Talk:Scientology and law

List of legal counsel

Just recording here that a list of legal counsel was inserted and removed in 2007. Not sure if it was, or is, of any value, but still wanted to leave a note. [1] Grorp (talk) 02:16, 26 June 2023 (UTC)

Cases to add

• New Era Publications International ApS v. Carol Publishing Group and Jonathan Caven-Atack into the United Kingdom section
• Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz into the USA section

Grorp (talk) 08:28, 1 July 2023 (UTC)

Re B&G (Minors) Cambial — foliar❧ 09:28, 1 July 2023 (UTC)

• Julie Christofferson Titchbourne 1977, Portland Oregon. Judge described Scientology as a 'terrorist group' and Hubbard as a sociopath. High award to plaintiff, later declared mistrial, Scientology wins. "Heber Jentzsch declared that the Church of Scientology was going to use it as a basis to have all the other cases dismissed." [Lamont, Stewart (1986). Religion Inc. : The Church of Scientology. Harrap. pp. 144–147. ISBN 0245543341. OL 2080316M.] Grorp (talk) 00:45, 22 August 2023 (UTC) Adding this ref What happens when you try to leave the Church of Scientology? Grorp (talk) 03:05, 31 August 2023 (UTC)

Criminal case in Hungary

(Relevant to this article as well as Scientology status by country)

This just in. Keep an eye out for further news stories from RS.

• "Hungary's investigation of Scientology results in indictments of 11 for tax fraud". tonyortega. December 11, 2023. The Hungarian tax office launched an extensive investigation... Eleven executives and treasury personnel of the Church of Scientology Budapest have now been charged with $1.7 million USD tax evasion (VAT fraud) committed in a criminal conspiracy. The prosecutor is asking for actual prison time to be served and appropriate fines. ... We will see how it develops. There will be a trial, appeals, Supreme Court petition etc. So it will take a few years to see the end results. — Péter Bonyai

Background articles

• "Translated decision, Case number: NAIH/2017/148/98/H" (PDF). Hungarian National Authority for Data Protection and Freedom of Information. 13 October 2017. Church of Scientology in Hungary and Central Organization of the Church of Scientology ... The Authority has found that both ... pursue[d] unlawful processing of personal data ... The Authority hereby prohibits ... they shall modify their practice to comply with the regulations of the Privacy Act ... shall desist from ... shall terminate the transfer of data to third countries ... the Authority imposes a data protection penalty of HUF 20M + 20M

• "Police search Church of Scientology in Budapest". euronews. 2017-10-19. the Church of Scientology is not among the 32 churches officially recognized by Hungary says a 2012 law on religious matters

• "Local Opinion: Police Search 30 Scientology Centres". XpatLoop.com. 30 October 2017. ...the Scientology centre collected data on sexual, medical and criminal misconduct under the pretext of auditing. ... The investigation was launched after a former Scientology member complained that the centre had refused to release to him the data that had been collected on him when he left the organisation. ... new European data protection rules will come into force next May, with potential fines up to €20 million – 150 times higher than the one the Hungarian data protection agency imposed this time.

• "Hungary 2017 International Religious Freedom Report" (PDF). state.gov. 2017. The government launched a criminal investigation of the Church of Scientology (COS) and again barred it from moving into new headquarters. ... On December 9, Scientologists protested in Budapest in support of religious freedom for Scientology and other faiths and to protest the law on religion that deregistered hundreds of religious groups, including the Church of Scientology.

• "Church of Scientology of Budapest scores major legal victory". Blasting News. 2018-02-25. The Law on the Right to Freedom of Conscience and Religion was adopted on 12 July, recognising only 14 out of the more than 300 groups that were previously properly registered in Hungary.

• "Church of Scientology Claims Victory After Hungarian Court Rules Raid Was Illegal". Voice of America. 2018-03-01. The Hungarian government officially recognizes 32 churches, but the Church of Scientology's state-recognized status was revoked when a controversial law took effect in 2012. As a result, The Church of Scientology, along with numerous other churches, are limited in their ability to seek tax-deductible donations and receive church-related subsidies.

• "2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Hungary". United States Department of State. The Church of Scientology (COS) said the Data Protection Authority (DPA) raided its office in Budapest and confiscated its files, and the National Tax Authority (NAV) raided the homes of COS members in a criminal case involving alleged tax fraud.

  ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 21:36, 11 December 2023 (UTC)

More links on the subject of Hungary

• Scientology ‘Ideal Org’: Budapest, Hungary July 23, 2016
• Raid in Hungary: Scientology's Cold War tactics are colliding with 21st Century data privacy October 19, 2017
• Scientology executives charged in $1.7 million fraud scandal December 12, 2023
• More trouble for Scientology in Hungary as 21 convicted of 'quackery' for detox program January 8, 2024
• Hungarian authorities keeping a close eye on Scientology January 13, 2024

  ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 05:55, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 April 2024

Please help adding the current lawsuits pending against scientology including

Leah Remini VS Scientology Chrissie Bixler V Scientology (including RICO allegations) Valeska Paris Vs Scientology SCNVictim (talk) 16:44, 8 April 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. M.Bitton (talk) 00:22, 9 April 2024 (UTC)

@SCNVictim: I know what you're talking about. We could definitely add the Remini v COS case. The others are mentioned in the section Scientology and law § Others, though maybe some of those paragraphs need updating. Can you paste some links to news articles here that we can use as a starting point for the Remini case (or any of them)?   ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 11:00, 9 April 2024 (UTC)

 Done.   ▶ I am Grorp ◀ 02:01, 10 April 2024 (UTC)