Ryan Hamilton files federal lawsuit against Narconon Fresh Start in Nevada

^^^ I bet there are lots of emails from critics of Scientology on Laura's computer. And some of those crtitics will have pets ...

Yeah, people should be careful or there might be some poor Scientologist found at the bottom of the pool and the cat innocently asleep in its basket.

This certainly has lulz potential! Seems the latest flood of information is starting to pay off!

Geanacopulos vs. Narconon Fresh Start (re: Scientology Front Group)

Federal Complaint in Geanacopulos vs. Narconon Fresh Start
http://www.scribd.com/doc/220017114/Geanacopulos-vs-Narconon-Complaint

Tony Ortega: http://tonyortega.org/2014/04/24/sc...ura-d-asked-to-turn-over-computer/#more-14500

Excerpt:

Ryan Hamilton wins round one, for the most part

By Tony Ortega

We’ve been telling you about Ryan Hamilton, the Las Vegas attorney who has now filed five federal lawsuits on behalf of clients who are suing Scientology’s Narconon drug rehab facilities in Nevada and California. Hamilton is making the complaints in those lawsuits very detailed, packed with information that has been revealed in similar suits around the country.

We told you that Narconon’s attorneys came back with an interesting response in one of the five suits — they complained that Hamilton’s filing was too detailed and filed a motion to dismiss the case. A hearing was held, and Hamilton tells us that the magistrate denied Scientology’s motion. While Hamilton didn’t get everything he was asking for (he’s been aggressively countering Scientology’s motions with his own), the important thing is that the lawsuit passed that first test and now moves on to discovery.

That’s good news for the other four plaintiffs, and we have a feeling even more lawsuits are coming.

From http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/02/vi...ron-hubbard-wisdom-you-arent-supposed-to-see/

Ryan Hamilton adds Colorado in new lawsuits against Scientology’s rehab network

By Tony Ortega

Add Colorado to the states where Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton has filed federal fraud lawsuits against Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon.

Two lawsuits were filed by Hamilton this week against Narconon Colorado, which operates a ‘Narconon Fresh Start’ facility in Fort Collins it calls A Life Worth Saving (pictured).

We count these as the sixth and seventh federal lawsuits that Hamilton has filed this year, and they are very much like the detailed legal complaints that have been filed against rehab centers in California and Nevada.

In May 2012, New York resident Bryan Mott was looking for help for his daughter, Nikki. He found a website that appeared to be an independent referral service for drug treatment, and called its 800-number. (Like so many others, he had no idea that the site was a front for Narconon itself.)

Mott got the usual Narconon spiel about high success rates and the efficacy of “detoxification” through sauna use. He was told that Nikki would receive individualized drug counseling and medical supervision. So he paid $33,000 and Nikki began the program.

After an initial medical check, Nikki never saw a medical professional again. And soon, the reality that nearly everything they’d been told was a lie became obvious.

Continued at http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/09/ry...-lawsuits-against-scientologys-rehab-network/

This is starting to look like a nice storm brewing. I hope other lawyers take up the trend Hamilton is starting!

Also, here's the end of Tony's post today:

We’re going to need a score sheet to keep track of all the lawsuits Hamilton has filed against Scientology’s drug rehab racket. Here are links to the previous lawsuits:

Angelo Amato (San Diego)
Christy Estrada and Branden Chavez (San Diego)
Cathy and Michael Tarr (Nevada)
Harry and Lauren Geanacopulos (Nevada)
David, Stacy and Jack Welch (Nevada)

He added this in the comments section:

Tony Ortega Mod • 13 hours ago
PS: Prepare for some big media attention on Narconon, coming soon. We were fortunate enough to help out a legendary name in the field who is soon unleashing some serious entheta on a Narconon facility. Can't say more at this time.

http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/09/ry...-lawsuits-against-scientologys-rehab-network/

Now this looks interesting!

8 News Now: I-Team - Lawsuits target Scientology rehab center in Nevada
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/25494624/i-team-lawsuits-target-nev-drug-and-alcohol-center

Excerpts:

Oh my!

Given the meticulous attention to detail by Hamilton, I hope he is prepared to sue Narconon's Scientology, and then the Scientology corporation itself after what will certainly be a heavy campaign of "fair game" harassment against himself and his clients.

David Love won such a judgement against the company in a Quebec court which ruled that Scientology and its Narconon violated his human rights and those of two other patients.

This "loop hole" has been talked about and broadcasted in 2012
Here is a news cast by Bacca dated 2012 where he says they have been investigating Narconon for THREE years and that was back in 2012!!
So three years in 2012 and it is now 2014. So FIVE years they have been investigating?
Who is dragging their feet? Who is squashing this bill?
Something smells rotten.
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/19970259/i-team-loophole-lets-rehab-center-slide-under-radar

Gotta say it!

TODAY IS MAY 13TH 2014 WHY ARE THEY STILL OPEN?

The profit motive is baked right in. I wonder how many of the current crop of false-fronted headhunters referral services are former staff.

Good article, thanks!

Beau Griffis may be able to answer the question.

I was trying to avoid conjuring that name directly. Say it three times fast and a semi-literate demon appears in the thread to vex everyone. I think he should stay in his own speshul imp-bottle.

Another Ryan Hamilton lawsuit against Narconon

By Tony Ortega

Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton has filed yet another federal fraud lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon. One of our court watchers spotted this one, filed in California on behalf of Kenneth and Jered Mowery, who are residents of Oklahoma.

The facts of the case are very much like the other ones that Hamilton has filed: A family seeking treatment for a loved one is told a string if fabrications by Narconon, which talks about giving individualized drug counseling in a safe facility staffed with medical personnel. Instead, it turns out to be a program of Scientology training with no medical personnel at all.

In this case, Kenneth Mowery was convinced to send his son Jered to Narconon Redwood Cliffs in Watsonville, California, paying $35,500 plus another $3,000 for a “medical detox.”

Despite Narconon’s representations that Jered would receive extensive counseling, at no point did Narconon staff ever speak to Jered about the specifics of his life or his drug abuse and its causes. In fact, no one at Narconon ever spoke to Jered about his substance abuse at all. Jered received no education about substance abuse, its causes and effects, or methods to deal with his addiction. Instead, Jered received instruction only in Scientology. Jered became extremely scared by the “treatment” he was receiving and the fact that there appeared to be no qualified personnel at Narconon. To escape from Narconon, Jered pretended to have a family emergency.

Here’s the complaint:

<snipped>

By our count, that’s eight federal fraud lawsuits Hamilton has filed against Narconon in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

Angelo Amato (San Diego)
Christy Estrada and Branden Chavez (San Diego)
Cathy and Michael Tarr (Nevada)
Harry and Lauren Geanacopulos (Nevada)
David, Stacy, and Jack Welch (Nevada)
Bryan and Nikki Mott (Colorado)
Charles and Tyler Matthys, and Linda Phillips (Colorado)

More at http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/15/tiziano-lugli-a-new-short-film-about-scientology-and-slavery

Hamilton's up to what now, 8 is it? Then there's Harris' suit, still in the system. Ad to that the continued embarrassment of the brand by David Love. I'd say Narconon now has some serious trouble.

It used to be that once a family had the outrage and means to lawyer-up, and their lawyer was starting to come up to speed on how to handle Narconon, the Narconon would settle with a gag clause. *poof*, under the carpet.

That no work so good now.

They had better stash away the millions while they still can.

Ryan Hamilton files his ninth federal lawsuit against Narconon

By Tony Ortega

Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton keeps putting more pressure on Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon. He’s filed his second federal fraud lawsuit against Narconon’s facility in Watsonville, California, and his ninth overall, with other suits in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

For years, Narconon was praised and endorsed by Scientology’s celebrities — Tom Cruise claimed that “We are the authorities in getting people off drugs.” But patient deaths, multiple government investigations, and dozens of lawsuits — including one filed last week by a prestigious credentialing organization that claims Narconon for years has conspired to misrepresent its certifications — has taken its toll on the network.

And now, there’s another federal fraud lawsuit. The details are much like the others, as attorney Hamilton zeroes in on the deceptions that are inherent in the Narconon business plan, and that we’ve detailed for years.

In this instance, we have another very recent case — it was just in January that Missouri resident Robin Jones was looking for a rehab facility for her son, James “Jimmy” Ramirez Jr.

She was referred by a generic website to “Redwood Cliffs,” the Narconon facility in Watsonville, California, which didn’t mention its connection to the Narconon network, but claimed to have a 76 percent success rate.

(We’ve seen Narconon facilities advertise up to 90 percent success rates — but an internal e-mail written by its legal affairs officer which we obtained last year showed that the network has no real scientific proof to back up those claims.)

The usual Narconon claims were made to Jones: that her son would get drug counseling at a facility staffed with a licensed physician. Based on those claims, Jones paid $35,500 up front for Jimmy’s treatment.

Once Jimmy was at the facility, instead of drug counseling he was given introductory Scientology training, and subjected to a sauna program Scientologists call the Purification Rundown.

<snipped>

By our count, that’s nine federal fraud lawsuits Hamilton has filed against Narconon in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

Angelo Amato (San Diego)
Christy Estrada and Branden Chavez (San Diego)
Cathy and Michael Tarr (Nevada)
Harry and Lauren Geanacopulos (Nevada)
David, Stacy, and Jack Welch (Nevada)
Bryan and Nikki Mott (Colorado)
Charles and Tyler Matthys, and Linda Phillips (Colorado)
Kenneth and Jered Mowery (Watsonville, CA)

More at
http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/21/no-la-weekly-tom-cruises-career-was-not-ruined-by-a-gif/

Heh!

Scientology’s drug rehab system hit with tenth federal fraud lawsuit by Las Vegas attorney

By Tony Ortega

Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton has filed his tenth federal fraud lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon. Filed in Nevada, the lawsuit alleges that the Scientology rehab center in that state, Rainbow Canyon Retreat, promised effective drug counseling delivered by licensed medical personnel, and instead delivered Scientology training from former addicts.

It’s a set of allegations that we’re very used to hearing, not only in Hamilton’s lawsuits but in many others that have been targeting Narconon in recent years.

This time, plaintiffs Charis Yates and Dean Pugh and their daughter Beret Pugh, all of Washington State, are suing Narconon Fresh Start in Nevada and its umbrella organizations Narconon International and the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE).

On August 30, 2012, Charis Yates and Dean Pugh were looking for a drug rehab facility for their daughter Beret. They were told the usual story by representatives of “Fresh Start” — what some Narconon facilities are calling themselves now. They were told about Fresh Start’s 76-percent success rate, that their daughter would receive “extensive substance abuse treatment,” and that a sauna program would flush drug toxins from her body, reducing or eliminating her drug cravings.

And, like so many others, the couple was told that their daughter would be under the supervision of medical professionals.

They paid $33,000 for Beret’s treatment.

Hamilton accuses Narconon of hiding its connections to Scientology in the contract it asked the couple to sign. In fact, the Narconon program isn’t drug counseling at all, but instead it’s low-level Scientology training with no scientific basis.

In contrast to Defendants’ representations to Dean that Beret would be receiving treatment from duly qualified and licensed professionals, the staff at Fresh Start consisted almost entirely of former “graduates” of the Narconon program. These personnel were not licensed counselors, therapists, or addiction specialists. Beret left Fresh Start early because she was not receiving any actual addiction treatment. She left Fresh Start much worse than when she entered and relapsed almost immediately. Plaintiffs have incurred expenses to get Beret the treatment Defendants promised to provide. Further, Beret has had to get help for the injuries Defendants’ “treatment” caused her.

Once again, Hamilton has brought in evidence from previous court cases against Narconon, including its own expert witness doubting the high success rates it touts.

Here’s the complaint:

<snipped>

By our count, that’s ten federal fraud lawsuits Hamilton has filed against Narconon in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

Angelo Amato (San Diego)
Christy Estrada and Branden Chavez (San Diego)
Cathy and Michael Tarr (Nevada)
Harry and Lauren Geanacopulos (Nevada)
David, Stacy, and Jack Welch (Nevada)
Bryan and Nikki Mott (Colorado)
Charles and Tyler Matthys, and Linda Phillips (Colorado)
Kenneth and Jered Mowery (Watsonville, CA)
Robin Jones, James Ramirez Sr. and Jr. (Watsonville, CA)

More at
http://tonyortega.org/2014/05/28/sc...-federal-fraud-lawsuit-by-las-vegas-attorney/

yes!
one by one is the way to go.
A class action law suit will cost the cult less
one by one will sink them quicker

Yup!
It worked for Co$ against the IRS and so many others.

And each response by Co$ and their lolyers puts more and more sworn detail into the public record!
Ready for use by the next cases!

Not to mention it is kinda lulzy to use their own tactics against them

what would also REALLY work believe it or not is taking the COS to small claims courts.
They wouldn't show up and the person suing would clean up. I know there is a cap on the amount people can sue for in small claims courts. (depends which state)
If even 1000 people did this, it would be totally deelish.
Can you imagine?

Absolutely!

Ryan Hamilton files lawsuit number eleven against Scientology’s drug rehab network

By Tony Ortega

Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton isn’t slowing down. He’s filed another federal fraud lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab facility in Nevada — Rainbow Canyon Retreat in the remote town of Caliente — bringing to eleven the suits he’s filed in recent months against similar centers in California and Colorado.

Once again, the details are similar to the other suits. For years, the “Narconon” rehab network has been telling people that it delivers drug counseling when it actually has patients go through Scientology training and also subjects them to an unscientific sauna-and-vitamins regimen.

One of the first suits that Hamilton filed faced a motion to dismiss (Scientology complained that it was “too detailed”), but the suit survived that motion. Hamilton clearly is confident that he’s hit on a winning formula against the church’s rehab system.

In this lawsuit, Lori Winchell complains that she was deceived by Narconon when she went looking for a treatment center for her son, Ryan, in June 2012.

She spoke to an intake counselor at Rainbow Canyon Retreat who made the usual misleading promises about the Narconon network — that her son would receive drug counseling under the care of medical personnel, for example. She was also told the usual line about Narconon having a 76-percent success rate. And she was told that the program’s “New Life Detoxification Program” — a regimen of sauna use and vitamins — had a scientific basis.

Lori was asked to pay $32,500 for her son’s treatment, but she didn’t have that much money. She was told to take out new credit cards to raise the money.

Once her son went to Rainbow Canyon Retreat, he found what other “students” there do — that instead of drug counseling, patients receive Scientology training instead, and delivered by staff members who are for the most part former patients. There are no licensed medical personnel on hand.

Hamilton refers to previous lawsuits, which brought out testimony that Narconon’s program is unscientific and even potentially dangerous.

<snipped>

By our count, that’s eleven federal fraud lawsuits Hamilton has filed against Narconon in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

Angelo Amato (San Diego)
Christy Estrada and Branden Chavez (San Diego)
Cathy and Michael Tarr (Nevada)
Harry and Lauren Geanacopulos (Nevada)
David, Stacy, and Jack Welch (Nevada)
Bryan and Nikki Mott (Colorado)
Charles and Tyler Matthys, and Linda Phillips (Colorado)
Kenneth and Jered Mowery (Watsonville, CA)
Robin Jones, James Ramirez Sr. and Jr. (Watsonville, CA)
Charis Yates, Beret and Dean Pugh (Nevada)

http://tonyortega.org/2014/06/02/ry...leven-against-scientology-drug-rehab-network/

This is that part of the fireworks show where the finale rockets are being launched. They haven't exploded yet, but you get all atwitter watching glowy trail after glowy trail heading upwards, because you know what it means....

And each glittery moment lasts ....
And the pace allows for anticipation, appreciation, tittilation sweet sweet jubilation and delicious tears
And after the enouement, sweet as it is is always so very shortlived
The next adventure is already calling
Another problem and another solution
(Often caused by the solutions to the prior problem)

Savour these moments
They are very precious

Again, Wb Johnny!

Thank you, dear.

Here's what I've learned: the longer I'm gone, the more groovy stuff is waiting for me when I return. So that sort of makes me want to just stay away. But I can't enjoy any of the groovy stuff until I do return (since I don't even know what it is yet). So that makes me not want to stay away.

What's a guy psych-loving DB to do??

DOX: Class-Action Plaintiffs Aim at David Miscavige’s Total Control ...
David Love Bomb:Tick-Tock for The Narconon Bridge to the LRH Bridge to Freedom!


WB, Mr. RUClear, impeccable timing......

.

Ryan Hamilton makes it an even dozen federal lawsuits against Scientology’s rehab network

Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton continues to pile on the hurt for Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon.

Just days after filing a lawsuit against Scientology’s rehab facility in Nevada, Hamilton filed a new federal lawsuit against Narconon’s center in Fort Collins, Colorado, which goes by the name A Life Worth Saving.

In this case, Ben Levy, a ski instructor, enrolled at A Life Worth Saving last July for a painkiller problem he’d picked up after a back injury.

Levy was told by the facility’s executive director, Glen Petcavage, that Narconon was a secular program “and in no way involves the practice or study of any religion.”

But Levy soon found himself taking part in strange Scientology processes, including yelling at ashtrays and giving “touch assists.”

“On one occasion, a Narconon counselor explained that she wanted to give Ben a touch assist on his back. Instead of touching his back, however, the counselor grabbed his crotch.”

Ben decided to leave, but found that Narconon’s staff wouldn’t let him go. After he persisted, they took him to a homeless shelter in Fort Collins, “without any money or [Levy's] credit cards.” Levy then had to make his way home to Basalt, Colorado, which was hours away.

<snipped>

By our count, that’s twelve federal lawsuits Hamilton has filed against Narconon in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

Angelo Amato (San Diego)
Christy Estrada and Branden Chavez (San Diego)
Cathy and Michael Tarr (Nevada)
Harry and Lauren Geanacopulos (Nevada)
David, Stacy, and Jack Welch (Nevada)
Bryan and Nikki Mott (Colorado)
Charles and Tyler Matthys, and Linda Phillips (Colorado)
Kenneth and Jered Mowery (Watsonville, CA)
Robin Jones, James Ramirez Sr. and Jr. (Watsonville, CA)
Charis Yates, Beret and Dean Pugh (Nevada)
Lori, Ryan, and Jilliene Winchell (Nevada)

One of Hamilton’s dozen lawsuits faced a motion to dismiss and survived it, which bodes well for the rest surviving early challenges.

More at http://tonyortega.org/2014/06/07/ry...-lawsuits-against-scientologys-rehab-network/

Looks like we have an interesting few weeks ahead of us.

Slappy's head must be exploding!
Too late to buy shares in Macallan and profit from the increased sales. Damn!

Ah poor kendrick, the viper and co.
I would feel sorry for them, but I am too busy lmfao at their predicament.
Stuck between Slappy and the Courts!
Such a nice place to be!

Caek for Mr Hamilton

Ryan Hamilton makes it a baker’s dozen

Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton has filed his 13th federal lawsuit against Narconon, Scientology’s drug rehab network.

In this case, Indiana resident Monica O’Connell was searching for a place to send her son Sean for rehab in February last year. A representative from a supposedly generic website suggested that she talk to someone at “Redwood Cliffs” in Watsonville, California.

She wasn’t told that the facility was part of the Narconon network, let alone affiliated with Scientology. She was told the usual deceptions about what would happen at Narconon, and was asked to pay $35,000 to enroll her son.

Like so many others, Sean soon learned that instead of drug counseling, he’d be doing Scientology training, and was subjected to an unscientific sauna-and-vitamins regimen.

Despite [Narconon Northern California]’s representations that Jimmy would receive counseling, at no point did staff ever speak to Sean about the specifics of his life or his drug use and its causes. In fact, no one at NNC ever spoke to Sean about his substance abuse at all. Instead, counselors at the NNC center attempted to treat Sean using only Scientology. Monica O’Connell has attempted to obtain insurance coverage for some of the NNC program’s cost. Plaintiffs’ insurer has denied the claim, however, because NNC did not provide records so the claim could be processed. NNC drug-tested Sean O’Connell during his stay at NNC. Plaintiffs received a bill for approximately $15,000.00 for drug testing at the end of his stay at NNC. Although Plaintiffs had never provided NNC with the insurance information for Plaintiff Sean O’Connell’s father, NNC attempted to submit the charges for the drug testing to his father’s insurance. Sean left Redwood Cliffs without receiving any of the substance abuse treatment Plaintiffs had been promised. Sean sustained liver damage due to the extreme doses of Niacin NNC had Sean ingest during his participation in the sauna program.

Here’s the complaint:

<snipped>

By our count, that’s thirteen federal lawsuits Hamilton has filed against Narconon in California, Nevada, and Colorado.

Angelo Amato (San Diego)
Christy Estrada and Branden Chavez (San Diego)
Cathy and Michael Tarr (Nevada)
Harry and Lauren Geanacopulos (Nevada)
David, Stacy, and Jack Welch (Nevada)
Bryan and Nikki Mott (Colorado)
Charles and Tyler Matthys, and Linda Phillips (Colorado)
Kenneth and Jered Mowery (Watsonville, CA)
Robin Jones, James Ramirez Sr. and Jr. (Watsonville, CA)
Charis Yates, Beret and Dean Pugh (Nevada)
Lori, Ryan, and Jilliene Winchell (Nevada)
Ben Levy (Colorado)

More here:
http://tonyortega.org/2014/06/11/ok...-jury-to-investigate-scientologys-drug-rehab/

I saw that. Hamilton know what he's up against, I don't think he'd forward anything like that without the dox to back it up.

Popcorn!

"Despite [Narconon Northern California]’s representations that Jimmy would receive counseling, at no point did staff ever speak to Sean about the specifics of his life or his drug use and its causes."

http://tonyortega.org/2014/06/11/ok...-jury-to-investigate-scientologys-drug-rehab/

Looks like a certain lolyer needs moar copy in his paste.

Still... 13! Yeah, baby.

(If this is in the wrong place, plz move. I put it in media since it's on TO's site.)

Wuuups!

That's the problem when mass producing these things. Will it affect the viability of the case?