Church of Scientology attorneys have filed court papers indicating their plans to bring an anti-SLAAP suit in defense of the majority of claims made by actress Leah Remini in her amended complaint. Remini, a former church member, alleges that she experienced increased harassment after suing the church earlier this year.
On Wednesday, Scientology attorneys will request permission from Judge Randolph Hammock to file a brief of up to 30 pages supporting their motion. The state’s anti-SLAPP law aims to prevent individuals from using the court system or threatening lawsuits to intimidate those exercising their First Amendment rights.
In their court papers, the church lawyers state that the majority of the allegations in the 68-page revised suit pertain to constitutionally protected speech or activity of the church.
“Religious speech is undeniably protected, and speech regarding the Church of Scientology, specifically, is deemed a matter of public interest,” argue the church attorneys.
In a two-page response also filed on Tuesday, Remini’s attorneys claim that 30 pages are excessive and unnecessarily burdensome for the court. However, they leave the decision to Judge Hammock.
The church attorneys state in their court papers that over the past decade, Remini has “created a profitable career promoting hate and inciting violence against the Church of Scientology, its members, and its leader.”
According to the Scientology lawyers, Remini has pursued her objectives through her autobiography, a cable television show, podcasts, and appearances on broadcast television and radio. They further claim that they will provide “multiple examples of individuals who committed acts of violence against the church while explicitly claiming Remini as their inspiration.”
Remini initially filed her suit on August 2, alleging civil harassment, stalking, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and defamation. Scientology leader David Miscavige is named as a defendant in both the original suit and the amended complaint.
The amended suit states, “Since Ms. Remini’s complaint was filed, she and others have experienced ongoing aggressive harassment.” As an example, the suit cites a Scientology statement suggesting that Remini consider moving to Russia in light of the threats and violence generated by her remarks. The suit also alleges evidence of potential fraud on several of Remini’s credit cards and a hacking incident that caused financial losses for her tutor. The tutor had received Scientology promotions at his home before the lawsuit was filed, indicating the church’s awareness of individuals associated with Remini, according to the complaint.
In her updated complaint filed on August 29, the 53-year-old actress seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. She repeats the allegation that Scientologists have launched a campaign to ruin her life and livelihood since she publicly left the church in 2013.
The updated suit claims that for the past decade, Remini has been stalked, surveilled, harassed, threatened, intimidated, and subjected to deliberate misinformation through Scientology-controlled social media accounts. It also states that the organization has targeted her family members, friends, colleagues, and business associates, leading to the loss of personal relationships, business contracts, and other opportunities.
Remini previously stated, “With this lawsuit, I hope to protect my rights as guaranteed by the United States Constitution to speak the truth and report facts about Scientology. I strongly believe that religious freedom should not give anyone the authority to intimidate, harass, and abuse those exercising their First Amendment rights.”
In 2015, Remini published the book “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology” and hosted the documentary series “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” from 2016 to 2019.
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