Church of Scientology building. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A group of Philadelphia lawyers, including a University of Pennsylvania professor, representing a former member of the Church of Scientology who worked directly with its leader David Miscavige, have filed a lawsuit alleging the organization is responsible for decades of human trafficking and intimidation, among other abuses.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of plaintiff Valerie Haney, claims the church engaged in human trafficking, child abuse, forced labor, exploitative commercial practices and intimidation campaigns aimed at anyone who spoke out against the church or Miscavige.

“Scientology for decades has sought to quash dissension, cover up its long history of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of its members, including its most vulnerable members, its children, and weaponize its doctrine against those who escape and find the courage to speak up,” said Brian Kent of Laffey, Bucci & Kent in Philadelphia. “This is just the beginning and we are not going to stop until they do.”

University of Pennsylvania professor Marci Hamilton said that the church could not defend itself by claiming religious liberty.

“The [Church of Scientology] believers have the right to believe anything they want. But they cannot do whatever they want,” Hamilton said. “This lawsuit continues the important work of the #MeToo era to bring institutions and individuals to account for child abuse, trafficking and neglect.”

However, a lawyer for the church said the complaint was full of false accusations and “anti-religious slurs.”

“We are confident the lawsuit will fail.  Federal courts have already determined that service in the Church of Scientology's religious order is voluntary and protected by the First Amendment,” said Rebecca Kaufman, an attorney with the Silicon Valley firm Bergeson LLP. “Moreover, the evidence will establish that while serving the Church, Plaintiff came and went freely, traveled the world, and lived in comfortable surroundings.  The Church will vigorously defend itself against these unfounded allegations.

Haney, whose identity was confirmed by her attorney though she appeared in the lawsuit as “Jane Doe,” was a member of the church since birth. She claimed in the complaint that she was forced into involuntary servitude as a child by the organization. The lawsuit said that at the age of 15 she joined the “Sea Org,” a subsect composed of Scientology's most dedicated members, where she met Miscavige and began working closely with him at a location known as “Gold Base.”

“In late summer 2005, Miscavige became increasingly hostile and verbally abusive towards his wife, Shelly Miscavige. Eventually, David Miscavige had Shelly removed from the main office as his secretary/assistant in the Gold Base,” according to the complaint. “[Haney], because of her connection to Shelly Miscavige, at the age of 26, was punished by being removed from her position as steward and forced into the 'Hole.'”

The complaint explained that “the Hole is a set of double-wide trailers on Gold Base where senior executives accused of 'ethics violations' were held under strict surveillance. [Haney] was forbidden from having any communication whatsoever with Shelly Miscavige. [Haney] spent three months in the 'Hole' which is, in essence, solitary confinement before being forced to do physical and manual labor.”

Haney alleged that after spending six months in the Hole, she witnessed unidentified individuals pull up in a dark vehicle with tinted windows seize ”Shelly Miscavige, who was crying and visibly distraught, out of the building and put her in the car. Shelly Miscavige has never been seen or heard from again.”

In 2017, Haney left the church and began working for actress and outspoken Scientology critic Leah Remini, according to the complaint. Haney claimed that she was the subject of a subsequent smear campaign as part of the church's “Fair Game” policy, which allegedly targets those who are deemed threats to the church.

She was allegedly called a “paid liar” and “unethical” on multiple platforms. The complaint claimed the church spread the rumor that she was dismissed from her post in the church for being “rampantly promiscuous.”

“In addition to the online smear campaign, defendants have stalked, surveilled, and followed [Haney],” the complaint said. “Beginning in 2017 through June of 2018, defendants and their agents have followed Haney while she was driving. On more than one occasion [Haney] has been forced to change her route in an effort to curtail defendant's surveillance efforts.”

Haney listed seven claims in the lawsuit, including false imprisonment, kidnapping, stalking, libel, slander, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.