Variety and Vanity Fair report on an Order issued on Dec. 27 by a Los Angeles Superior Court trial judge in a civil suit brought by several women against actor Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology. The court held that the suit must be arbitrated through the Church of Scientology because of an existing arbitration between the parties. As summarized by Vanity Fair:
The suit was initially filed in August 2019 by Chrissie Carnell Bixler; her husband, Cedric Bixler-Zavala; Marie Bobette Riales; and two Jane Does. It claims that agents working for the church stalked and intimidated them after they reported assault allegations against Masterson [a member of the Church of Scientology] to the police....
Carnell Bixler claims in the lawsuit that Masterson sexually assaulted her multiple times while they were dating in 2001 and 2002. After she reported the assault to the police, her husband alleges in the suit, “agents of the defendants” poisoned their dogs, assaulted them with cars, and made harassing phone calls.... The judge’s ruling will not apply to plaintiff Bobette Riales as she was not a member of the Church of Scientology.
