Tim Bowles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Timothy Bowles | |
| Born |  United States |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Attorney Executive Director, Youth for Human Rights International Commissioner, Board of Advisors, Citizens Commission on Human Rights |
| Website Law offices of Timothy Bowles |
|
Timothy Bowles is an American attorney who has worked for the Church of Scientology and its related organizations for the majority of his career.
Along with Kendrick Moxon and Laurie Bartilson, Bowles was one of the lead attorneys for the Church of Scientology in the oft-cited legal case: Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz[1].
He is the executive director of Youth for Human Rights International, and is a Commissioner on the Board of Advisors of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, both Church of Scientology sponsored organizations.
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[edit] Legal career
In the late 1970s, Bowles began his legal career as attorney for Delphian Foundation (now known as Delphi Schools, an Applied Scholastics educational organization that uses study technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard).
Bowles moved to Southern California in the 1980s, where he served as general legal counsel to the Church of Scientology International for several years with Kendrick Moxon in the firm Bowles & Moxon, which served as the church's lead counsel in the legal effort that resulted in the church receiving U.S. tax-exempt status in 1993.[2]
Bowles had been a part of the law firm Bowles & Moxon, whose other partner was Kendrick Moxon[3]. That law firm acted on behalf of the Church of Scientology[3]. An article in The American Lawyer recounts how the firm of Bowles & Moxon was involved with the filing of 50 civil suits against the Cult Awareness Network by individual Scientologists, many of whom had asserted virtually the same "carbon copy" claims as the other lawsuits[4] In 1994, the Cult Awareness Network opened a counter-suit against the Church of Scientology, 11 individual Scientologists and the Los Angeles law firm of Bowles and Moxon[5].
Tim Bowles was part of the lawfirm Bowles & Hayes [6]. His partner Steven Hayes[7], also a Scientologist, was involved in buying the assets of the Cult Awareness Network after bankruptcy[3][8].
After leaving that firm, he has continued to personally work for Scientology entities such as Youth for Human Rights International as Executive Director[9][10][11], and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights as a Commissioner on the Board of Advisors[12], as well as representing clients such as Narconon. Representing Youth for Human Rights International in Ghana in 2006, he said, "Ghana should lead the crusade for championing the tenets of United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights...through human rights education from an early age," adding that his organization had developed materials to assist in doing so.[13]
On 2005-12-19, he incorporated the firm Law Offices of Timothy Bowles, with two associates.[14][15]
[edit] Clients
The clients his firm represents include: Airespring, Inc.; Applied Scholastics International, Inc; Castec, Inc.; Consolidated Financial & Insurance Services, Inc.; Cornerstone Pictures; Cushman & Wakefield; Diskeeper Corporation; Eastern Tools & Equipment; The Football Network; Los Angeles Medical Center; McPhee & Associates, Inc.; Mission Renaissance, Inc.; National Foundation of Women Legislators; Omnitronix, Inc.; Panda Software International; Sterling Management Systems, Inc.; Survival Strategies International; Telsoft Solutions, Inc.; United Merchant Services.[14] As well, he is the agent of service for Hubbard College of Administration and the dissolved Church of Scientology of California.[15]
[edit] In the news
In 1987, Bowles wrote a letter to the St. Petersburg Times, threatening a lawsuit if they were to print a review of the new book L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman?:
It has come to our attention that [you] are considering publication of a review of L. Ron Hubbard, Messiah or Madman? by Bent Corydon ... it is quite apparent and can be proved that your motives in reviewing this book ... are to attack and denigrate the Church through any vehicle you find available. ... If you forward one of his lies you will find yourself in court facing not only libel and slander charges, but also charges for conspiracy to violate civil rights. If you publish anything at all on it, you may still find yourself defending charges in court in light of what we know about your intentions. We know a whole lot more about your institution and motives than you think.[16]
The newspaper did not comply with Scientology's requests, and published not only the review, but the letter as well.[16]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Gonnet, Roger (1998). La secte: secte armée pour la guerre (in French). Alban, 212. ISBN 2911751043.
- ^ Frantz, Douglas, "Scientology's Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt", The New York Times, March 9, 1997.
- ^ a b c Arweck, Elizabeth (2006). Researching New Religious Movements: Responses and Redefinitions. Routledge, Page 195.. ISBN 041527754X.
"In October 1996, the law firm Bowles and Hayes acquired can's legal name and logo. Timothy Bowles had been a part of Bowles & Moxton [sic], a law firm acting on behalf of Scientology. Fears that Scientology might use CAN's name to cause confusion materialized with the establishment of New CAN.." - ^ Did Scientology Strike Back?, The American Lawyer, June 1997
Starting in 1991, CAN was forced to fend off some 50 civil suits filed by Scientologists around the country, many of them asserting carbon copy claims and many pressed by the same law firm, Los Angeles's Bowles & Moxon. Scientologists also filed dozens of discrimination complaints against CAN with state human rights commissions nationwide, requiring the services of still more lawyers. The avalanche of litigation staggered the network. By 1994 CAN, which ran on a budget of about $300,000 a year, had been dumped by its insurers and owed tens of thousands of dollars to attorneys. - ^ Staff.. "Hot-line buyer has Scientology ties", Chicago Sun-Times, December 1, 1996.
- ^ Bowles & Hayes, FindLaw.com
- ^ Staff.. "What's $2.995 Million Between Former Enemies?", Phoenix New Times, December 19, 1996.
"..the purchaser was Steven Hayes, a Scientologist attorney whose partner, Timothy Bowles, once shared offices with Kendrick Moxon." - ^ Goodstein, Laurie. "Plaintiff Shifts Stance on Anti-Cult Group: Scientology-Linked Lawyer Is Dismissed in Move That May Keep Network Running", Washington Post, December 23, 1996.
The CAN name, logo and telephone number were sold in Bankruptcy Court last month to a member of the Church of Scientology, whose members are also trying to buy the extensive files that CAN kept on Scientology and other groups. CAN's telephone hot line in Chicago, dormant for six months, is operating again. The people answering have been instructed to tell callers that CAN has been "taken over" by "a new corporation," but "we would be happy to help you with information about religious groups you have an interest in," said Steven L. Hayes, the Los Angeles attorney and Scientologist who bought the rights to use CAN's phone number. CAN has filed an appeal objecting to the sale of its name and phone. - ^ Meet the Director: Tim Bowles, youthforhumanrights.org
- ^ International Youth Delegates Spark Human Rights Initiative at David Starr Jordan High School, Church of Scientology International, Human Rights News, October 7, 2005
- ^ Youth For Human Rights International - Ghana Human Rights Tour, Church of Scientology International, Human Rights News Forum, June 3, 2006
- ^ CCHR's Board of Advisors
- ^ "Inculcate human rights education into school curriculum – Expert", Ghana News Agency (GNA), November 4, 2006.
- ^ a b Law Offices of Timothy Bowles, P.C. Profile. Lawyers.com. Martindale-Hubbell. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
- ^ a b California Secretary of State, California Business Search
- ^ a b "Scientology lawyer threatens lawsuit", St. Petersburg Times (City edition), 1987-09-13. Retrieved on 2007-04-30.
