Leah Remini Appeals Anti-SLAPP Ruling in Suit vs. Scientology Church
Published By admin with Comments 0
Attorneys for Leah Remini have filed a notice of appeal regarding a judge’s mixed ruling in March on the Scientology Church’s anti-SLAPP motion.
Friday’s filing comes two months after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Randolph Hammock ruled that portions of Remini’s case against the church could proceed for now, but eliminated enough other parts of it to prompt the issuance of a church statement proclaiming the ruling a “resounding victory” and stating that its lawyers will seek attorneys’ fees.
The Remini lawyers’ 40-page court filing includes a copy of Hammock’s March 12 final order, but does not elaborate on how the actress’ attorneys believe Hammock ruled incorrectly.
The church also is appealing Hammock’s ruling. An anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion is rooted in a law intended to prevent people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
The actress’ original suit was brought Aug. 2 in Los Angeles Superior Court and included allegations of civil harassment, stalking, intentional infliction of emotional distress and defamation. Scientology Church leader David Miscavige is also a defendant in both the first suit and an updated complaint brought Aug. 29.
Due to subsequent legal actions in the case, the lawsuit is now before Judge Holly Fujie and a case management conference is scheduled for May 29.
After leaving the church in 2013, Remini became a high-profile critic. She published a memoir in 2015, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology,” and later hosted three seasons of the docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” on A&E.
The suit from the 53-year-old “The King of Queens” star alleges that Scientologists “have undertaken a campaign to ruin and destroy the life and livelihood of Leah Remini, a former Scientologist of nearly 40 years, a two-time Emmy-award winning producer, actress and New York Times best-selling author, after she was deemed a suppressive person and declared fair game by Scientology in 2013, when she publicly departed Scientology.”
Content retrieved from: https://mynewsla.com/business/2024/05/14/leah-remini-appeals-anti-slapp-ruling-in-suit-vs-scientology-church/.
