An LA Superior Court judge has struck down large parts of Emmy award winner Leah Remini’s defamation and harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology; ruling that some of the controversial organization’s comments about her are protected under the First Amendment.
The judge also struck down most of her defamation claims, finding that she had either not met the burden in proving the claims or that the comments made against her by the Church of Scientology were not likely to be taken literally by those who read them after they were shared in the public domain.
However, the judge also found the church cannot claim free-speech protection under the First Amendment for allegedly stalking and harassing Ms. Remini, as well as producers and staff members who worked on her podcast, “Scientology: Fair Game.”
The church had argued it had surveilled Ms. Remini in anticipation of her filing a lawsuit against them.
‘Coordinated Campaign’ to Destroy
Ms. Remini, best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan in the 90s CBS sitcom “King of Queens,” was a member of the Church of Scientology for nearly 40 years until leaving in 2013.Since her departure from the organization, the actress has become a vocal critic of Scientology, writing a memoir and hosting two seasons of the A&E docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” which followed the actress and other high-level former Scientology executives and members, as they shared their stories of alleged abuse at the hands of the church once they parted ways.
“For the past ten years, Ms. Remini has been stalked, surveilled, harassed, threatened, intimidated, and, moreover, has been the victim of intentional malicious and fraudulent rumors via hundreds of Scientology-controlled and -coordinated social media accounts that exist solely to intimidate and spread misinformation,” the lawsuit stated.
Statements ‘Could Only Be Deemed Parody’
“Defendants have caused Ms. Remini significant and ongoing economic harm and have forced her to endure a new but never-normal life in which Scientology’s surveillance, abuse, and lies are the punishing, inescapable, daily cost of exercising her First Amendment right and moral duty to speak out about Scientology’s conduct,” her lawsuit against the organization stated.“Defendants have also incessantly harassed, threatened, intimidated, and embarrassed Ms. Remini’s family members, friends, colleagues, and business associates, causing her to lose personal relationships, business contracts, and other business opportunities,” the lawsuit added.
In that motion, the church’s legal team argued its members were simply responding to Ms. Remini’s public comments and allegations about the church.
Judge Hammock, in his ruling, said some of the comments made by the church—including sharing doctored photos of Ms. Remini shared online and branding her a “Nazi”—could only be deemed parody.
He also argued the plaintiff and defendant had at times provoked each other, prompting a response.
“By engaging in the back-and-forth, purposely public battle against each other, the parties have made the issue one of significant public interest,” the judge wrote.
Ms. Remini could not be reached for comment.
