Tony Ortega is on fire.
He has posted 5 stories in one day. Three of which contain significant legal documents.
1&2. Laura Dieckman’s response to the Church’s petition to the California Supreme Court seeking to prevent her from accessing her pc folders and an EEOC lawsuit filed against a Miami chiro for forcing employees to undergo Scientology courses
3. The search warrant revealing the extent of the insurance fraud alleged against Narconon Georgia.
If you have not read these, check them out. You may not always agree with Tony’s perspective, but it is irrelevant when he is posting significant legal documents.
The latest is a hair raiser:
Brian Culkin takes Church payola to turn on Marty and Mike and throw Louis and his wife (And everyone else who could have gotten a refund based on this outcome) under the bus.
See what the Church can do? Wear down and overwhelm a man to the tune of 350K in DONATIONS, giving him NOTHING in exchange!
Then, turn him into an instrument to harm attack and suppress others to obtain some of it back. Just degrade him right down into a blatant treason condition.
This is how the Church helps one “improve conditions” in their life these days?
LAUGHTER!
In David’s own sadistic way I am sure he took the overwhelm of Brian as a personal win. Well, I have no intention of bashing or degrading Brian. Frankly David, what you did to that man sickens me. One of these days, you will be all alone someplace, and in the dark, with only yourself to live with there. And it will be YOU, for your only company. That is when the justice will kick in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZE5_sc0keU
Why would anyone not agree with Tony;s perspective? He has been very respectful of the independent movement. Is it because he posts documents and videos of LRH in his own words that you would disagree with? Just wondering.
Lovely, legal flaps and out P.R. from here to the mood and back from the A.T.S.’s (Actual trouble sources).
David’s stats are up this week! You go Dave!
What is it again that you and Marty have said so many times – something like, “it sucks to be dave?” or something along those lines…oh and another favorite
tic tock tic tock
WOW, regarding the EEOC lawsuit. I know that chiro. And someone who used to work briefly for him visits here too and could probably chime in. While I always thought him to be arrogant and abrasive I had no idea about this business, other than in a round about way they enforced selling dianetics books to patients. The chiro also frequently boasted in public about his financial irregularities of long duration. Oh by the way, this guy has been on and off 7 for years.
One thing that must be said about Tony O is that he’s been covering the COS beat for a *long* time — since back in the 90s — mostly during his long tenure at the Village Voice. (If you’re just meeting Tony, he resigned as editor of the Voice just a few months ago when new owners came in — and one of the big items yesterday’s non-Scn news was that a raft of his formers colleagues have now followed him out the door.)
For some years, Tony was virtually the ONLY journalist with solid credentials and reputation willing to step anywhere close to the Scientology story, which I suppose was considered too weird or arcane or of narrow interest, except when some scandal would break to bring it to wider attention.
All of which is by way of saying: Yes, Tony has definitely acquired a distinct perspective and opinion vis-a-vis the Church of Scientology. But this is not the same thing as being prejudiced in his reporting. He can be irreverent, even scathing, but he is a total pro in his investigation and reporting.
Tony Ortega is on fire. Thanks for posting the links Mike. I must say that it sure doesn’t look good for Narconon Georgia. They are getting nailed not only for insurance fraud but also for credit card fraud.
It will be interesting to see how this disclosure issue shakes out. Imagine if medical records could only be disclosed to one person. It seems HIPPA (under which anyone can obtain their own medical records) establishes an acceptable future model for priest-penitent records. Why should the two be treated any different?
On the EEOC actions, employees doing services at the C of S sign a document that the are doing so on their own determinism. It will be interesting to see if the court abrogates that document where there is an express or implied threat of loss of employment for refusal to take such services.
Sounds like Dynamic’s ass is nailed.
This is the EEOC Press release on the lawsuit:
http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/5-9-13.cfm
“PRESS RELEASE
5-9-13
EEOC Sues Dynamic Medical Services for Religious Discrimination
Federal Agency Charges Company Required Employees to Participate in Scientology Religious Practices, Fired Two for Refusing to Participate
MIAMI – Dynamic Medical Services, Inc., a Miami company owned by Dr. Dennis Nobbe and which provides medical and chiropractic services, violated federal law by requiring employees to attend courses that involved Scientology religious practices, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today.
According to the EEOC’s suit, the company required Norma Rodriguez, Maykel Ruz, Rommy Sanchez, Yanileydis Capote and other employees to spend at least half their work days in courses that involved Scientology religious practices, such as screaming at ashtrays or staring at someone for eight hours without moving. The company also instructed employees to attend courses at the Church of Scientology. Additionally, the company required Sanchez to undergo an “audit” by connecting herself to an “E-meter,” which Scientologists believe is a religious artifact, and required her to undergo “purification” treatment at the Church of Scientology. According to the EEOC’s suit, employees repeatedly asked not to attend the courses but were told it was a requirement of the job. In the cases of Rodriguez and Sanchez, when they refused to participate in Scientology religious practices and/or did not conform to Scientology religious beliefs, they were terminated.
Requiring employees to conform to religious practices and beliefs espoused by the employer, creating a hostile work environment, and failing to reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs of an employee all violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The lawsuit, EEOC v. Dynamic Medical Services, Inc., (Case No. 1:13-cv-21666), seeks back pay for Rodriguez and Sanchez, compensatory and punitive damages for all named claimants and a class of individuals subjected to a hostile work environment and disparate treatment, and injunctive relief ordering the company to stop requiring employee participation in courses involving religious practices, among other types of injunctive relief.
“Employees’ freedom from religious coercion at the workplace must be protected,” said Robert Weisberg, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Miami District Office. “These actions are a shameful violation of federal law.”
The EEOC’s Miami District director, Malcolm Medley, said, “When an employer makes an employment decision based on employees’ failure to adopt the employer’s religious beliefs, it violates federal law. The EEOC will act vigorously to protect the rights of workers who are subjected to religious harassment and coercion in the workplace.”
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. The Miami District Office’s jurisdiction includes Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Further information about the EEOC is available on the agency’s website at http://www.eeoc.gov.”
Consistent with the 1.1 tone level of the RCS powered by the Dwarf, is continual lying. In I believe its the “Handling of Truth” chapter of SOS, LRH states that “The 1.1 lies out of some horrible mechanical compulsion”. Many of the RCS;s lies appear to me to be both mechanical and poorly thought out.
RCS’s chronic tone is 1.1 so hatred is masked as intention to help, and any spotted overt actions to smash and destroy are simply denied. All the ducks line up in this covert hostility row. Check it out in SOS. Its really kinda creepy.
100% right on Aquamarine!
Thanks Bela. It was a big win for me to spot this.
Brilliant Aquamarine! That’s part of Black auditing also, it’s got that creepy twist, that you keep trying to get around or solve. It’s the fact that the help is not genuine, there are fixed ideas and hidden ulterior motives. Thx for the correct indication!
I would add to this…any “help” offered by the church is only offered if it “helps” the church. There is no such thing as unconditional, charitable help within RCS. The group is ALL, the individual NOTHING. The group must be protected, served, contributed to, at ANY expense; even if this means lying, cheating, deception, betrayal, or sacrifice of its members. The moment the church elected to divulge “confidential” PC folder data and publish them on the web, was the beginning of the end. They can never take this back or justify it; nor can they blame it on some rogue staff member. No, they exposed to the world their dark side, and it is vile, ugly and vicious, it IS the group bank.
It is interesting that Cof$ wishes to “protect” confessional folders from scrutiny by interested officials as well as the penitent herself as such are suppposedly both sacred and confidential, while reserving the right for itself to divulge and disseminate info from these same folders at its whim whenever it decides such info can damage its penitents should it at a later time determine them to be enemies.
I know that Davie aint all that bright when it comes to consistency of logic, but surely he must realize this pig dont fly.
Been checking in on and off all day, yup – big May 9th this year !! I loved Lori’s story right off, but these are all significant indeed. Miscavige doesn’t know this, and probably never will until it’s the bite that penetrates his hardened soul, but he is a turtle in a Tiger Shark’s pond at this point.
Watch and listen closely now Dave, and try not to let the tune from JAWS run over and over.
AND, many thanks Ron, for the small miracle of Dianetics.
The only difference between Mike’s oratories from the throne as spokesperson with OSA Int for the Co$ and where he is now IS where he is now. Aside from Heber, I always liked to hear Mike Rinder at events. Now he is an event in himself. Every day there is something different, every day there is new exposure. Instead of exposing the crimes of the psychs when he was the International Spokesperson for the Co$, now he’s the International Spokesperson if Independent Free Scientology exposing the crimes of the psychos who run Co$.
Very well done Mr. Rinder!
Best to you and those you love,
Michael
Way to go Mike! Very important facts.
I wanted to alert people here to a new blog that may be of interest. Geir Isene’s girlfriend, Anette Iren Johansen, has a new blog. While I have no idea whether she considers herself to be an Independent Scientologist, one question she said she will address is, “What I find good about Scientology and what I find bad?” Thus, it appears she is not entirely critical and will address what she finds ” good about Scientology.” As a result, I feel comfortable submitting this comment. YMMV.
Her quals include, but are far from limited to, being Clear, a Dianetics Auditor, a Student Hat, Method 1 and Pro TRs graduate, and a Volunteer MInister in Sri Lanka. See
My 10 years journey into and out of Scientology
http://anetteiren.com/my-10-years-journey-into-and-out-of-scientology/
Her teaser blog post is: 10 secrets you don’t know about Scientology
http://anetteiren.com/10-secret-you-dont-know-about-scientology/
Ex-Scientologist. Same as her BF.
I don’t remember that I have said that Mr. Hobson.
Don’t know why you felt the need to inject that non-sequitur advertisement into this thread, Communicator I/C. Especially considering that you claim to not know much about Anette or her religious leanings. Dunno, but that smacks of the same sort of smarmy stuff the RCS pulls on people. I’d think Facebook would be a better place for such ads.
Ronnie,
I certainly didn’t intend any offense, not did I intend to post Anette’s blog as an “advertisement.” As I said in my comment, I posted it simply because I thought Anette’s blog might be of interest to people here.
As for noting that I did not (and do not) know about Anette’s religious leanings, I was just trying to be honest, transparent and provide notice that people here might not like EVERYTHING they might see there. (I don’t know either way; Anette’s blog is new.) I try not to cross-post material that is purely critical of the religion or the applied religious philosophy of Scientology (as opposed to the corporate Church of Scientology) here because that would be inappropriate and offensive. Because Anette said she would also address what was “good about Scientology,” I thought it was appropriate and maybe beneficial to inform Mike’s audience of the existence of her blog. Again, I was just trying to be up front about what I was doing and why I was doing it.
Leaving aside the odd substantive comment I might personally make, I’ve decided that my hat is to keep the various disparate and sometimes overlapping groups (Independent Scientologists, Freezoners, Ex-Scientologists, Critics, OGs, Anons, etc.) informed about data of mutual interest, and to enhance the communication between them. (Hence my monicker.) I cross-post from and between Mike’s blog, Marty’s blog, ESMB, WWP, iScientology Blog, and others IF I think the material will be of interest to the recipient blog and not offensive or against its charter. Sometimes I make mistakes, but I do try to apply the Second Rule to Happiness.
I am not unaware of the sensitivities of the various groups. At times, when I’ve cross-posted Independent Scientology material from Marty’s, Mike’s or the iScientology blog to ESMB or, more particularly, WWP, I’ve been accused of being an Independent Scientologist, Scientologist, or an “apologist” for same. (I’ve been questioned on ESMB and WWP regarding what my “agenda” is.) At times, when I’ve posted material I first discovered on ESMB, WWP, or Tony’s blog here and/or on Marty’s blog, I’ve been accused of being “smarmy,” spreading entheta or, well, being pretty much a shit disturber. 🙂 In other words, I must be doing something right because I am providing people with data they might not otherwise confront. 🙂
FWIW, I’ve read Anette’s initial blog posts and I believe that what she has to say will be of great interest to people here, and indeed will align with what Mike is doing. As I have to date said more frequently on WWP when I anticipate I’m going to get “yelled” at, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). 🙂
— CommunicatorIC
ps. I change the website attached to my name to whichever one I am cross-posting from or linking to. I don’t have my own website. I simply disseminate information between the various groups.
Just wanted to add that I’m gong to STOP attaching to my name whichever blog I am cross-posting from or linking to. I previously did it as a matter of convenience, thinking whoever clicked on my name would be taken to the original blog post, news article, etc. of interest or under discussion. I didn’t realize it could be confusing or cause mis-attribution. Now that I do,, I will stop.
Hi CommunicatorIC
I see that your “Comment Name” links to my blog. Fine with me.
Just to let you know, this is me. I’m not CommunicatorIC.
I trust Mike to decide what he wants to approve or not on his blog.
Anette — thanks for clarifying. I wondered. My policy is that I let anyone post anything as long as I don’t think it will be offensive to the intended public of this blog. Linking to your site was fine with me as from the things I have read from you, you are intelligent and thoughtful in your communications.
Thanks, Mike!
It felt great to officially declare my INDEPENDENCE from the Church of Scientology on the Dianetics Day 9th May 2013. AD 63 that is. It was a happy celebration. 🙂
+1. Thank you, Mike.
New poster here…
I predict Laura D is the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of these types of suits should it turn out in her favor.
The same for Garcia with his suit.
Personally I want to get my money on account refunded before the avalanche.
The point is if Laura gets the final ruling in her favor and gets her files,
can you imagine the avalace of requests by ex-churchies to get theirs.
Cainisable,
regarding $$ on account…me too. 🙂
Mike Rinder wrote:
You may not always agree with Tony’s perspective, but it is irrelevant when he is posting significant legal documents.
This is an example of Mike Rinder’s intellectual honesty and leadership in critical thinking for independent Scientologists. Facts are facts, and anyone can and should examine them carefully.
Way to go, Mike.
And happy Dianetics Day!
Alanzo
Alanzo,
I completely concur. A fair and unflappable seeker of truth no matter where it may lay. Sure glad you’re there for us, Mike.
Thanks,
Conditioners
(also a new poster)
Give that man a Pulitzer, ffs.
All I can say, is “Mike Rinder – you deliver!”. Your posts are red meat to a hungry lion 🙂