Lawrence Wollersheim

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Lawrence Dominick Wollersheim has been an active director of several specialized non-profit organizations since 2002. Those organizations websites are www.UniverseSpirit.org, www.UniverseCollege.org, www.UniverseInstitute.org and www.TheUniverseDay.org.

He has worked at those websites with others to help to develop the concepts and practices of “Sustainable Prosperity," "the Universe Evolutionary Worldview,” “Evolution Spirituality,” “Progressive Evolution," the "Universe Principles of Sustainability” and "Job One for Humanity Climate Restabilization Plan.” The Job One plan is a meta-systemic, long-term plan for mitigating global warming and climate destabilization. Much of his current work for these organizations is focused on how to apply the scientific principles of universe-scale evolution to our daily lives and to resolve our biggest global challenges.

Wollersheim is also 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. In Wollersheim’s court case Scientology's top secret materials about Xenu and their beliefs in past alien invasions of Earth was filed with the LA court on his behalf and then copied from court records and published by media all over the world.

Wollersheim helped co-found Factnet.org in 1993 to help other victims of cult abuse. Currently he is still a director of Factnet. Wollersheim was mentored for over 20 years by Margaret Singer PhD, Professor Emeritus at the University of California Berkeley on the influence technologies of mind control (brainwashing, coercive persuasion,) and the essential recovery processes from cult abuse.

Legal actions

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]

Schlosser was eventually paid less that 10% of her 2.7 million dollar claim on Wollersheim’s judgment.

In addition to the above 8.7 million dollars that Scientology paid Wollersheim, Scientology had to pay another $500,000 to Wolersheim after Scientology lost a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation,) lawsuit brought by Wollershiem and his attorney Mark Goldberg against Scientology.

FACTNet

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.

References

  1. ↑ s:Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ex-Scientologist Collects $8.7 Million In 22-Year-Old Case, Richard Leiby, Washington Post, May 10, 2002; P. A03.
  3. ↑ s:Church of Scientology v. Wollersheim
  4. ↑ Bio data in "Confidential Scriptures in Religions", 27 Nov 1994
  5. ↑ Fair game policy, excerpted court documents, Operation Clambake, retrieved 2/17/07.
  6. ↑ Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology, 212 Cal. App. 3d 872 (Cal. App. 2d Dist. 1989)
  7. ↑ Ortega, Tony (2008-06-30). "Scientology's Crushing Defeat". Village Voice. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
  8. ↑ Wollersheim, Larry May 16, 2005."Update Lawrence Wollersheim may need some of your help..." -- USENET posting
  9. ↑ Grace, Roger (28 October 2005) "25 Years Later, a High-Profile Superior Court Case Is Still on the Active List" Metropolitan News-Enterprise
  10. ↑ C.A. Rejects Attorney’s Lien Claim in Scientology Case, Metropolitan News-Enterprise, December 8, 2006

Further reading

External links

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