{"id":396893,"date":"2022-01-21T00:41:19","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T21:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/danny-masterson-rape-accusers-free-from-scientology-arbitration\/"},"modified":"2022-01-21T00:41:19","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T21:41:19","slug":"danny-masterson-rape-accusers-free-from-scientology-arbitration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/danny-masterson-rape-accusers-free-from-scientology-arbitration\/","title":{"rendered":"#Danny Masterson rape accusers free from Scientology arbitration"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#Danny Masterson rape accusers free from Scientology arbitration<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>A California <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>eals court said victims who <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2021\/05\/21\/danny-masterson-must-stand-trial-on-three-rape-charges-judge\/?_ga=2.126389645.1449836109.1642513213-1154083623.1575637084\">accused Danny Masterson of rape<\/a> do not have to go through an arbitration process with the Church of Scientology, allowing their harassment suit against the actor and Church leaders to move forward.<\/p>\n<p>In their opinion released on Thursday, the justices wrote the victims, who are suing for stalking, invasion of privacy and emotional distress, have a First Amendment right to leave a religious organization and are not bound by the Church\u2019s arbitration rules since the allegations in the suit occurred after they left the Church. <\/p>\n<p>Chrissie Carnell Bixler, her husband Cedrick Bixler-Zavala, Marie Bobette Riales and two other anonymous victims claimed they were \u201csystematically stalked\u201d after they reported to police that the \u201cThat \u201970s Show\u201d actor had raped the women.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The alleged victims filed a petition with the CA Court of Appeals after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Steven J. Kleifield ruled in December 2020 that they signed arbitration agreements with the Church of Scientology. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"765\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape2-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=765\" alt=\"Danny Masterson\" class=\"wp-image-20905893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape2-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1148 1147w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape2-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=765 765w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape2-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=383 382w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape2-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\"\/><figcaption>\u201cThat 70\u2019s Show\u201d actor, Danny Masterson is accused of raping multiple women.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">POOL\/AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Under those agreements, Kleifield ruled Bixler and the other plaintiffs could not sue the organization and must go through an internal arbitration process, which would be in front of a Church panel.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In their opinion, the court of appeals wrote the petitioners have a right to leave the Church.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIndividuals have a First Amendment right to leave a religion. We hold that once petitioners had terminated their affiliation with the Church, they were not bound to its dispute resolution procedures to resolve the claims at issue here, which\u00a0are based on alleged tortious conduct occurring after their separation from the Church and so not implicate resolution of ecclesiastical issues. We issue a writ directing the trial court to vacate its order compelling arbitration and instead to deny the motion.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"712\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=712\" alt=\"David Miscavige\" class=\"wp-image-20905939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1068 1068w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=712 712w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=356 356w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige3.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\"\/><figcaption>The plaintiffs are also suing Church of Scientology head, David Miscavige, alleging that they were stalked and intimidated after reporting Danny Masterson. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The plaintiffs also sued Scientology leader David Miscavige and\u00a0claimed the Church <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pagesix.com\/2021\/05\/28\/scientology-secrets-aired-during-danny-masterson-rape-trial\/?_ga=2.126389645.1449836109.1642513213-1154083623.1575637084\">wiretapped and hacked their phones<\/a>, sent threatening messages and even killed Bixler\u2019s dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Thursday ruling would allow the civil case to move forward, while Masterson awaits his next scheduled hearing in February on rape charges.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Marci Hamilton, one of the attorneys representing the women, told the Post that the court of appeal\u2019s opinion is a \u201clandmark ruling\u201d not only for victims of the Church of Scientology but others who have been silenced by religious organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/church-scientology-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Church of Scientology\" class=\"wp-image-20905960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/church-scientology-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/church-scientology-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/church-scientology-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>A California appeals court ruled that the plaintiffs have a first amendment right to leave the Church of Scientology and do not have to abide by an arbitration agreement they signed as members. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the bedrock principle of the First Amendment that you can choose the faith you\u00a0want, but part of that bedrock has to be that you can also abandon any faith that you choose,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cAll of these women who had been members had disavowed their faith, so to bring them back in is unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNone of the other victims of Scientology have made it this far. While we are thrilled for our clients, it also sends a message to every believer who feels trapped in a religious organization\u00a0where they have been harmed that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hamilton said the next step would be to go back to the lower court and vacate the prior decision that forced her clients to undergo arbitration with the Church. After that, the civil case against Masterson, Miscavige and the Church could move forward, she said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Danny Masterson\" class=\"wp-image-20906007\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/Danny-Masterson-Scientology-rape6.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>This ruling allows the plaintiffs\u2019 civil suit to move forward as Danny Masterson\u2019s criminal case progresses.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Anna Webber<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bixler, a former model who dated Masterson for years, testified at Masterson\u2019s pretrial hearing last year and said the actor raped her in November and December 2001.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Bixler said during one of the incidents, she woke up to Masterson having sex with her. When she tried to push Masterson off of her, Bixler said he pushed her down and put \u201call of his weight\u201d on her.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Masterson\u2019s other accusers also testified during the preliminary hearing that the Church tried to dissuade them from reporting the actor to police. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"David Miscavige\" class=\"wp-image-20906024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/David-Miscavige2.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who alleges that Danny Masterson raped her in 2001, also says that the Church of Scientology went so far as to murder her dog to intimidate her. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Masterson\u2019s attorney, Andrew Brettler, had no comment. <\/p>\n<p>Williams H. Forman, an attorney for the church said: \u201cThe Church of Scientology disagrees with this unprecedented decision. Every church, temple, and mosque should be troubled by this decision as it singles out religious organizations for disparate treatment under contract law. The Church again denies the allegations of harassment in the\u00a0<em>Bixler<\/em>\u00a0complaint as obvious, cynical, and self-serving fictions, and the Church knows it will be vindicated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Church has previously denied the allegations while Masterson has pleaded not guilty to the rape charges.\u00a0\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/01\/20\/danny-masterson-rape-accusers-free-from-scientology-arbitration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Danny Masterson rape accusers free from Scientology arbitration&#8221; A California appeals court said victims who accused Danny Masterson of rape do not have to go through an arbitration process with the Church of Scientology, allowing their harassment suit against the actor and Church leaders to move forward. In their opinion released on Thursday, the justices&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":396894,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/01\/newspress-collage-20902857-1642713466237.png?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[124400,13096,124469,22045,124470,73118,74433],"class_list":["post-396893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-1-20-22","tag-california","tag-church-of-scientology","tag-danny-masterson","tag-david-miscavige","tag-rape","tag-scientology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396893\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/396894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}