As reported last month, the Marc and Claire Headley vs. Scientology Inc lawsuit dismissal was upheld on appeal, see Headley Case Dissmissal Upheld. The case however is not over.
While using the litigation process to make things as painful financially for the Headley’s as possible, Scientology Inc lawyers very carefully racked up a ‘costs bill’ designed to ruin the Headleys. A cost bill lists those costs associated with litigation (filing fees, deposition and hearing transcript orders, etc.) that a prevailing party may collect from the defeated party at the end of the case.
What some people do not know is that when the case was dismissed by the lower court in 2010, and while the Headleys were preparing their appeal, Scientology Inc took the unusual course of aggressively pursuing collection of their $40,000 plus cost bill from the Headleys. The Headleys had to prepare and argue more costly motions to stay collection pending appeal. The lower court denied their motion, but the court of appeal granted it – putting collection of costs on hold pending the appeal.
Now that the appeal has run its course, and Scientology Inc has prevailed, they have added costs associated with the appeal to their bill and threatened the Headleys with aggressive collection tactics should they not cough up $43,000 pronto.
If the Headleys did not pay within a reasonable time, Scientology Inc promised it would put liens on their property, perhaps even repossess their vehicles. With two small children, and a third one on the way, the church promised no quarter would be given.
When Marc asked for a grace period or a payment plan, he was sent the following proposal:
See the full story at the Village Voice.
When Marc told me about this I suggested that based on other recent Miscavige pay outs for information on me – including one in the high six figures – Marc should take the deal, but ask for six or seven figures himself. Marc, being the man he is, would hear nothing of it. He told Miscavige to take his offer and shove it.
Marc went out and sold anything of value he owned that wasn’t absolutely esssential for the surival of his family. He scraped and I bet, though he’s not the kind of guy to ever admit it, borrowed enough to pay the cult on the barrelhead.
Though Marc clearly doesn’t see eye to eye with me on Scientology technology, there are bonds of brotherhood between former members of the cult that are a heck of a lot thicker than money. When Marc made it clear he was going to get the money to pay the bill come hell or high water, I told him I was going to recommend to the contributors to the Indie Defense Fund that we forward the balance in the fund to him to defray the hardship.
Marc was the first to expose the house of horrors that David Miscavige created, the hole at Scientology Inc headquarters outside Hemet, California. Many have validated me for having courage to stand and speak out about those same abuses. However, my decision was relatively easy compared to Marc’s and Claire’s. They preceeded me (with very little knowledge of Scientology Inc critic destruction techniques) and in fact their actions in doing so tweeked my conscience to speak out in the first place. Marc and Claire have also given their continuing support in many ways to refugees from Scientology Inc at every level.
I think Marc and Claire are worthy of and are entitled to our support.
There is an $8,500.00 balance in the Indie Defense Fund. Virtually all of it was donated for the purpose of handling Scientology Inc.’s lawsuit against Debbie Cook. In keeping with my policy on donated funds, I will give people whose money remains in the fund an opportunity to participate in decisions as to how it is expended. It is my intention to provide Marc and Claire with the $8,500 dollars remaining to help handle the hardship caused by raising the funds necessary to pay the costs bill from the litigation. If anyone who did not already receive a refund from the Debbie Cook case litigation – whose funds therefore are still in the Indies Defense Fund – does not agree with this intended disposition of the remaining funds, please write to me at casablancatx@hushmail.com. Tell Mosey how much you donated, when, and where to return the funds to. Otherwise, my intention is to write a check for $8,500 to Marc and Claire. The check will be written and sent on Monday 17 September. So, if you have an objection write to us no later than Sunday 16 September.
For those who want to contribute more directly to the Headleys, click here.
Moving On Up a Little Higher 