Lisa McPherson's Death
Was she killed by Scientology?

Scientology's infamous litigation tactics have been said to make cigarette litigation teams look like nice guys. It has also been said that they treat adverse witnesses and opposing legal teams like the mafia treats its mortal enemies. Now Scientology has reached a new low in litigation gutter tactics in the Lisa McPherson wrongful death suit in Florida.

Lisa McPherson was a member of Scientology and was receiving services from the Scientology center in Florida. On November 18, 1995, was involved in a minor car accident. She was apparently not hurt, but she got out of her car and took all her clothes off and seemed mentally unstable. She was taken to a hospital where she was physically evaluated as being unharmed, but the hospital wanted her to be psychologically cared for.

However, some Scientologists arrived and stated that Lisa did not believe in psychiatry, and she checked out after a short evaluation and left with the Scientologists. Lisa was put on the "Introspection Rundown" (that Scientology charges large fees to receive) to handle those who have had a psychotic break. On December 5, 1995, Lisa McPherson was dead on arrival at a hospital 45 minutes north of Clearwater Florida. According to the coroner's report, Lisa was underweight, severely dehydrated, and had bruises and bug bites.

In a recent 11th hour act of desperation to stop the June McPherson trial, Scientology has sought the near unprecedented removal of the opposing attorney for alleged misconduct. See more on this tactic:

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/05/03/TampaBay/Allegations_won_t_alt.shtml
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGAM525HR0D.html
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/05/01/TampaBay/Scientology_foes_cont.shtml
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/29/TampaBay/Church_targets_lawsui.shtml
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/20/TampaBay/Church_s_leading_foes.shtml
http://www.sptimes.com/News/120901/NorthPinellas/Church_loads_up_for_o.shtml
http://www.naplesnews.com/01/08/florida/d646263a.htm

Using the estimated 1-2 billion dollars it has spent on litigation over the last 20 years both in and out of the courtroom, Scientology in the past has been able to intimidate and cower many opposing legal teams, witnesses, juries and judges. Its relentless history of outrageous legal tactics has become a tangible threat to the integrity of justice systems all over the world.

But, this time in Florida it might be different. It appears that a courageous Florida judge is going to continue with the wrongful death suit. It now appears that Scientology may not be able to get the Lisa McPherson wrongful death case dismissed and the public will finally get to know what really happened to the unfortunate young woman who trusted Scientology with her life.

Because of this case, and a myriad of others Scientology has been involved in, FACTNet hopes that the agencies designed to protect the integrity of the justice system will soon begin a comprehensive overview of the last 35 years of Scientology's litigation tactics and determine if a pattern of criminal obstruction of justice exists that should be prosecuted.

For more information on Scientology's infamous litigation tactics:
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/dianetics_litigation.html
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/dianetics_abuse.html
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/dianetics.html

For more information on Scientology's dangerous for-a-fee services called the Introspection Rundown:
http://www.lisamcpherson.org/introspe.htm
http://www.scientology-lies.com/imprisonment.policy.html
http://www.scientology-lies.com/imprisonment.html

For more information on Lisa McPherson:
http://www.lisamcpherson.org/
http://lisa.whyaretheydead.net/
http://www.lisamcpherson.com/
http://lisatrust.bogie.nl/stories/victims/lisa.htm
http://www.lisamcpherson.org/lisapics.htm

A timeline of News Articles regarding Lisa McPherson's Death and subsequent Court Cases and Hearings.

May 29, 2004 Scientologists settle death suit
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/29/Tampabay/Scientologists_settle.shtml

January 15, 2003 Bitterness prolongs case against Scientology
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/15/Columns/Bitterness_prolongs_c.shtml

January 14, 2003 Ruling lets Scientology death lawsuit proceed
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/14/TampaBay/Ruling_lets_Scientolo.shtml

July 7, 2002 How Scientology turned its biggest critic
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/07/07/TampaBay/How_Scientology_turne.shtml

June 13, 2002 Scientology turncoat taken to task
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/06/13/TampaBay/Scientology_turncoat_.shtml

May 18, 2002 Man spent millions fighting Scientology
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/05/18/TampaBay/Man_spent_millions_fi.shtml

IOHO
The FACTNet Staff

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The Settlement news was carried in these newspapers:

Governments in Opposition to Scientology:

Feb 8, 2000	BBC News Online: France recommends dissolving Scientologists: A government committee in France has recommended dissolving the Church of Scientology there, on the grounds that its activities threaten public order. A report submitted to the prime minister, Lionel Jospin, described the church as a totalitarian sect that kept files containing personal information on its members. It said it was an extremely dangerous organisation that violated human dignity.
Dec 10, 1999	Church 'fails test' for charity status : Britain: The Church of Scientology was yesterday barred from charitable status after the Charity Commission ruled that it failed to promote the "moral and spiritual welfare" of the community.
Jan 22, 1997	Scientology Banned in Greece : In Greece, an Athens Administrative Court passed a judgment which affects Scientology materially. It states that the psycho-sect is to be banned. The judge stated that the financial machinations of the commercial sect were not compatible with the public welfare.
Sep 18, 1994	The Giant Scientology Octopus : German Federal Labor Minister Norbert Bluem (CDU) urged a "substantially rigorous, faster opposition" to the "Scientology" sect, which is active in Germany. He regards the sect as a "criminal money-laundering organization which is intent on expanding its delusional ideology worldwide under the pretext of religion and will stop at nothing." "It is high time that the big wheels of this human-despising cartel of suppression finally receive our message loud and clear: they are criminal!" "Potential members are put into psychologically and physically dependent relationships. They are subjected to brainwashing; their personalities are systematically destroyed. Then they are materially exploited without end. Even though we know all this, far too little has really been able to be done in effectively opposing this organization."

This article in TIME Magazine about Scientology called "Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power" is one of the most famous and is a vivid introduction to the subject of Scientology and the potential pitfalls of becoming a Scientologist.