Legal Issues

Maureen E. Garde Maureen E. Garde- Archival collection of judicial rulings, court pleadings and other legal documentation from Scientology-related litigation, between 1995 and 1997. Supreme Court refuses to review Church of Scientology libel case Supreme Court refuses to review Church of Scientology libel case- Ten years after Time magazine ran an award-winning article portraying the Church of Scientology as a "ruthless gl… The Scandal of Scientology The Scandal of Scientology- From Paulette Cooper, author of a book critical of Scientology, who was falsely accused in 19 lawsuits. French Court Finds Church of Scientology Guilty of Breaching Privacy Laws French Court Finds Church of Scientology Guilty of Breaching Privacy Laws- A French court fined the Church of Scientology for violating the privacy rights of former members, altho… Critics Public and Private Keep Pressure on Scientology Critics Public and Private Keep Pressure on Scientology- Scientology leaders say they want peace. They say they want to stay out of court. But with both foes at home and foes abro… Church Pays Those it Reviled Church Pays Those it Reviled- Circuit court judge says that the Clearwater police "are coming very dangerously close to becoming a private security force for the Church of Sciento… Police Work for Scientology Police Work for Scientology- Editorial says that it is unlikely that off-duty uniformed Clearwater police officers paid by the Church of Scientology could remain objective when in… Scientology Trial Opens in France Scientology Trial Opens in France- Seven members of the Church of Scientology have gone on trial in France on charges of fraud. [BBC News] Scientology Faces French Ban Scientology Faces French Ban- The French Justice Minister says she is prepared to consider banning the Church of Scientology, considered a cult--not a religion--in France. [BBC Ne… Scientologists Face Paris Ban Scientologists Face Paris Ban- Public prosecutor accuses the Church of Scientology with "mental manipulation." The sect is on trial for false advertising and attempted fraud. [BBC… Germany: Religious Dispute Germany: Religious Dispute- A German federal court has been hearing a case which could decide if restrictions on the Church of Scientology in Germany are legal. [BBC News] Germany Can't Decide if Scientology is a Religion Germany Can't Decide if Scientology is a Religion- A federal court in Germany has failed to reach a verdict on whether or not Scientology can be considered a religion. [BBC News] German-US Scientology Row German-US Scientology Row- Germany and the United States are to discuss their disagreements over the Church of Scientology. [BBC News] French Scientology Trial Ends French Scientology Trial Ends- The trial has ended in the French city of Marseille of seven members of the Church of Scientology accused of fraud. [BBC News] French Scientology Trial French Scientology Trial- A French prosecutor has asked a court in Marseille to jail a former leader of the Church of Scientology who has been accused of obtaining large sums of m… French Scientologists Guilty of Fraud French Scientologists Guilty of Fraud- Marseilles court has convicted five members of the Church of Scientology of fraud for extorting large payments from vulnerable members for d… France Urged to Ban Scientology France Urged to Ban Scientology- A French government committee recommends dissolving the Church of Scientology on the grounds that its activities threaten public order. [BBC News] Concerns Over Church of Scientology Concerns Over Church of Scientology- A federal court in Germany has failed to reach a verdict on the legal status of Scientology -- after years of international debate. [BBC News]. State Takes Middle Road Against Scientology State Takes Middle Road Against Scientology- Colleagues of State Attorney Bernie McCabe say charging the church, not the members, and deciding against a manslaughter charge walks … Scientology Told to Release Notes on Late Member Scientology Told to Release Notes on Late Member- A judge gives the church a delay so it can fight for the privacy of a practice it compares to confession. [St. Petersburg Times] Scientology Critic Won't Face Retrial Scientology Critic Won't Face Retrial- Trial of a critic of Scientology on a misdemeanor charge ends in a hung jury due to worries that he was set up by the Church of Scientology.… Fishman Affidavit Fishman Affidavit- A copy of the declaration filed by Steven Fishman in Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz. OT2 and 3 are bowdlerized to comply with Dutch l… Scientology vs. Panoussis Ruling Scientology vs. Panoussis Ruling- Readers discuss the verdict of the Swedish High Court, which upheld a lower court's ruling that Zenon Panoussis had infringed Scientology's copyr… Hana Whitfield Hana Whitfield- Affidavit of Hana Whitfield. The story of an ex member. Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz- A selection of publicly-available legal documents filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Scientology loses copyright round Scientology loses copyright round- Colorado nonprofit group FACTNet has won a critical round in a legal fight against the Church of Scientology, raising questions about whether Sc… Domestic Violence Home Page Domestic Violence Home Page- The American Bar Association's web site for domestic violence issues. Information for attorneys and survivors. Contains information on protecting priv… WATCH WATCH- A volunteer-based court monitoring and research organization that follows cases of family and sexual violence and provides feedback to the justice system. Early Identification of Risk Factors for Parental Abduction OJJDP Publications - General Resources Early Identification of Risk Factors for Parental Abduction OJJDP Publications - General Resources- Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention report in Adobe Acrobat (… Validity and Use of Evidence Concerning Battering and Its Effects in Criminal Trials Validity and Use of Evidence Concerning Battering and Its Effects in Criminal Trials- Report to U.S. Congress on "battered women's syndrome," published jointly by the U.S. Departm…