[CT 1984]
| WHERE: |
Marin Superior Court, San Rafael Civic Center
Scientology vs. Armstrong No. 152229
March 20, 1992 at 9:00 a.m., Department 4
|
* * * * * *
Can the Scientology Organization purchase the free speech
rights of Gerald Armstrong - the former in-house biography
researcher/archivist of cult leader L. Ron Hubbard - so that it
can keep the facts that he knows out of public view in the
marketplace of ideas?
A former high-ranking Scientologist for 12 years, Armstrong
split with the group when it insisted he continue lying about the
accomplishments Hubbard claimed to the public at large. In 1982,
the organization sued Armstrong for sending Hubbard documents to
his lawyers. In 1984, at Armstrong's trial, Los Angeles Superior
Court judge Paul G. Breckenridge, Jr., who ruled that Armstrong's
actions had been manifestly
justified, also found:
"In addition to violating and abusing its own members
civil rights, the organization over the years with its
"Fair Game" doctrine has harassed and abused those
persons not in the Church whom it perceives as enemies.
The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid,
and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection
of its founder LRH [L. Ron Hubbard]. The evidence
portrays a man who has been virtually a pathological
liar when it comes to his history, background, and
achievements. The writings and documents in evidence
additionally reflect his egoism, greed, avarice, lust
for power, and vindictiveness and aggressiveness
against persons perceived by him to be disloyal or
hostile."
For years, scientology has treated Armstrong as a
"suppressive person" who was "Fair Game." This policy says as
Fair Game one
may be deprived of property or injured by
any means by any Scientologist without any
discipline of the Scientologist. May be
tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."
[CT 1985]
Defended by Ford Greene - the lawyer who persuaded the California
Supreme Court that the Unification Church (Moonies)
should be liable for brainwashing and who won an acquittal for a
felonious-charged deprogrammer on the ground that the kidnapping
was necessary to avoid cult-danger - Armstrong is resisting
Scientology's high-powered attack in an effort to affirm his
right to free speech to maintain vigilance for the truth.
After
Armstrong beat Scientology's lawsuit against him in
1984, he was poised to prosecute his own claims. For millions of
dollars, however, in 1986, Scientology settled with him and over
17 other Scientology-knowledgeable individuals on the condition
that those persons would forever keep silent, avoid giving sworn
testimony by evading subpoenas, and never aid or assist anyone
adverse to Scientology.
Between its full-page daily ads in U.S.A. Today and
purchasing the silence of judicially-credible adversaries,
Scientology's strategy is to eliminate the competition in the
marketplace of ideas for those who would swallow the claims of
its widespread advertisements for the benefits of Dianetics: The
Science of Mental Health.
Scientology has demanded that newly-elevated Marin County
Superior Court judge Michael Dufficy give them a preliminary
injunction which would prevent Armstrong from speaking out and
assisting other individuals locked in litigation with Scientology
while at the same time fabricating false scenarios in other
court proceedings that Armstrong was an agent of the IRS out to
destroy it. If Scientology had its way, Armstrong would either
roll over, or if he exposed its lies about him, Scientology would
demand he be jailed for contempt of court.
When Scientology first came to Marin County to go after
Armstrong, it asked the Court to conduct all proceedings in
secret in closed proceedings. The Court refused. Then
Scientology asked the Court to seal the settlement agreement that
Scientology wants the Court to enforce. The Court refused. Now,
Scientology has obtained a temporary restraining order compelling
Armstrong not to speak out on the subject of Scientology.
Scientology would like to make it permanent and will attempt to
do just that at the March 20th Marin Superior Court hearing.
| FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: |
KIRK SEIDEL, Press Liaison
(415) 457-5711
FORD GREENE
(415) 258-0360
|
|