Leah Remini’s defamation and harassment suit against the Church of Scientology is far from dead, but it’s constitutionally wounded.
In a March 12 split final ruling from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Randolph Hammock (read it here), the David Miscavige-led organization has prevailed on getting significant portions of the ex-Scientologist’s action stricken on First Amendment grounds. However, parts of Remini’s harassment claims, “allegations of surveillance” and the tortious inference claim remain in the case going forward.
Having issued a tentative ruling on these matters weeks ago, and overseen hearings in Dta on January 16 and February 6, Judge Hammock’s final ruling doesn’t really contain anything anyone in the case didn’t know what coming. Still, even with an October 27, 2025, trial start date on the books right now, it would be foolish to say that Remini hasn’t suffered a setback from Scientology’s successful use of...
In a March 12 split final ruling from Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Randolph Hammock (read it here), the David Miscavige-led organization has prevailed on getting significant portions of the ex-Scientologist’s action stricken on First Amendment grounds. However, parts of Remini’s harassment claims, “allegations of surveillance” and the tortious inference claim remain in the case going forward.
Having issued a tentative ruling on these matters weeks ago, and overseen hearings in Dta on January 16 and February 6, Judge Hammock’s final ruling doesn’t really contain anything anyone in the case didn’t know what coming. Still, even with an October 27, 2025, trial start date on the books right now, it would be foolish to say that Remini hasn’t suffered a setback from Scientology’s successful use of...
- 3/14/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
A Los Angeles judge has thrown out portions of Leah Remini’s lawsuit against Scientology, finding that some of the church’s attacks on her are protected under the First Amendment.
But in a mixed ruling, the judge also found that the church cannot claim free-speech protection for allegedly stalking, harassing and surveilling Remini, or for harassing producers and staff who worked on her anti-Scientology podcast.
Since leaving Scientology in 2013, the “King of Queens” actor has become its most prominent critic, writing a memoir and hosting two seasons of the A&e docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.”
Last August, she filed a 68-page lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging she had been subject to a decade of online attacks, stalking and intimidation designed to punish her for her criticism of the church.
The suit alleged that Remini was the latest in a long line of Scientology critics to...
But in a mixed ruling, the judge also found that the church cannot claim free-speech protection for allegedly stalking, harassing and surveilling Remini, or for harassing producers and staff who worked on her anti-Scientology podcast.
Since leaving Scientology in 2013, the “King of Queens” actor has become its most prominent critic, writing a memoir and hosting two seasons of the A&e docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.”
Last August, she filed a 68-page lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging she had been subject to a decade of online attacks, stalking and intimidation designed to punish her for her criticism of the church.
The suit alleged that Remini was the latest in a long line of Scientology critics to...
- 3/14/2024
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
Update, 6:05 Pm: Scientology is claiming the only reason the David Miscavige-led organization has ever attacked and defamed Leah Remini is because she attacked them first – and they want the Scientology and the Aftermath host’s suit against them gutted in the name of the First Amendment.
“Refusing to remain silent in the face of the threats and violence Plaintiff inspired, the Church fought back,” Scientology’s lawyers assert in a sprawling and expected motion to the strike filed late last week in Los Angeles Superior Court. “When stripped of the allegations that depend on nonactionable statements, protected petitioning, and are outside the statute of limitations, there is virtually nothing left,” the heavily Remini-quoting document from Winston & Strawn Llp and Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell Llp adds.
“The anti-slapp statute demands that this frontal assault on First Amendment protected speech and conduct be stricken,” the barbed response states in a...
“Refusing to remain silent in the face of the threats and violence Plaintiff inspired, the Church fought back,” Scientology’s lawyers assert in a sprawling and expected motion to the strike filed late last week in Los Angeles Superior Court. “When stripped of the allegations that depend on nonactionable statements, protected petitioning, and are outside the statute of limitations, there is virtually nothing left,” the heavily Remini-quoting document from Winston & Strawn Llp and Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell Llp adds.
“The anti-slapp statute demands that this frontal assault on First Amendment protected speech and conduct be stricken,” the barbed response states in a...
- 10/30/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 9/13/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 9/13/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
(l-r) John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson on the steps of Columbus City Hall, in Columbus. Photo credit: Elisha Christian. Courtesy of Superlative Film and Depth of Field ©
Columbus is not a film about the Italian explorer but about an American city named for him. No, not Columbus, Ohio, but the lesser-known Columbus, Indiana. This small Midwestern city is home to a surprising number of buildings designed by big names in mid-century Modern architecture, such as Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei, Deborah Burke, Harry Weese and others.
St. Louisans might recognize Eero Saarinen as the designer of the Gateway Arch but architecture buffs will know those names are some of the biggest of the Modern style of architecture. If you are a fan of mid-twentieth century architecture, or of Columbus, Indiana, then Columbus is the film for you. But even if not a fan of either, viewers might give this thoughtful,...
Columbus is not a film about the Italian explorer but about an American city named for him. No, not Columbus, Ohio, but the lesser-known Columbus, Indiana. This small Midwestern city is home to a surprising number of buildings designed by big names in mid-century Modern architecture, such as Eero Saarinen, I.M. Pei, Deborah Burke, Harry Weese and others.
St. Louisans might recognize Eero Saarinen as the designer of the Gateway Arch but architecture buffs will know those names are some of the biggest of the Modern style of architecture. If you are a fan of mid-twentieth century architecture, or of Columbus, Indiana, then Columbus is the film for you. But even if not a fan of either, viewers might give this thoughtful,...
- 9/22/2017
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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