Scientology Hit with $250 Million RICO Lawsuit

A former scientologist has sued the church for $250 million, alleging that it is a criminal enterprise. Peter Letterese also sued Tom Cruise, who he claims is effectively the right-hand man of Scientology head David Miscavage.

The lawsuit seems rather weak and may be designed to simply make it into discovery in the hopes of beefing up its case or confirming details on the church. Letterese’s complaint accuses the church of harassment, including an incident where a private detective, Paul Barresi, allegedly called Letterese’s lawyer’s wife and said that he was the lawyer’s homosexual lover. Barresi has worked for Cruise.

Letterese also includes an intellectal property claim over the church’s use of a business book, “Effective Sales Closing Techniques,” which he claims to own.

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