Detroit Free Press: High Court Is Told It Was Fooled Lawyer Charges U.S. Fraudulently Imprisioned Japanese Americans | |
| October 2, 1989 | Bears Turn Fraud Into Millions | San Jose Mercury News: Bears Turn Fraud Into Millions | |
| January 16, 1992 | France Charges 13 Scientologists With Fraud | Authorities have charged 13 members of the Church of Scientology with fraud and practising medicine illegally, court officials said yesterday, including the president of the French branch of the group, Jean-Claude Chapelet. | |
| January 19, 1992 | French Scientologists Face Fraud Charges | French authorities have charged 13 members of the Church of Scientology with fraud and practicing medicine illegally, court sources say. They include Jean-Claude Chapelet, the president of the French branch of the church, the sources said Wednesday. Police raided the church's headquarters in Paris Monday after former members claimed that they had been swindled out of a total of $750,000. | |
| September 20, 1999 | Scientology Trial Opens in France | Seven members of the Church of Scientology have gone on trial in France on charges of fraud. The trial has led to renewed calls for banning Scientology in France, which officially regards it as a dangerous cult rather than a religion. The charges against the seven defendants - who are alleged to have obtained large sums of money from fellow Scientologists by fraudulent means - date back to the late 1980s. | |
| November 16, 1999 | Scientology Leader Jailed For Fraud | Xavier Delamare, a former regional Scientology leader in south-east France, was given a further 18-month suspended sentence by the Marseille court while four other members accused of fraud, violence and illegally practising medicine were given suspended sentences of six months to a year. The verdict marked the end of a decade-long investigation into the group's activities in Marseille and Nice. Church officials were accused by former members of selling bogus "purification" treatments costing between pounds 1,200 and pounds 15,000 but consisting mainly of sessions in the sauna, jogging and vitamin pills. | |
| December 17, 1999 | Scientology calls lawsuit fraudulent | St. Petersburg Times: Scientology calls lawsuit fraudulent | |
