Press

Press in the News

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January 14, 1987 26th Person Picks Up Filing Papers Bob Cetti, a technician in the production department at WTSP, Ch. 10, picked up papers Tuesday to run in the March 10 Clearwater elections. Cetti said he is a member of the Church of Scientology and would like to "get involved in trying to get government out of church affairs." Clearwater, Press
January 13, 1987 Scientologists Lose Appeal The Church of Scientology will seek leave to appeal yesterday's court decision dismissing its bid to quash the search warrant that led to the largest seizure of documents in Canadian history. One hundred policemen seized about two million documents in a 20-hour raid on the organization's Toronto headquarters. crimes, Guardian Office, lawsuits, Press, Toronto
January 12, 1987 Scientologists Seek a Port for Boheme Five companies are suing the Church of Scientology for more than $127,000, claiming that the organization has failed to pay its bills for construction work and equipment. Besides those lawsuits, the Scientologists have settled five others within the past two years from companies that claimed they were owed more than $39,000 for items ranging from travel services to construction materials. Clearwater, Press
January 1, 1987 6 Ex-Scientologists File $1-Billion Suit Over Funds, Secrets Former members of the Church of Scientology filed a $1-billion class-action lawsuit against the organization Wednesday, accusing its late founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and a cadre of his most trusted aides of plundering church coffers, intimidating critics and breaching the confidentiality of sacred confessional folders. The action, charging fraud and breach of fiduciary responsibility, represents perhaps the broadest condemnation of the church to date. L. Ron Hubbard, lawsuits, Los Angeles, Press
December 30, 1986 Methuen Man Is Convicted In Scientology Extortion Case A US District Court jury yesterday convicted George T. Kattar of Methuen of extorting $33,000 from the Church of Scientology and attempting to extort $67,000 more. The case involved efforts to collect a $100,000 reward offered by the church for information about an attempt to pass a $1.5 million forged church check. The defense lawyers argued that the church did not care whether the information was true or false as long as it incriminated Flynn, whom the church considered its nemesis. Boston, crimes, Press
December 28, 1986 Jury To Resume Deliberations In Scientology Extortion Trial A US District Court jury yesterday heard final arguments in the trial of two men accused of extortion and fraud for selling false information to the Church of Scientology about the forgery of a church check. Attorneys for the pair admitted that their clients provided the false information, but said no fraud was committed on the church. The defense lawyers argued that the church did not care whether the information was true or false as long as it incriminated a longtime church adversary, Boston lawyer Michael J. Flynn. Boston, crimes, Michael Flynn, Press
December 26, 1986 Mysticism, Murder and Money Two insurance companies have accused John W. Kramer of setting up the 1985 murder of David Artz to collect $1.75 million in insurance on his life. Lawyers for the insurance companies contend that Kramer "subverted the free will" of Artz, drew him away from his family and business in Lancaster, immersed him in mysterious financial dealings in Florida, placed excessive insurance on his life and then set him up to be killed. Press
December 10, 1986 Ex-Scientology Official Testifies He Was Bullied For $67,000 Payoff A former official of the Church of Scientology testified in US District Court yesterday that a Methuen man threatened to have him bullied or killed unless he gave him $67,000. Kattar, 67, and Harvey Brower, 49, of Swampscott, a former lawyer turned writer, are on trial charged with extorting funds from the church. The two men allegedly obtained $33,000 from the church in return for providing it with false information about an attempt to steal $2 million from the church. The two defendants allegedly attempted to extort another $67,000 payment before church officals went to the FBI. Boston, crimes, Michael Flynn, Press
December 7, 1986 16 Scientology Offices in Italy Shut After Raids Raids were conducted in 20 cities, including Milan, Turin, Florence, Rome, Genoa and Naples. The last one was yesterday, when police shut down a recently opened Scientology office in the eastern town of Macerata. The office of Milan investigating magistrate Guicla Mulliri said the raids were part of an investigation into possible physical abuse, fraud, violation of labor laws and tax evasion. The U.S. government has long contended that Scientology is not a religion and should not be exempt from taxes. crimes, Press
November 20, 1986 Charge Dismissed For the second time, charges brought against the Church of Scientology have been struck down. The church was accused of violating Quebec's Consumer Protection Act in dealings with two prospective members. The indictments, filed by the Consumer Protection Office, alleged that the two were forced to make full payment for personality courses before the lessons began. Montreal, Press

Press in the News

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May 12, 2006 Polish Scientologists Ordered to Remove Tents When Scientology erected tents in Warsaw's city center to attract new members, city officials ordered them taken down. Press
September 30, 1996 Patrice Vic Trial Begins - Scientology Executive Charged with Manslaughter Trial begins in the death of Patrice Vic. Scientology executive Jean-Jacques Mazier is charged with manslaughter, and 22 other Scientologists also face charges. crimes, deaths, France, Patrice Vic, Press