Lawrence Dominick Wollersheim is a former Scientologist. He sued the Church of Scientology in 1980. The story of Xenu was made public when Church materials detailing the Operating Thetan Level 3 were used as exhibits.
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In 1986, a jury awarded Wollersheim $5 million in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages for what jurors called intentional and negligent "infliction of emotional distress." On appeal this was reduced to $2.5 million.[1] Scientology officials vowed never to pay, and the phrase "not one thin dime for Wollersheim," was chanted by Scientologists at court hearings.[2] The church challenged the $2.5 million award, but the case was dismissed and Wollersheim was awarded an additional $130,506.71 in attorney's fees.[3]
In their 1991 appeal, the Church of Scientology said that "Fair Game" was a "core practice of Scientology", and protected as "religious expression". This was also stated by Scientology attorneys in the case against Gerald Armstrong, in 1984, by religious expert Frank K. Flinn.[4][5][6]
After over 20 years, the Church agreed to settle the case and pay an $8.7 million settlement on May 9, 2002.[2][7]
The settlement money was deposited with the court clerk, and was paid to Wollersheim's attorneys. According to Wollersheim, as of May, 2005, there was less than $2.3 million in the account and there was a claim by attorney Leta Schlosser for $2.7 million against the fund. Wollersheim says he had not received any of the funds from the case.[8] On October 28, 2005 the Metropolitan News-Enterprise, a Los Angeles daily legal publication, reported that the Wollersheim case was ongoing and a trial was forthcoming regarding the Leta Schlosser claim. It said that Schlosser had received $100,000, but she was suing for more.[9] On December 8, 2006, it reported that Wollersheim won the case on appeal, as Schlosser lacked an enforceable lien under the Rules of Professional Conduct.[10]
In 1993, he co-founded Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network (FACTNet or F.A.C.T.Net) as an information resource on cults. FACTNet has had legal battles with Scientology.
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