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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO. 00-5682-CI-11
DELL LIEBREICH, as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF LISA McPHERSON,
Plaintiff,vs.
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FLAG SERVICE ORGANIZATION, JANIS JOHNSON, ALAIN KARTUZINSKI and DAVID HOUGHTON, D.D.S.,
Defendants._______________________________________/
PROCEEDINGS: Defendants’ Omnibus Motion for Terminating Sanctions and Other Relief.
CONTENTS: Testimony of Jesse Prince.1
VOLUME 6
DATE: July 10, 2002. Morning Session.
PLACE: Courtroom B, Judicial Building
St. Petersburg, Florida.BEFORE: Honorable Susan F. Schaeffer, Circuit Judge.
REPORTED BY: Lynne J. Ide, RMR.
Deputy Official Court Reporter, Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida.Kanabay Court Reporters; Serving West Central Florida
Pinellas (727)821-3320 Hillsborough (813)224-9500
Tampa Airport Marriott Deposition Suite (813)224-9500722
APPEARANCES:
MR. KENNAN G. DANDAR
DANDAR & DANDAR
5340 West Kennedy Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33602
Attorney for Plaintiff.MR. KENDRICK MOXON
MOXON & KOBRIN
1100 Cleveland Street, Suite 900
Clearwater, FL 33755
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. LEE FUGATE
MR. MORRIS WEINBERG, JR.
ZUCKERMAN, SPAEDER
101 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 1200
Tampa, FL 33602-5147
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. ERIC M. LIEBERMAN
RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD
740 Broadway at Astor Place
New York, NY 10003-9518
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. HOWARD ROSS
Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein, P.A.
980 Tyrone Boulevard
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Counsel for Robert Minton.THE COURT: Good morning. Mr. Prince. All right. Mr. Dandar, you are standing. You must want something.
MR. DANDAR: Well, we have a proposed order here. I have some responses here. I have declarations of Stacy Brooks and others I want to file. But let’s just go with Mr. Prince.
THE COURT: Okay.
(A discussion was held off the record.)
THE COURT: What day is today? The 10th? I was looking, what is — how many days of hearings is this?
THE BAILIFF: 30.
THE COURT: No, no. Mr. Bailiff says 30. Does anybody —
MR. WEINBERG: Add zero to that. That is where we are.
THE COURT: Is that where we are, 30?
MR. WEINBERG: I think so.
THE COURT: Good morning, Mr. Ross. Are you designated Mr. Minton’s attorney here today?
MR. ROSS: That is correct.
THE COURT: I think that probably you have been advised Mr. Minton needs a lawyer in this proceeding and, therefore, we welcome you. But you have no ability to object in this particular proceeding.
MR. ROSS: I understand, your Honor.
THE COURT: You understand you may hear some very weird testimony as far as some strange evidentiary rulings. But this is a strange hearing and sort of the rules of evidence — we’re going to deal with that after the hearing.
MR. ROSS: I understand.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: Just give me a minute, your Honor.
THE COURT: I will. I will ask Mr. Dandar, while you are doing that, did you have a chance to E-Mail Mr. Henson?
MR. DANDAR: Yes, I did. And he E-mailed me back and said, “Can you find me a lawyer, is it worth it?” I said no, both questions.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. FUGATE: Your Honor, I notified Mr. Hill’s secretary that Mr. Rosen would not be called. And I should have an order here on the pro hac vice, if it is not by the morning break, by noontime.
THE COURT: All right. Fine.
MR. LIEBERMAN: I would just like to inquire, does that mean Mr. Henson is abandoning his motion?
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THE COURT: No, I think what that means, he will not be represented. And I suspect you should — as I said, let me have time to read it. I may be able to rule on your motion without any argument.
MR. LIEBERMAN: Very good.
THE COURT: But, frankly, I want to still leave it scheduled for hearing, because he may get somebody to appear. And we’ll deal with it at the scheduled time. I would not assume that is an abandonment.
MR. LIEBERMAN: All right.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: All right? I’m ready.
THE COURT: You may proceed.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Mr. Prince, you — I think you said on your direct testimony — but let me go over it again — you have testified previously as a witness under oath in either trial testimony or deposition testimony. Is that right?
A In this — in this case, yes, I have.
Q In other cases, as well. Correct?
A Yes, I have.
Q And — and is it your testimony that at all times
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in those other cases when you were under oath, that you testified truthfully?
A Yes, it is.
Q Okay. Now, yesterday — or the day before, whenever it was — you testified that you had participated in the destruction of PC folders, particularly Mr. Wollersheim’s PC folder which he said was pulped, I believe, while you were at RTC?
A Correct.
Q Now, you remember testifying as a witness in 1989 in the lawsuit Religious Technology versus Joseph Yanny?
A I do not.
Q You don’t remember that?
A No, I do not.
THE COURT: I don’t even remember hearing about that case. That is a new one for me.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I thought you testified, by the way, on your direct, that you had been a witness in that case, in fact, that while you were in Scientology, you were actually a witness in that case.
A No. While I was in Scientology I said I was a witness in the Wollersheim 4 case, specifically concerning the Advanced ability Center, David Mayo.
MR. WEINBERG: Could I approach the witness,
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your Honor?
THE COURT: You may.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Let me show you a transcript of your deposition taken in Los Angeles, California on September 11, 1989 and ask you if you can identify that transcript and identify that as your testimony on that day under oath, and at the end you’ll see an errata sheet which I believe also has your signature on it.
A What is this on? On September ’89? Okay.
Then —
Q At the end is an errata sheet. Do you see that?
A Uh-huh.
Q And you see that you — do you recognize your signature on there dated —
A 12 December, ’89. Yes, I do.
Q Obviously — I’ll leave this here because I have a few questions on it. Obviously you testified as a witness in 1989 and were given the opportunity to review that testimony and make corrections. Correct?
A I don’t — Mmm — recall that, Mr. Weinberg, but since I did sign the errata sheet, I’ll say okay.
MR. DANDAR: I would like to have a copy of that, Judge. If they’re going to start using it, pulling things out of context, I would like to be
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able to review it.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, it’s amazing I’m being accused of pulling something out of context.
MR. DANDAR: We all do, we pull something out and say, “Did you say this?”
THE COURT: If you are going to use a deposition and he doesn’t have a copy of it, he ought to have a copy of it.
MR. WEINBERG: Do we have an extra copy of it?
Do we have copies of these?
THE COURT: I tell you what, go ahead and use it and then get him a copy before Mr. Dandar —
Mr. Dandar, please listen if you care, maybe you don’t care. If you care, I’ll have them provide you a copy of the deposition before your redirect.
MR. DANDAR: Thank you.
THE COURT: If anything was pulled out of context, you can correct it.
MR. DANDAR: Okay. Thank you.
MR. WEINBERG: Now, in addition —
THE COURT: You-all provide him a copy.
MR. WEINBERG: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, in addition to your testimony in this proceeding that you had participated in the destruction of
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PC folders, you also, in your August 20, 1999 affidavit, that is the — the affidavit where you made the accusation about David Miscavige, in that affidavit, in Paragraph 22 you swore that you had participated in the destruction of Wollersheim’s PC folder. Correct?
A Correct.
Q Now, if you will turn, Mr. Prince — when I get the right folder here — to Page 153 of your Yanny deposition. You find Page 153?
A Mmm, just about. I have it here.
Q I want you to read Line 5, 6 and 7.
“Question: Were you ever involved in the destruction of PC folders?
“Answer. No.”
Okay. That was your sworn testimony then, correct?
A Yes, it was.
Q And when you go to that errata sheet, does it say anything about you making any mistakes with regard to that sworn answer where you swore under oath in 1989 that you had not been involved in the destruction of PC folders?
A Mr. — you know, I don’t recall this errata sheet, to answer the question that quickly. I don’t even recall the errata sheet.
THE COURT: The real question is that was your
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testimony on that date, is that right?
THE WITNESS: Yes, this was the testimony I had given on that date.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And you previously testified that all your prior sworn testimony was true. Correct?
A Correct.
Q So you lied here in court when you said that you had participated in PC folders being destroyed?
A Well, you know, I have to at least look at a couple pages earlier here to kind of get an idea what was going on here to orient myself to 1989.
Q Look at a couple pages earlier.
THE COURT: Might I just ask, where he was reading, was he testifying for plaintiff, or defendant?
MR. WEINBERG: He was testifying for the Church. For RTC.
A Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q That was certainly — you wouldn’t have had a recollection problem back in 1989, would you, as to what had occurred a year or so or two or three before that, as opposed to 2002, talking about things that supposedly happened?
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A Mmm, Mr. Weinberg, I — I don’t think I would have had a recollection problem, but maybe I would have had a problem with coercion.
Q Let’s see now —
A Or — or manipulation.
Q Excuse me. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.
A Or manipulation. This was a very bad time for me. This was shortly — well, let’s see, this was a couple years after I had been away from any position of authority. I was still being asked to — Mmm — participate in the courts, for whatever reason, God only knows. And I was not in a very good state of mind.
Q Well, I thought you said you were relieved yesterday to leave your post at RTC and that you were in a better state of mind as a result of being relieved and not having to do all those things that you swore yesterday and the day before that you had participated in.
A Certainly in that regard, Mr. Weinberg, I was relieved. But I didn’t have a lot of direction for my life.
I think I was pretty suicidal at that point. And I had written about that, as well.
Q All right. So you started saying these things about destroying PC folders after people started paying you,like Mr. Minton and Mr. Leipold and through Mr. Dandar, that
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is when you started saying these things, not when you weren’t being paid.
A No, Mr. Weinberg, quite the contrary. I — this came out because I decided that it was no longer an operating principle of mine that the greatest good is for Scientology. I kind of — you know, just kind of got away from that.
Q So it’s a principle now the greatest good for Jesse Prince, whoever will put the money in your pocket, that is what you’ll say?
A No, Mr. Weinberg, the greatest good is the truth and justice and equity.
Q All right. So what you’re saying, just so I get this right, you lied back in 1989?
A Yes — yes. According to these documents, I lied on behalf of Scientology.
Q All right. And you lied in — I’ll just refresh your recollection about being asked about this before — do you remember giving a deposition in this case when — when I deposed you?
A I think you and I have been at it a time or two.
Q And do you remember that I asked you the questions on Page — I’ll refer now to Page 465 of your deposition of — of November 17, November 18, 1999.
“Question: Now, when you testified — how many
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times have you testified in your entire career, life?
“Answer: In a courtroom or deposition setting?
“Question: Both.
“Answer: Possibly five.
“Question: All right, and each time you testified, whether in deposition or in court, you were under oath, right?
“Answer: Correct.
“You raised your hand and swore to tell the truth.
“Answer: Correct.
“Question: Nothing but the truth, right?
“Answer: Correct.
“And you testified truthfully on those five occasions.
“Answer: Correct.
“Question: You didn’t perjure yourself.
“Answer: Correct.
“Question: So if you were asked the questions in a deposition that I asked and those were your answers then when you gave those answers, it is your testimony that they were truthful answers, correct?
“Answer: Well, you know, yeah, okay. I’ll say yeah, okay, yeah.”
Then later in the deposition — do you remember being asked those questions and giving those answers?
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A No, I do not, Mr. Weinberg.
Q Do you remember being asked on Page 469 of your deposition two years ago, “You testified in the Yanny case we’ve already talked about, was that deposition and trial or just deposition?
“Answer: I believe it was just deposition. And again, I was never afforded the opportunity — well, no, I’m sorry, I’ll answer the direct question, I won’t tell stories. Yes.”
Do you remember being asked that question and giving that answer?
A No, Mr. Weinberg. But if it’s there, then I believe it.
Q So apparently three years ago when we took your deposition you remembered the Yanny case testimony but today you don’t?
A I — Mr. Weinberg, I think that is a bit of mischaracterization to say I would have remembered the Yanny testimony. You know, this document here is a couple hundred pages long. I — I don’t think any of us are capable of remembering a couple hundred pages of something that happened ten years ago.
Q Is there a particular reason why, in all these accusations you made against Scientology, you didn’t say,
“And they told me to perjure myself in 1989 in the Yanny
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deposition”? Why didn’t you do that?
A Well, the fact of the matter is, Mr. Weinberg, again, like I — I was damaged goods during that time. I had gone through a lot of stress, a lot of — Mmm — decisions to change my life. Mmm, didn’t have certain — you know, a certainty on where I was going with my life. I felt pretty hopeless.
But let’s talk about the perjury here since this is the subject here. What I have testified to before concerning preclear folder destruction is the fact that because these preclear folders of Mr. Wollersheim were being asked to be produced and ultimately the whole folders were turned over, the order to destroy the folders came from Mr. Miscavige with Mr. Rathbun present, myself, Vicki Aznaran. It became my responsibility to report when that fact was done.
I myself was not the person that destroyed the preclear folders or had — or pulped them. Rick Aznaran is the person, along with another current Office of Special Affairs, Charlie Earl, rented a truck, took these folders; Vicki Aznaran — Lawrence Wollersheim, possibly Bill Franks, Gerry Armstrong and others took them to the recycling plant, and when Mr. Aznaran came back, he showed me a liquid bottle with paper on — with the pulp paper on the bottom.
So technically did I know about it? Yes.
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Technically did I do it? No.
Q Oh, I see.
A But I sanctioned it and I went along with it.
Q So perjury — the question was: “Were you ever involved in the destruction of PC folders?
“Answer: No.”
That is not perjury because you have somehow justified in your mind that you really weren’t involved because you didn’t actually pull the switch? Is that what you’re saying?
A No, I’m saying that I’m not the person that actually did it myself, but I knew about it. And reported about it.
Q Is that —
A I didn’t stop it. So, you know, the fact of the matter is I won’t beat around the bush with you, Mr. Weinberg. Right here I was not being truthful.
Q Now, did somebody tell you to perjure yourself?
Is this something that somebody told you to do? Or you just did this on your own?
A No, I was told to do it. Mr. Earle Cooley, who was lead counsel for the Church of Scientology at the time, wanted me to do it. Mr. Rathbun, who was — was again and always responsible for church legal, wanted me to do it.
Mmm, I was being a good Scientologist and protecting
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Scientology.
Q That is amazing. So when this started out you didn’t have any recollection of the Yanny deposition, you don’t remember having even signed the errata sheet, and now you have this clear recollection that — that Mr. Cooley, a lawyer who is on the board of trustees of Boston College — or Boston University, and Mr. Rathbun told you to lie? Is that what you’re saying now?
A Mr. — Mr. Weinberg, I mean, because we are talking about this, because you have presented me with documentation, we’ve discussed it, I think I do have a mind and I can have some recollection about this. And I’m just telling you what happened here.
Mmm, there are other things that I have written specifically about my relationship with Earle Cooley, and because you have all of those E-Mails, I’m sure you have those in evidence, too. That is not the only thing that I thought was unethical that happened with Mr. Cooley, irrespective of where he sits.
Q So the way it works is, if we can catch you at it and if we can show you a video or show you some testimony where you perjured yourself, then it’s an indiscretion, essentially, you sort of caught me. Is that the way it works?
MR. DANDAR: Objection, argumentative.
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THE COURT: Sustained.
A Mmm —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q It was sustained, Mr. Prince.
THE COURT: You don’t have to answer the question.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you said your life was hopeless?
A Correct.
Q When was this deposition, 1989?
A Correct.
Q But having been hopeless, you stayed another three years?
A I stayed another five years after my life was pretty much hopeless. You know, I fell into the hopelessness — you know, right in 1987 when that whole thing happened I was ready to leave Scientology at that point. All I wanted to do was walk away. I had to escape to leave because I was in the RPF, walking through the desert, on and on, and I’m sure you don’t want to hear that story.
Q That story? Is that what you said? Do I want to hear the story?
A Let’s please maintain civility here, Mr. Weinberg.
Q All right, I asked you —
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A I’m trying to explain this to you. I had escaped. I had helped Vicki Aznaran escape. We were being kept in the RPF in a — behind a — Soboba Indian Reservation in the most horrid conditions. All I wanted to do was walk away. I had to threaten to go to the press, threaten to go to the police, the same thing I suspect Lisa had to do when she tried to leave, as well.
And ultimately because the woman that I was married to, who had no idea what I had been involved in, what my position really was in the Church of Scientology, what my participation was, it came down to Mr. Mithoff, Mr. Miscavige specifically talking to my wife and telling her what a horrible person I was and that I’m blowing and I’m psychotic and I’m crazy because I want to leave and this kind of thing.
So then I was faced with even a bigger problem. And my bigger problem was now am I just going to walk out of Scientology and leave this person that I love, that I’m married to, because she hasn’t woke even up, because she doesn’t understand, because I haven’t been with her and let her know what’s going on. And that is kind of a problem in Scientology in and of itself because the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. You are not allowed to talk about your case, you’re not allowed to talk about secret this, secret that. So we had had a breach of
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communication for many years.
But in my mind at that time I was thinking, you know, I’m not going to desert another person in my life, I’m not going to desert this woman for Scientology. I will sit here with her until she sees what I see. And I was actually, therefore, there for another five years.
And these are points I have written about as well.
I felt almost like an animal, I had no mind, no brain, no will, nothing. And this is what happened to me and I went and did this and it was wrong. And yeah, I did that and you have pointed it out and here we are.
Q Now, in 1989 when you perjured yourself —
A Uh-huh?
Q — according to your testimony now, or didn’t, depending upon whether you perjured yourself in this hearing, you weren’t on the RPF, were you, in 1989? You were working in the Golden Era studio, correct?
A I think in 1989 I was on what is considered — what is called the DPF, the Deck Project Force. The reason I say that is because in 1987 when I was removed from my position and I went to the RPF — Mmm — I think I was there for — until December of ’87.
In December of ’87 I got off the RPF, I started trying to practice auditing again. I did that for some time and really didn’t want to do it anymore.
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Toward the end of ’88, I believe, a security guard at Golden Era Productions got kind of rough with my wife.
THE COURT: You know, this really doesn’t matter where he was. You weren’t in RPF.
A No, I was in DPF. I wasn’t in Golden Era Productions, I mean, working in the studios, as you suggested. I was actually on the DPF. And this is the same period I did that watch with Mrs. Brooks, Terese or — or Teresita —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q That was in ’88?
A That was in ’88?
Q Yes. You say things were hopeless for you?
Things were hopeless for you in 1997 and 1998, as well, wasn’t it?
A I wouldn’t say that.
Q You filed for bankruptcy and went bankrupt in November of — filed in what, May of ’97, and it was finalized in November of ’97, correct?
A I believe there are documents to that effect that have the correct dates.
Q But — but you went bankrupt in 1997, correct?
A Mmm —
Q Yes, or no?
A Yes, I did. I believe that is correct.
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Q So you were broke in 1997?
A I filed for bankruptcy in 1997, but I — I wasn’t able to pay my bills adequately in 1997.
Q And except for Mr. Minton coming like an angel from heaven in June of 1998, you didn’t know what you were going to do?
A Utterly and completely false.
Q After Mr. Minton appeared on the scene you then hooked up with Stacy Brooks, you hooked up with Dan Leipold, you hooked up with Ken Dandar, and since that time this is what you have been doing, getting paid to testify, write affidavits and work against Scientology, correct?
A No, that is absolutely incorrect and it is false.
Q Now, let’s go back to the deposition for a moment.
Now, you testified under oath a lot about the GO and OSA and all that. Do you remember that, here in this proceeding? You said you had all this knowledge about the kinds of activities that had gone on. Do you remember that?
A No, I think you are mischaracterizing my earlier testimony. I don’t think that the words Guardian’s Office exited my lips during these proceedings. I have spoke about OSA and I have — I have presented Mr. Hubbard’s eternal words on — on what intelligence is expected to do, what legal is expected to do and some of what public relations is supposed to do. I think that better characterizes —
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Q Well, let me refresh your recollection, if you remember on June 18 saying, “Question, was there any carryover from the Guardian’s Office to OSA?
“Answer: Yes, there was, there was a carryover of some of the staff and some of the policies. Then you went on to say, “Question, was OSA still Department 20 like the Guardian’s Office was?
You said, “Yes, OSA wanted to make sure they didn’t make the same mistakes as the past Guardian Office was. One of the mistakes was putting in writing and detailing some of the operations.”
A Yes, I did.
Q Do you remember that?
A Yes.
Q Now, turn to Page 149, please, of the Yanny deposition.
A Okay.
Q I want you to read Line 5 through Line 16 — Line 5 through Line 13 — 16, I’m sorry.
A To 16?
Q Yes, just read it out loud.
MR. DANDAR: Objection, that is not the way you do it.
THE COURT: That is true.
A I have read it.
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BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I’ll read it. Did you give — were you asked these questions and give these answers?
MR. DANDAR: Objection, that is not the way you —
THE COURT: Yes, it is the way you do it.
Overruled.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q “You ever heard of the GO?
“Answer: Yes.
“Question: What was the GO?
“It was Guardian’s Office.
“Question: And Mary Sue Hubbard was in charge of that for a period of time?
“Answer: I have no knowledge of the Guardian’s Office. I was never associated or affiliated with it in any way.
“Answer (sic): You do know that a number of Guardian’s Office people went to jail?
“Answer: I don’t –”
Then there was objection.
A Okay.
Q Were you asked those questions and give those answers?
A Yes, that is correct.
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Q And that was true or was that perjury, as well, that you had no knowledge of the Guardian’s Office?
A Well, that was true then and it is true now.
Prior to my association with going to Gilman Hot Springs, I had — you know — you know, I had done protests at the behest of the Guardian’s Office where all Scientologists got together, and I think did a demonstration of the courthouse down there at a point in time on — Hebert would — what they do is they have a thing in Scientology called a call to arms —
Q Really, all I asked you, was that true or not and you said it was true that —
A Okay.
Q Using your words, you had no percipient knowledge —
A Well, I don’t want to play —
Q Can I ask my question first?
A I told you that there was — you know, was some association with the Guardian Office, and I tried to clarify that. So you know, I don’t want to get into word games here where you say, well, you said you never did it but suddenly now you have me picketing at the behest of Scientology. I mean, little activities like that, I mean, I popped out of a coffin across the park doing a skit based on something that —
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Q I understand, but you waxed eloquent about the GO and how it’s the same — OSA was the same, and under oath here you said you didn’t know, didn’t have information about the GO. You didn’t know anything about it.
A No, I think you are confused on that issue, Mr. Weinberg.
Q Now, do you remember testifying in this proceeding that — that you were — had responsibility for legal, intelligence and PR activities of OSA? Do you remember that?
A Yes.
Q Particularly intelligence activities of OSA, that was your testimony?
THE COURT: Could you define or tell him — I don’t remember, was it here in this hearing?
MR. WEINBERG: That is what I said. I was just reading from his testimony.
THE COURT: Here?
MR. WEINBERG: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG: Q I’ll read — this is the dirty — when I say dirty, this is the —
THE COURT: Dirty copy, I know.
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BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q The dirty copy, but on my Page 71 of the dirty copy, which is obviously not the actual transcript, what it says is, “As I mentioned –” this is your answer — “we used to do the technology side of Scientology. Then there was a separate area, areas that I also had responsibility for.
And those were legal, intelligence and PR activities of OSA which is a separate network in Scientology.”
That was your testimony, right?
A Yes. Yes.
Q Now, I want you to turn, if you will, Mr. Prince,to Page 77, first, of your Yanny depo. While you are looking for it, you were deputy inspector general of RTC, correct?
A Correct.
Q And it was deputy inspector general external was your actual — DIG external, right?
A Right.
Q Did you — if you go to the bottom of the page, Line 22, were you asked this question and did you give this answer.
“Question: Back when you were the DIG external, did you have any responsibility for intelligence?
“Answer: Not particularly.
“Question: Is there a group or subgroup within
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Scientology organization referred to as Intel?
“Answer: No, not that I know of.
“Question: Has Intel ever been part of your job description?
“Answer: No.
“Have you ever had any responsibility for Intel?
“Answer: No.”
Were you asked those questions and did you give those answers?
A Yes, I did.
Q And was that truthful testimony?
A Yes, it was. And you know, in — inasmuch as it — that it was deceptive testimony because we’ve sat here and we’ve gone over all of these Scientology issues, now that says intelligence action, this, that and other thing, but when the GO was gotten rid of, the section that was called intelligence was no longer called intelligence; it was called the information bureau. And I think if you look at a current organization chart for the Office of Special Affairs, you will find that it says information bureau. It doesn’t say intelligence bureau. But if you look at the materials that the persons are trained on in the information bureau, it is intelligence.
Q It is sort of like your testimony yesterday where I asked you about the picket sign, you know, in front of
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Mr. Minton’s house and you said you didn’t own a sign?
A You know, I don’t know about that, Mr. —
Q Was that truthful but deceptive testimony, or is that sort of like an example of what you’re talking about?
A I don’t know about that analogy, Mr. Weinberg. I think you are confused on that issue and you are mixing apples and oranges. But I pretty much answered your question with this.
Q All right. So this is truthful but — and so what is — by the way, just so — it’s not perjury when you tell the truth but you are deceptive? In your mind, that is okay?
A Well, you know, I’m —
Q Just answer the question.
A I’m not going to draw a legal conclusions. You are the trained lawyer here. I’m the trained Scientologist.
Q You are the trained witness.
A I can tell you about that. I can’t tell you about the lawyering so much. I can’t explain the law to you. You can explain that to me.
Q Explain to me how you are being truthful when you are being deceptive?
A By the mere fact being deceptive, you are not being totally honest. But then again, as I understand the law, you are not obligated to answer but an exact question,
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and the exact question here was about intelligence and — and again, I’ll tell you, when the GO was changed, the word “intelligence” was gotten rid of and the word “information” was put in there; information bureau, information department.
So if they would have said information department, I could have answered these questions a little differently.
But I didn’t say, oh, you know, well, they changed intelligence to information because no person wants a witness walking in just blah-blah-blah, blah-blah-blah. Answer the question you are asked and that is it, okay.
THE COURT: Sort of like you are doing now?
THE WITNESS: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So why did you use the word “intelligence” when you testified for Mr. Dandar? I just read you the testimony. “In those areas that I was responsible for, legal, intelligence and PR activities of OSA,” why did you use the word “intelligence”?
A Because I was able to take the eternal words of L. Ron Hubbard that had that on there and show it. I used it because that is what the issue says.
Q And by the way, that is acceptable to you to give truthful but deceptive testimony? That is acceptable to you as you sit here as a so-called expert in Scientology?
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A It is acceptable to me to answer — answer the question that is asked.
Q So I have got to ask the absolutely right question or you can deceive me and there is no problem here? You can deceive me and the Court? And everybody else that is — that is in this room?
A Mmm, well, you know, you can call it deception or you can call it inadequate lawyering. I mean, I don’t know. What do you want to say about it?
Q Well, have you had any of those answers while you have been on the stand, those truthful but deceptive answers? Can you think of a couple where we just missed the question a little bit?
A You know, Mr. Weinberg, I think I’m making a valiant effort here to keep perspective and keep things in perspective. And I think I have gone overboard in explaining my rationale.
THE COURT: The question is, Mr. Prince, is there any time in this hearing you have not told the absolute whole truth, that is what the oath is, the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth?
THE WITNESS: No, there is not.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you testified, I think — correct me if I’m
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wrong — a number of times that — that Mr. Miscavige was deeply involved in the activities of you and Ms. Aznaran at the RTC and that — and that you and her reported to Mr. Miscavige when you were there. Is that right?
A Mmm, partially right. I — I don’t — don’t remember saying Miscavige was deeply involved with me and Mrs. Aznaran in RTC. I don’t remember —
THE COURT: He did say he reported —
THE WITNESS: Yes, but the other part, I —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Let’s make it clear because that is actually the question I wanted to ask you. You said — you testified under oath you reported to David Miscavige while you were DIG external at RTC?
A I — ultimately, I did report to him, yes.
THE COURT: Frankly, I think he said he reported to Vicki Aznaran.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m just asking him now — we’ll, I’ll read you what he said.
THE COURT: You have to read him what he says because I can’t even remember, myself.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q This is actually the real transcript, Page 342, lines 19 through 25. And this is in response to a question from Mr. Dandar. And you say: “Answer: So you know from
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the –”
THE COURT: Read the question.
MR. WEINBERG: That is what I’m trying to find.
There was a lot of interruptions.
MR. DANDAR: Well, that is surprising!
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Mr. Prince just starts talking. There was — there was dialogue about the Clearwater Police Department.
THE COURT: Well, let me hear what it is you are wanting to read to him, then we’ll see if he can remember this testimony.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Okay.
“Answer: So you know from the limited time that I was there in Religious Technology Center myself, I know that — you know, there wasn’t much about the Flag Service Organization I didn’t know about and also had responsibilities for to make sure the whole thing ran smoothly, and the person that I reported to was certainly the — ultimately was Mr. Miscavige.”
That is what you said?
A Correct. That doesn’t mean to the exclusion of Mrs. Aznaran who was my direct —
Q No, I didn’t — wasn’t suggesting that.
A Okay.
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Q Now, if you’ll go to — by the way, did you also report to Marty Rathbun back then?
A Yes. Yes.
Q If you go to Page 52 of the Yanny deposition, please —
A Was that 52, Mr. Weinberg?
Q Yes, 52.
A Okay.
Q Look at Line 15 through 19.
“Question –” were you asked these questions and gave these answers under oath.
“Question: Back in this ’84, ’86 time period did you ever have an occasion to report to Marty Rathbun?
“Answer: No.
“Question: Did you ever report to David Miscavige?
“Answer: No.”
A Right.
Q Were you asked those questions, did you give those answers?
A Yes, I did.
Q Were those truthful answers?
A No, they were not.
Q So you perjured yourself?
A Correct.
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THE COURT: I honestly don’t want you to use the word “perjury.” Perjury is a term of law.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
THE COURT: Lie would be fine.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, I have had judges tell me not to use lie because it is inflammatory.
THE COURT: If that were in front of a jury, that may be true, but for me in this particular proceeding perjury is a term of law.
MR. WEINBERG: Fine.
THE COURT: If you say is that a lie, that would be fine.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Was that a lie?
A Yes, it was.
Q And did somebody instruct you to lie?
A Yes. Again, Mr. Earle Cooley, Mr. Rathbun.
Again, I’m being a good Scientologist and I’m protecting Scientology.
Q And you’re not being a good anti-Scientologist as you sit on the stand in this proceeding and write affidavits and stuff like that, correct?
A I’m sorry, I didn’t understand the question.
Q Well, is there a code of ethics for people like you that are part of the anti-Scientology movement?
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MR. DANDAR: I’ll object to the phrase “Anti-Scientology movement.” I don’t know if that has been established anywhere.
THE COURT: I think you need to save that for another time.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Is there a code of ethics, did you and members of the A team and those people that were carrying the signs for the Lisa McPherson Trust that we saw that video yesterday, was there some code of ethics as to what you guys were going to do when you were under oath?
A Mr. Weinberg, no one carried a sign for the Lisa McPherson Trust. You know, you make it impossible for me to answer these questions when you draw these conclusions and inferences that simply are just not true.
Q Well —
THE COURT: So the question is, was there a code of ethics that you and Mr. Minton and —
MR. WEINBERG: Ms. Brooks.
THE COURT: — Ms. Brooks developed when you were to testify?
THE WITNESS: No.
THE COURT: In this proceeding?
THE WITNESS: No. The answer to the question,
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your Honor, is no.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you have testified again today about the RPF and I believe that on direct — and I’ll read you your testimony if you don’t remember it, but I believe that you have referred to the RPF as being a concentration camp or something like that, correct?
THE COURT: Prison camp.
A Prison camp.
MR. WEINBERG: Actually, in this transcript it says concentration camp on Page 456.
THE COURT: I heard prison camp for sure.
Prison, concentration camp, I guess they’re all the same.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, actually —
THE COURT: They’re not.
MR. WEINBERG: In my mind a concentration camp brings images of Nazi Germany, and a prison camp, you know, we have them in Florida. But —
MR. DANDAR: Well, Japanese had concentration camps in the United States. We had —
MR. WEINBERG: I’m not even going there.
MR. DANDAR: There must be a difference.
THE COURT: Maybe not to this particular witness. He may not — not make a distinction.
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THE WITNESS: Well, actually, your Honor, I think there is a distinction in that I think the Rehabilitation Project Force is more akin to a concentration camp in that part of the program is to have not — not only to have a mind-altering experience, but to have a total revamping of the way you were before.
THE COURT: Okay. So you refer to it as a concentration camp?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q By the way, did you lose a lot of weight when you were in the RPF?
A Which time?
Q I mean, did you get meals?
A Which time?
Q You said you were in twice, I believe.
A Right. So you mean both times?
THE COURT: Either time.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Either time.
A The first time I lost weight dramatically. I think I got down to 144 pounds because we weren’t allowed to eat regular food, we had to eat fruit and — and protein supplement called Progest. Then we had to run around with
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plastic suits on our body to, quote/unquote, get the impurities out. This is all we were allowed to eat is fruit and Progest.
Q That was in the ’70s?
A That was ’77.
Q So then in ’87 when, you know, everything came down on you and you got —
A I lost weight there, too, yes.
Q Were you running around drinking protein drinks and wearing sweat suits?
A No, not the second time.
Q Now, you testified that you were — let me quote — “forcibly,” quote/unquote, that is what you said here, “removed from the RTC.” That is what you said on the stand.
A Yes.
Q Do you remember that? Now, when you said forcibly, what — what were you referring to?
A Well, I was referring to a couple of things.
Prior to assuming any position as a board member in the Scientology conglomerate, the one thing that you’re asked to do in order to have this position is to sign an undated resignation.
After signing an undated resignation, then you are allowed to be a corporate officer, on the board of directors
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or — or some such like that, you know, having to do with corporate matters.
So I was a — on the board of directors of the Religious Technology Center. I was the treasurer. But when I was graced with that position I also at that time had to sign an undated resignation. Again, I was woken up at I guess 5 o’clock in the morning with 12 people in — security guards wearing uniforms like they’re on a mission, and I was told that I was removed, I was shown my undated resignation so that, you know — and this is a legal process. And apparently this is a problem that they had, but I won’t diverge, but this and this, and I was told, “You stand up, you call me sir.”
Miscavige wanted me to do that, and I didn’t want to do it.
So they grabbed me and they started jumping me.
Q All right. That is the gun thing?
A Right.
Q The gun thing?
A Right. We talked about that yesterday.
THE COURT: Are you also talking about the fact your resignation was filled in, is that what you considered part of forcible removal? Or not?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: So when you mentioned that, that is also part of your forcibly removed because it was
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filled in and, therefore, you were removed?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you understood when Scientology reorganized in the early ’80s and created RTC and CSI and a variety of other corporations, you understood that there was a corporate structure then that was very clear and defined in corporate documents, correct?
A Before —
Q You understood that?
A Before or after — I guess — there was a corporate structure before they created RTC, CSI, all these other corporations?
Q No, I said you understood in the early ’80s, the Church of Scientology reorganized with a new corporate structure —
A Right.
Q — including the RTC, CSI, which was the mother church, and all the churches under them. You understood that, right?
A Yes. Yes.
Q And there was a very detailed corporate structure with — with articles of incorporation and various agreements that set forth clearly the corporate way in which various — Scientology would be run, correct?
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A Correct.
Q And that was the wish and desire of L. Ron Hubbard, who was still alive that that happened, that there be this reorganization of the church?
A You know, I can’t say that that is true. I can’t —
THE COURT: Who would care? The idea there was a corporate reorganization, surely this is going somewhere.
MR. WEINBERG: It is going somewhere.
THE COURT: Get there.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q The RTC was composed of a board of directors.
Correct?
A That was part of it, sure.
Q And there were trustees?
A Correct.
Q In fact, there were trustees in every Scientology corporation, correct?
A Well, I came to learn that in 1987. But you are correct.
Q Well, you learned when you joined RTC that there were trustees, there were three trustees?
A No. No. No.
Q Well, what you learned is that the trustees had
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one function, correct, and that is to — that is to — to name or remove directors. You understood that, didn’t you?
A No, sir.
Q And you were removed in 1987, along with Ms. Aznaran, by the trustees of RTC, one of which was Mr. Miscavige, correct?
A Incorrect. I was removed by one person, only one person’s will, on one person’s authority, and that was Mr. Miscavige.
Q Was he one of the trustees of RTC?
A Yes. And this got explained to me as he was doing this. You know, he — you know, and I guess I was a bit naive, you know, I didn’t know. I wasn’t a corporate person. I’m not trained, you know.
And he explained it to me very well. He said, “Look, I am a trustee. Norman is a trustee.” I think Marty may have been a trustee or Steve Marlowe may have been a trustee. I’m not sure. And he explained to me how it worked.
And he said, “Here is your undated resignation and you have officially resigned and this is how it works and we have the authority to do that.” And at that point I was cognizant of how it worked.
Q Are you saying that for the five years that you were in RTC and for the three or so that you were a board
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member and, you said, the number two person at RTC, you didn’t know that there were trustees that had the ability to — to remove you?
A Correct.
Q But you are an expert on the corporate structure of Scientology?
A I have never said I am an expert on the corporate structure of Scientology, Mr. Weinberg. I said that I am an expert in the — in the policies, bulletins and issues that are Scientology. That is Scientology.
Q If you go to Page 16 of your deposition —
THE COURT: Which deposition?
MR. WEINBERG: I’m sorry, the Yanny deposition.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q The —
A I’m not quite there.
Q Okay.
A Okay. I’m there.
Q Okay, Line 4, question — were you asked these questions and did you give these answers — and you will see there is one date that is wrong, but it is wrong in the transcript, and I think you — it didn’t affect the question.
“Question — Line 4 were you asked this question, “October of ’83 to March of ’87 you were deputy inspector
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general for external affairs.
“Answer: That’s right.
“Question: Was Vicki Aznaran your senior during that entire course of time?
“Answer: Yes.
“Question: Were you out at Gilman Hot Springs?
“Answer: Gilman Hot Springs and Los Angeles.
“Question: What was your next position then in March of ’83.”
That would be obviously March of ’87, I think you understand that by your answer. And did you give this answer.
“Answer: Then I went to the RPF for three months, probably three and a half. Then I was an auditor. I was an auditor at Golden Era, the same place at Gilman Hot Springs, for a while.
“Question: For about three and a half months starting in March of ’83 –” but it is ’87 — “you were in the RPF again?
“Answer: Yes.”
Then I’ll skip to Page 17. Top of the page. Line 3 were you asked this question and gave this answer: “What were the circumstances of your transferring from RTC to Golden Era Productions?
“Answer: Well, when I was in RTC I wanted to go to the RPF because I needed more training. I needed — I
766
just needed more skill than I presently had. And that afforded me an opportunity to do that because I could go five hours a day, so I did that and also got auditing, co-audited and life audited, because I audited practically my whole career in Scientology. So I decided to audit for a while.”
Do you see that?
A Yes, I do.
Q Were you asked those questions, did you give those answers?
A Yes, I did.
Q So that was false testimony?
A This was coached testimony by Mr. Earle Cooley, Mr. Rathbun, for the purpose of deposition with Mr. Yanny.
Q So is that a definite category —
THE COURT: That was also false, correct?
THE WITNESS: Yes, yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: You were coached by who?
THE WITNESS: Mr. Earle Cooley and Mr. Marty Rathbun.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, that deposition — you were asked questions by whom in that deposition?
A You know, I don’t know. I — I don’t know.
THE COURT: Take a look at the front. It
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should say who was representing Mr. Yanny. Did you give him the front page?
MR. WEINBERG: I gave him the whole deposition. If I could approach, I think I could show him.
THE COURT: Okay.
A Cummings & White. Is that who it was?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Barry Van Sickle. Do you remember Barry Van Sickle?
A Not really.
Q But do you remember this was a deposition, now that we refreshed your recollection, the questions were being asked by Mr. Yanny’s lawyer, not by Mr. Cooley, the ones we went over.
A Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: Just one second, your Honor. I need to move some stuff and get some other stuff.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, going to a different subject now, Mr. Prince.
A Are we finished with this?
Q Yes, let me take that back.
THE COURT: Why don’t you go ahead and give that, then, to Mr. Dandar.
MR. WEINBERG: I will.
THE COURT: That will save you all from having to copy it.
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MR. WEINBERG: Is this our only copy? No, we have other copies.
MR. DANDAR: You do have another copy?
MR. WEINBERG: Apparently, somewhere back at the ranch.
THE COURT: But you can go ahead and make yourselves a copy and he can have that one?
MR. WEINBERG: Right. Right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, let’s go back to the LMT now. And I think you said a minute ago that I had some misconception of the LMT and picketing. Did I hear you say that?
A Mmm, that is quite possible, yes.
THE COURT: What he said, Counselor, was that you were suggesting that they were picketing on behalf of LMT, and that wasn’t exactly correct.
THE WITNESS: That is right. That’s right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q But the — part of the purpose — part of what the LMT did in 1999 and 2000 was to picket various buildings of the Church of Scientology?
A You know, Mr. Weinberg, I hear you saying that.
But with every video that you have shown here and you have related to the LMT, there are LMT staff that have never picketed, never wanted to, never would, and would not
769
participate —
THE COURT: Mr. Prince, this is really simple.
Really the question is here, and I don’t think it is that difficult, one of the things that LMT did, those folks who were at LMT, was to picket when they thought it appropriate.
THE WITNESS: Yes, occasionally they would.
THE COURT: Exercising their rights, whatever you want to call it.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: They would at times organize a picket and go picket the Church.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, in January of 2000 you were the consultant, expert, working with Ken Dandar in this case, right?
A Correct.
Q And you were also working in the Wollersheim case, as well, at that time?
A Mmm, more than likely, yes.
Q And you were also vice-president at the LMT?
A Well, we already did LMT. You said I was at the LMT. And I was working with Mr. Dandar. There are two things.
Q I’m focusing on the time, January of —
770
A Okay.
Q — 2000, you were the expert for Mr. Dandar —
A Yes, I was the expert for Mr. Dandar, but I don’t think that I immediately assumed work at the Lisa McPherson Trust. I don’t think that is how it happened.
Q Now, I asked you yesterday about you being the big boss at the LMT?
A Yes.
Q And you said no.
A Correct.
MR. WEINBERG: Could we play that video, please.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q By the way, do you remember a situation where Mr. Minton handed out parrots to various members at the LMT as Christmas gifts so that — indicating — rather, whether you are a big parrot or little parrot, squawking at Scientology, do you remember that happening?
A I think you are referring to a newspaper — a press that Mr. Minton had — had done and that came up —
THE COURT: Did he give you all parrots?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: Little ones.
MR. WEINBERG: All right, could we play this?
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This is from the film library, January 5, 2000.
______________________________________
(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“I have a little presentation, a little sort of Christmas present for the people who are associated with the Lisa McPherson Trust who have made all this possible. Some of you may be aware that back in December a guy named Dave — no, Rick Barry wrote an article in the Tampa Tribune about — I think the headline was ‘Bob Minton, will he rouse the gorilla?’
“Yes. Yes.
“But the real headline is ‘Lisa McPherson Trust, will they rouse the gorilla.’ And in that article, he referred to — in terms of the gorilla, first of all, he was talking about how this gorilla came to Clearwater 25 years ago, 800-pound gorilla, set himself down in the middle of Clearwater, began buying influence, began buying property, and for the last 25 years they have basically made themselves a force in this community by buying people off one at a time.
“And the — the question that Mr. Barry raised in this article was whether, you know, this small band of parrots would be able to, you know, make a
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difference here in terms of changing the way that this — that this organization is perceived in this community and in terms of the way this organization behaves in this community.
“Well, I remember a good friend of mine, Mark DeLarma, who you all know, said, ‘You thought that was a good article? He, like, called you guys parrots.’ I said, ‘I thought it was a great article.’
“So did I.
“Because it really expressed in a very vivid way how the Lisa McPherson Trust was going to change the way this community interacts and perceives Scientology. And how Scientology will have to — if they want to be healthful here, start acting like an organization that is a church if they want to be called a church.
“So I figured that the first thing that the Lisa McPherson Trust had to do is we had to set up a little — Mmm — mascot for this organization. And everybody who is part of it. So for the first — the first group of — of Christmas presents are for those people who will be based here as part of the organization day in and day out.
“And so the first of those goes — goes to —
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this is my little parrot that we want to have, the staff members of the Lisa McPherson Trust, and the most famous staff member of all is — is Stacy Brooks.
“There you go.
“The president and chief operating — executive officer.
“The next one — the next one, the same parrot, you know, the same parrot, goes to Jesse Prince, the boss of the whole thing. Who we all love.
“Thank you, Bobby.
“And the — and the third — the third of the fifth parrots goes to Mark Bunker, the multimedia king of the world.
“Sweet.
“Who is doing everything he can to keep a straight face while this is going on.
“There is one for me. I want to keep that.
“And then when David gets here, this is for David Cecere. And I have another parrot which is not currently in waiting here, but that is for Kim Baker when she arrives.
“So we’ve got plenty of parrots.
“We’re not done.
“We’re not done. You know — you know, I mean,
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so I would like to make a recommendation that we adopt this parrot as the mascot of the Lisa McPherson Trust so that everybody knows that we are going to make a lot of noise, we’re going to be squawking about what Scientology does in terms of harming people and their abusive and deceptive practices, and we’re going to, as little parrots, we’re going to make a lot of noise and drop a lot of stuff that parrots — come out the back end and help these guys learn the way to behave. Okay?
“So —
“Bravo.
“So now — now — now we have little parrots. We have little parrots for all of the big people who have made all this possible. And the first and most important little parrot goes to Patricia because — because what Patricia has done, to help everybody who is down here, get themselves down here and get them settled in and make them feel comfortable in this — in this whole environment, which is not an easy place for — for former Scientologists to come to. You know, they have been willing to stick their neck out and come down here and really make this organization happen. And so Patricia has really made everybody feel comfortable, she’s — she’s sort
775
of like —
“She chased PIs into the bathroom for me.
“Yes, and you — you know — so I — I want Patricia to have a parrot.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.
“Ray Emmons has been teaching us all for — and a lot of people didn’t listen for a long time, how this organization really operates. And he did this in Clearwater. He made himself known nationwide in terms of his opposition to Scientology. And the type of organization that they really are underneath the surface. And so I want Ray to know that he’s a parrot, as well. You have been a parrot for a long time.
“Okay.
“Let me have a kiss here, Patricia, because I didn’t do that. Thank you so much.
“The order of the parrot.
“The order of the parrot. This is like the highest award that the Lisa McPherson Trust can bestow upon somebody.
“Now, you know, Peter Alexander has been squawking about Scientology for a long time, even when he was in it, especially toward the end of the time he was in it, when he was — when he was —
776
when he was being squawked at by Patricia — you know, rather regularly. So — and Peter has allowed Patricia particularly to devote so much time and energy into helping this organization get off the ground.
“And I just want you to know, Peter, that we’re totally thankful for your help and support in this organization, your being on the board. And I really want all of us to know that this is an incredibly tight-knit little group, and got a lot of hard work to do here in Clearwater. But with people like all of us here and you, Peter, thank you so much for doing this. And I want to present you with a little parrot.
“Yes.
“Thank you, sir. Thank you.
“And I want to — I want to —
“The order of the parrots.
“The order of the parrots.
“I want to talk to you about a theme park.
“Yeah. Yeah.
“Now, the next parrot — the next parrot is for Duncan Pierce, you know, our national coordinator. Our national coordinator.
“Oh, my God.
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“Duncan has been abused by Stacy so much in the last few months that he really deserves a big parrot. But because he’s not here on the staff in the office every day, he can’t get a big parrot, you know, it’s just not part —
“The big parrot —
“Look at Peter.
“It’s — you know, the problem is —
“Patricia? Look at Patricia.
“The problem is it is not in the tech. He can’t have a big parrot. But —
“The standard tech.
“Yeah. Yeah. But — but Duncan has done so much to get us off the ground, as well.
“I don’t know what I would do without him.
“It is amazing. The thing is there are so many people that have really pushed so hard to get this thing going. And, you know, there is no recognition for us. You know, we get abused a lot on the Internet. Our demise has already been scripted by, you know, anti-cult and Diane Richardson. Fine, let them squawk all they want. But the real squawking will be done here in Clearwater by a bunch of parrots. And Duncan is one of those parrots. (Inaudible.)
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“Then for the — and the person who lives the furtherest from Clearwater, Grady Ward, who is standing right here, we have another parrot, because Mr. Ward — Mr. Ward is — is our security expert here. And already — and already during the course of this day he has learned a lot about security. (Inaudible.)
“Yeah, don’t tell me about it. But I can tell you some things about Grady personally because — (Inaudible.)
“Because one of the things that really got me involved in this thing was Grady Ward. And Grady’s stand against Scientology, you know, back in 1995 or — early ’96 when he started going after them directly after they sued him, he went after them as his own attorney, you know. You know what they say about guys who are their own attorney.
“It is perfectly true.
“And it is perfectly true. Grady will be the first to tell you he had no expertise, no competence whatsoever. But he — he studied the law. He studied what Scientology was doing. He — he learned so much about it. And has become a really good legal man in terms of fighting Scientology. And I — you know, I — I can’t — I can’t imagine
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somebody having the patience to understand and go through and traveling back and forth from Arcadia, California, eight hours to San Francisco in his car and memorizing the Rules of Civil Procedure. You know, while he’s going back and forth. And I mean memorizing so he knows every paragraph, every subparagraph, whatever. And — (Inaudible.)
“You know, if you talk about a parrot, then this guy is a parrot. And I want to give — I want to give this guy who is a shining example for many people on the Internet in terms of standing up to somebody who is trying to curtail free speech on the Internet, I want Grady to have this parrot as a symbol of our love for him and his contribution to this whole battle.
“Thank you very much. “Thank you, Grady. Thank you.
“And — and now. (Inaudible.)
“And now this other parrot, I forgot to tell you. I told you this was mine. And this parrot is mine because all of you gave me this parrot and I really appreciate it. So —
“Something about Rob and why he gets a parrot,
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because if it weren’t for him, none of us would be here.
“Absolutely.
“None of us.
“For sure.
“There is nothing else to say.
“Bob is the big parrot.
“Definitely.
“Oh, but this is not all. Oh, some of the best stuff is — some of the best is saved for last. Well, what I would like everybody —
“He’s big with presents, you can see that.
“What I would like everybody to do, if you put the parrots around in a little circle here, if you put the parrots around in a little circle there. (Inaudible.)
“Right, don’t anybody forget — don’t anybody forget — don’t anybody forget. But, you know what the parrots are supposed to do, don’t you? We’re going to get the gorilla. And I didn’t want you to think I forgot about that gorilla. So this gorilla is going to sit right there.
“Whew.
“Don’t dump on the gorilla. Come on. But — but that is what this is all about here.
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little parrots and some of us big parrots here, we’re going to be here and we’re going to make sure this gorilla behaves.
“We’re going to educate this gorilla and —
“We’re going to put the — we’re going to put the gorilla in the cage or the jungle, wherever it belongs.
“We’re going to turn this gorilla into a parrot.
“Yeah, this gorilla is going to be cooperating with us.
“In any case, everybody can take their parrot back now. And I’ll keep the gorilla, so when we have it on the desk out there, it will be —
“Yes, a constant reminder.
“Yes, as a constant reminder of what we need to do.”
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Bring back memories, Mr. Prince?
A Very fond memories. I’m so sorry that that place doesn’t exist anymore.
MR. DANDAR: I’ll object because we just went through that long video and with the — the question was — to Mr. Prince, “Mr. Prince, were you called or did you call yourself a big boss at the LMT,” and
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that is not what that video showed. Mr. Minton called Mr. Prince a boss of the whole thing. So — so whatever Mr. Weinberg’s question was was not supported by the video.
THE COURT: Well, it certainly is a video that he could play at some other time so he played it now.
MR. WEINBERG: Right.
THE COURT: But it is true, he was not called a big boss —
MR. WEINBERG: He was called the boss of the whole thing.
THE COURT: But I think Mr. Minton made it clear he was the big boss.
MR. WEINBERG: Right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, I asked you a lot of questions about what the Lisa McPherson Trust was about. That meeting there was initially the start-up meeting of the Lisa McPherson Trust, wasn’t it? It is essentially right at the beginning?
A I think so. You know, I think you are right about that.
Q Right. And Mr. Minton made it very clear what it was about, squawking about Scientology. That is what the
783
Lisa McPherson Trust was about, wasn’t it?
A No, sir. It was about making Scientology behave.
I think that was also part of this video. Just to behave. Be decent.
Q Putting the gorilla in the cage? Was that what it was about?
A Or in the jungle, wherever it belonged.
Q What does that mean, “or in the jungle, wherever it belonged”?
A Well, it means everything has its place, Mr. Weinberg. And there is hardly anything sinister about what we just watched here.
Q “We’re going to make a lot of noise,” that means you are going to disrupt the activities of the Church of Scientology in Clearwater, right?
A No, Mr. Weinberg. That means that we’re going to expose the deceptive and abusive practices of Scientology and help those who have been victimized by it. That is what we were talking about there.
Q And at that time when you got the second parrot for being the boss of the whole thing, you were supposedly the full-time expert for Ken Dandar, correct?
A I was working for Mr. Dandar as his expert. I wouldn’t go as far as to say full-time. I mean, even you brought up the fact I was working on the Wollersheim case,
784
as well, simultaneously.
Q We’ll get to the — we’ll get — I’ll ask you one question. From June of ’99 until May of 2000 you were getting $5,000 a month from Dandar & Dandar?
A I think the record reflects that, Mr. Weinberg.
Q And this was in that period of time, wasn’t it, this parrot thing?
A I believe it was.
Q Now, you saw this meeting and you were at a number of meetings with Mr. Minton, correct, over the years? You have been with him a lot?
A Yes, I have been with him a lot.
Q And in this particular meeting and others that you were in, Mr. Minton was pretty outspoken, outgoing, he would take over, right? He would speak his piece? He was in control?
A No. Mr. Minton is not that way. That is the biggest myth. You know, Mr. Minton has exact things that he likes to do and he does them. I mean, I learned a lot from him myself. You know, I have never had millions upon millions of dollars myself. I have never been able to help people the way he has been able to help people. He has a different agenda, a different track. Unfortunately, in some instances he has a very short attention span.
And he never, in any instance, ever wants to be
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the person that is the leader. I mean, he doesn’t — he doesn’t do that. You know, if you want to do it, great. If what you want to do makes sense, great, he’ll support you.
But he’s not going to tell you how to do it.
Q So this was just an aberration?
A No, this was — it was clear what this was.
Mr. Minton was showing his appreciation to persons like Patricia Greenway, myself, Peter Alexander, Duncan Pierce, for helping organize and make the people feel welcome at the Lisa McPherson Trust and helping us be a social — be a social reform group, if nothing else, in order to ultimately help Scientology.
Q By the way, did he look harassed? Did he look like a man that was under some wave of harassment unknown to mankind?
A Actually, he looked like a man giving a speech to a group of people.
Q It looked like he was — that was in the Lisa McPherson Trust building, correct?
A Correct.
Q It looked like all of you, Ms. Greenway, you, Mr. —
THE COURT: What difference does that make they were having fun at the LMT? When gifts were given out?
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MR. WEINBERG: All right. I’ll go on.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Let me ask you a question about Ray Emmons, the guy that put the parrot on his head.
A I know Ray Emmons well.
Q Now, Mr. Emmons had been a Clearwater police officer and had done an investigation of the Church of Scientology in the ’80s, is that right?
A Yes, I believe that is correct.
Q And Mr. Emmons has been and continues to be the investigator for Ken Dandar in this case, you know that?
A I know that Mr. Dandar has used him to do service of process or locate witnesses and things like that.
Q Now, what was Mr. Emmons’ position at the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A I don’t think he had a position. He may have been on the board of directors, which was huge and basically was a friends list. But as far as an official position or coming into that office on a daily basis to work or accomplish a specific task, that was never anything that he did.
MR. WEINBERG: I have a couple E-Mails — or postings I was going to put in, your Honor.
THE COURT: All right. I want to take a break here in five minutes, so if it will take more than
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that, break now. If not, go ahead and do those and we’ll take a break.
MR. WEINBERG: I think we can do those in five minutes. I mean, it is just identifying them.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: These are actually E-Mails, I’m told. I have trouble telling the difference.
THE COURT: Yes, I don’t know the difference, either. If they’re up there on the screen and people can read it, to me, it’s an E-Mail.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay, your Honor, this is 223. I didn’t write the number on it.
THE COURT: Okay, I’ll do it.
MR. WEINBERG: And this is 224.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I’m going to hand you the originals. We’ll put them back when we’re done.
A Okay.
Q All right. If you’ll look at first, Mr. Prince, 223.
A 223? Which one is 223?
Q That is the —
A Okay, I have it here.
Q That is the Jeff Jacobsen —
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THE COURT: It is the long one.
THE WITNESS: Yes, okay.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m really only referring to —
I — we just received these from the Lisa McPherson Trust. I have attached the whole thing, your Honor, but the only page that — that — this is part of the E-Mails that were produced.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: But really what I’m focusing on is the first page.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Mr. Prince, you can look at it all, but I don’t know if the rest — sometimes it comes off the computer and —
THE COURT: Who is this from?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q If you look at this, Mr. Prince, this is from Jeff Jacobsen to you and Mr. Bunker and Stacy Brooks. Who is Karen Case?
A She used to be a person hired specifically to work as public relations.
Q And this is dated August 2, 2000. Is that right?
A Well, you know, okay.
Q Do you see that?
A Yes. I do.
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Q And this is — do you remember having meetings about things that needed to be done at the Lisa McPherson Trust?
MR. DANDAR: Well, Judge, I have to object.
This is not Mr. Prince’s E-Mail so I don’t know how he can question him about some hearsay document authored by somebody that is not here.
THE COURT: Well, I think he can state whether or not this is accurate or not.
MR. WEINBERG: It is to him.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You received this, right, Mr. Prince?
A I have no memory of this.
MR. DANDAR: Which one are you on?
MR. WEINBERG: He’s copied on the E-Mail, it is addressed to him.
THE WITNESS: I don’t even know what this is.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q It is an E-Mail to you.
A Okay.
Q Among other people. All right?
A Okay.
Q What it says, “This is a list of things we talked about, elaborated on by me.”
Now, Mr. Jacobsen was also part of the Lisa
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McPherson Trust, correct?
A Yes, he was.
Q In fact, in some of those videos yesterday you saw Mr. Jacobsen in it with a camera himself?
A No, I did not see that yesterday, but —
Q Oh. He did take — he took videos from time to time, didn’t I?
A Yes.
Q Do you know why those videos haven’t been turned over, by the way, his, Mr. Jacobsen’s?
A No, I do not. Were they asked for?
THE COURT: Don’t ask him what he knows or doesn’t know about something like that.
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll ask it a different way.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Do you know where the videos that he took are?
A No, I do not.
Q Were they kept at the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A I don’t know what he did with his personal videos.
Q But, anyway, this — this — this E-Mail talks about a list of things we talked about, 1, speeches, radio talk shows. 2, picket. 3, press releases. 4, press conferences. 5, help with investigations by EEOC, DEB. 6, the library open for public use. 7, concert November 11. 8, newsletter. 9, attend city council meetings,
791
participate. 10, put up a sign for the office outside. 11, ads in local newspaper. 12, support group. 13, radiofree Clearwater.”
Now, that is 13 things that the Lisa McPherson Trust, I assume, prioritized to do. Not one says anything about counseling, does it?
A You know, I think you are mischaracterizing this E-Mail to somehow reflect or — or be a staple for the activities of the Lisa McPherson Trust, and what this is is just simply an E-Mail of Jeff writing. I have no recollection of it whatsoever and I don’t even remember what it relates to at this point in time.
I mean, I literally have had thousands of E-Mails, Mr. Weinberg. I’m not trying to be uncooperative, I’m trying to cooperate in the spirit, but what you are asking me has no perspective. You are tying this into the Lisa McPherson Trust and it just doesn’t make sense to me.
Q Well, does it make sense to you one of the priorities of the Lisa McPherson Trust was pickets? Does that make sense to you?
A No, not at all.
THE COURT: This is really — in fairness, this is a statement from somebody about some meeting and, frankly, you don’t have to persuade me that the Lisa McPherson Trust picketed. I don’t know why you just
792
keep badgering that home. I know what he’s going to say, you know what he’s going to say. It is me that is in charge of this hearing, and I’m persuaded, but the point was not picketing, it was counseling, wasn’t on the list.
You know, that is unfair to suggest because somebody writes a letter with things they talked about on a given day of things that needed to be done, you can hardly assume putting a sign outside is a primary — is something that needs to be done.
It doesn’t say this is our purpose. I mean, fair is fair, Counselor. And that is not fair to suggest that those are the purposes of the LMT.
MR. WEINBERG: I move it into evidence, your Honor.
THE COURT: All right. It will be received. It will be received, although it is only being received for the fact that — that we have a bunch of E-mails.
MR. WEINBERG: I understand.
THE COURT: — that I have let in.
MR. WEINBERG: Then 224 quickly is an E-Mail that —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Is this a posting or E-Mail, 224, Mr. Prince?
793
A I have no idea.
Q Well, this is something that you —
A There is no “to”.
THE COURT: It says it is from you.
THE WITNESS: Yes, is this a note to myself? I don’t know what it is.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Do you recognize this as something that you did?
THE COURT: Who is Mark? I know there is a Mark.
THE WITNESS: You know, there are lots of Marks.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I think it is pretty clear, the message at the bottom is a Mark Bunker passage. Then —
A The message at the bottom? Oh, I see what you are saying.
Q Do you see?
A Okay.
Q And my question to you is, your advice was, “With regard to the Lisa McPherson Trust, contact Ken Dandar.”
That is what it says, correct?
A Absolutely not.
Q That is not what it says?
MR. DANDAR: I’ll object. It doesn’t say that,
794
either.
A No.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Are you saying, “In the meantime, I recommend you contact U.S. attorney Kennan G. Dandar,” and give his E-Mail address?
THE COURT: What is the date on that?
MR. WEINBERG: It is November 10, 1999.
THE COURT: Before the trust was formed?
MR. WEINBERG: Right — well, the trust actually had already been formed, remember, it was incorporated and it was in the process of being set up.
A You know, this is a partial thing here from Mark. I can’t tell if somebody wrote in and had a legal question and I’m referring them to Ken Dandar, who is a lawyer that could maybe answer a legal question for them, or whether or not they need assistance or the service the trust has to offer. I can’t tell from this. I can’t draw the inference that somehow this means Ken Dandar is running the Lisa McPherson Trust or anything like that.
MR. WEINBERG: I move it into evidence, your Honor.
MR. DANDAR: I object. It is too partial to make sense.
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THE COURT: I’m going to let it in for whatever value it has, which is little, as to a lot of the other E-Mails, because of the same problem.
MR. WEINBERG: So is this a good time to take a break?
THE COURT: It is a good time to take a break.
We’ll be in recess for 15 minutes. I show it is 25 till. That will be about ten till.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
(WHEREUPON, a recess was taken from 10:35 to 10:55 a.m.)
_______________________________________
THE COURT: Okay. I signed the order and I mailed out the copies. But those of you who are here, I’ll give you yours. Mr. Dandar. Here is Mr. Lirot’s, too. I didn’t realize he wasn’t here.
Mr. Moxon, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Fugate. Always trying to save you all some stamp money.
MR. WEINBERG: Everything counts.
THE COURT: Every little bit counts. That is right.
You may continue.
MR. DANDAR: I returned the envelopes to opposing counsel.
THE COURT: All right. Thank you.
MR. DANDAR: So they can save their stamps.
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BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, you first learned about Bob Minton after watching a television show Dateline in which he appeared and Ms. Brooks appeared in June of ’98?
A That is incorrect.
Q Did you watch a television show before you met Mr. Minton where you learned about him?
A No, I did not.
Q How did you learn about Mr. Minton?
A Through Mrs. Brooks.
Q So she just reached out for you, you didn’t reach out for her?
A Well, Mr. Weinberg, I think I spoke on this before but I’ll speak on it again.
I was on vacation in Connecticut. I had been in the cyber coffee cafe. I had gone on the Internet. Do you remember that testimony, Mr. Weinberg?
THE COURT: It was rather elaborate.
A I left my phone number and she called me.
(Telephone interruption.)
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did you ever see the Dateline —
THE COURT: Don’t be sorry to him. Be sorry to me. It is my word that says no phone.
THE WITNESS: I’m sorry, I apologize for the
797
distraction.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did you ever see the television show The Crusader, I think on NBC Dateline, where Mr. Minton was featured about his crusade against Scientology?
A Mmm, more than likely, many months to possibly a year after he had done that program, I’d seen it. But I didn’t see it when it ran on national television.
Q Well, you learned, shortly after your call from Ms. Brooks, that Mr. Minton was a very wealthy person who was handing out a lot of money to people that would work against Scientology, correct?
A That is categorically false.
Q Ms. Brooks didn’t tell you that Mr. Minton had given her and Vaughn a lot of money, including the purchase of a $250,000 home?
A At one point in time Mrs. Brooks did relay the information that Mr. Minton had given her and her husband some money and she explained the circumstances about that.
Q Did a relative tell you about the Dateline show featuring —
THE COURT: A relative of whom?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q A relative of yours tell you about — in or about this time period before you met Mr. Minton — did a relative
798
tell you about having seen this show where Mr. Minton was featured or some friend or some family member?
A A cousin of mine, when I lived in — I guess I must have been still living in Minneapolis and we were in a phone conversation. And she was telling me about a program where she had seen — she had seen concerning Scientology and there was a man that was helping people or somehow got involved in it. She didn’t remember his name. She just remembered — and, you know, as it is with my family, if they see something about Scientology on TV, they tell me about it when I speak to them.
Q Was that before you communicated with Ms. Brooks?
A I believe it was.
Q So when you learned about Ms. Brooks, you already knew about Mr. Minton?
A As I said, she didn’t know Mr. Minton’s name. All she related was, “I saw a story on TV about Scientology and the different things that they do. And there was a man that was helping people that had been in Scientology before.”
Q And did you research, prior to hearing from Ms. Brooks, did you research to learn who this guy was and what he was doing for people who had been in Scientology?
A No. I had not.
Q Now, when did you learn, after communicating with Ms. Brooks, how wealthy Mr. Minton was?
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A When I spoke to him.
Q And how long after you talked to Ms. Brooks did you talk to Mr. Minton?
A Mmm, maybe a month. Maybe two months.
Q So I was under the impression that on this trip — I guess I’m wrong — this trip to Connecticut, that you went from Connecticut right up to Mr. Minton’s house after talking to Ms. Brooks?
A No, that is incorrect, Mr. Weinberg.
Q So you went home after that?
A Correct.
Q And you stayed in touch —
A Oh, no, no, I’m sorry, you know, because it is so important to make sure the record is correct. From Connecticut, I flew to Ohio and met with Mrs. Brooks and Mr. Haney.
Q And was it at that time that you were given a new car?
A No. No. It was not. And I was never given a new car by anyone.
Q Somebody purchased it? Mr. Minton purchased a new car for you or caused a new car to be purchased for you?
A No. That is incorrect.
Q Well, how did you get the $23,000 Rodeo vehicle?
A I never got a $23,000 Rodeo. I had use of a
800
$23,000 Rodeo but that $23,000 Rodeo belonged to FACTNet, and when I terminated my employment with them, that car stayed with FACTNet. You understand?
Q Now, that was purchased where, the car?
A In —
THE COURT: Where like what dealer? What city?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q What city? What city?
A You know, I don’t remember the name of the city.
Q But it was in Ohio, that area, either Minneapolis or Ohio, correct?
A Correct.
Q And did —
A Well, wait a minute. Let me not do this thing because you accused me of this earlier. It was in Minneapolis specifically. I know the specific answer. I’m not going to play charades here with you. It was in a place near Minneapolis, a city that was near Minneapolis, and I don’t specifically recall the name of the city.
Q And it was purchased new, is that correct?
A Yes.
Q And you and who went to pick it up at the dealer?
A Mmm, a friend of mine — Mmm — took me — drove me to the dealership to pick it up.
Q And did you have a check with you? How was it
801
paid for?
A No. I didn’t have a check.
Q Ms. Brooks took care of paying for the car? Is that what happened?
A No. Ms. Brooks did not — well, you know, I don’t think so. But quite factually, I don’t know who — how that part of it happened.
Q There just happened to be a new car waiting for you at the dealership?
A No. They needed a vehicle for FACTNet. You know, let me — if you have patience with me, I’ll tell you the — what happened there.
They needed a car in Boulder —
Q Boulder, Colorado?
A Boulder, Colorado, which is where FACTNet was located. I was going to FACTNet to assist in that organization. The car was purchased. I moved everything that I had in Minneapolis and moved to Boulder, Colorado. I made that move to at least be safe or — or to be around some people that could offer some protection to me, because after I’d contacted Mr. — Mr. Minton, the private investigators started, the threatening letters to sue me from Scientology started. And I was alone in Minneapolis, and it was like, “Okay, come here, we’ll help you, we’ll protect you, we have lawyers,” whatever.
802
Q You were alone and bankrupt in Minneapolis, right?
A I had filed bankruptcy in 1997. I think the year we’re talking about now is 1998.
Q June of 1998. Bankruptcy in November of 1997, right? Your next real job after bankruptcy was to be paid by FACTNet and Mr. Minton, correct?
A That is completely false.
Q Now —
A You want to know what my next job was or you just want to leave it like that.
Q Tell me what your next job was.
A I was self-employed. I had an art business called The Art Guy. I had a kiosk in the mall in downtown Minneapolis. I was making my own money and I was actually doing pretty good for myself.
Q But something encouraged you, prompted you, to pick up and leave Minneapolis and move to Boulder, Colorado, at which time you became associated with FACTNet and started being a paid witness in various Scientology cases, correct?
A I think you have added a little bit of baggage on that. But what actually occurred is I left Minneapolis with my business intact. I had employees in Wisconsin and employees in Minneapolis, and I left and went to Boulder, Colorado.
Q Driving this car?
803
A Correct.
Q And you drove this car for how long? How many months did you drive this new car that somebody paid for that you picked up new?
A Off and on, maybe about three months.
Q Now, after — but before you moved to Boulder, you went to New Hampshire to visit Mr. Minton?
A Yes.
Q And you and who went to New Hampshire to visit Mr. Minton?
A It was just myself.
Q And he flew you to New Hampshire?
A I — I believe the way the scenario worked is Mrs. Brooks arranged flight — airfare, the flight, for me to fly there, yes.
Q Much like she had arranged the car to be purchased?
A I think we’re mixing apples and oranges here because I think I stated earlier in the testimony I’m not quite sure who did that on behalf of FACTNet. That car was purchased in FACTNet’s name. It was never in Jesse Prince’s name, Bob Minton’s name, Stacy Brooks’s name. It was a corporate car. That is the way it was purchased and that is the way it was left.
Q And the person that was financing FACTNet at the
804
time was Bob Minton?
A Mmm, no.
Q Did Mr. — one last question about the car. Did Mr. Haney provide the funds for the car, Brian Haney?
A Not that I’m aware of. But then again, I don’t know the details of it. I know that — I think Mr. Haney did have some association with FACTNet at the time.
Q And what were you seeing Mr. Haney in Ohio about with Ms. Young?
A I mean, I had never known Mr. Haney. I didn’t know who he was. He just happened to be there. I was there to visit with Stacy.
The visit with Stacy — her and I have been associated — associated and friends through Scientology since 1976. She was one of the very first persons that I met when I joined the Sea Org. And we were just happy to see each other. Her ex-husband, Vaughn Young, and I were very good friends. You know, he was an executive and we were friends, and it was — and from leaving Scientology — because when you leave and you are ostracized, people disconnect from you; you are a suppressive person, degraded being, whatever, you don’t have any friends anymore. But to actually encounter someone from Scientology that you knew before that will talk to you because you are not a Scientology is a rare thing.
805
Q Now, the Youngs left in 1989, correct?
A Yes, I assume that, yes.
Q You left in 1992?
A Yes.
Q But you didn’t communicate with the Youngs until Mr. Minton came on the scene in 1998, after you left Scientology, correct?
A I think that is a mischaracterization of my earlier testimony, Mr. Weinberg. Because I think the way I testified, and again I’ll go through the whole thing —
Q No, just answer that question.
A But I wrote an E-mail from a cybercafe that said, “If you know Vaughn Young or Stacy Brooks, please give them my phone number.” Mr. Minton was not part of the equation.
Q My question was you didn’t have any communication with Vaughn or Stacy Young after you left Scientology in 1992 until this cybercafe thing in 1998?
A Correct.
Q As far as you know, they didn’t reach out for you prior to that time, either, is that correct, as far as you know?
A As far as I know.
Q Now, Stacy Young must have told you, when you were in Ohio with her and Brian Haney, she must have told you about the activities that she and Vaughn, her husband, had
806
been involved in for the past four years concerning cases involving Scientology. She told you about that, didn’t she?
A In our first meeting?
Q When you —
A Oh, when I went to Ohio? Are you talking about the Ohio trip?
Q Yes.
A There may have been a brief mention of that, what she was doing. But for sure the substance and the bulk of our conversation was the fact that we were together, we were alive, we actually made it out somewhat sane people and we were just happy to see each other.
Q Did she tell you she and her husband had been making a living off testifying and being experts in cases against Scientology for the past three or four years?
A No, she did not.
Q Did she tell you you had a good opportunity to — to get in on the gravy train, so to speak? Did she tell you that?
A I take offense to that characterization. But that statement is categorically false.
Q Did she tell you that you had the opportunity to make money by being — by working with lawyers in cases involving Scientology? Did she tell you that?
A No, she did not.
807
Q So you didn’t have any discussion about you getting involved in any of these cases?
A At that point in time in Ohio, no, we did not.
Q There came a point in time where you did talk to Stacy about that?
A Yes.
Q And when was that?
A Mmm, I’m not quite sure. It was maybe some months later or — I’m not quite sure. But I think while we were talking she was telling me about FACTNet. She was telling me about this organization which, in some respects, was similar to the Lisa McPherson Trust which had as its intention of providing information and doing what it can to assist people or persons who felt they had been victimized by Scientology. And —
THE COURT: Was FACTNet just Scientology or was it cults in general?
THE WITNESS: Cults in general, you know, the whole subject. Very broad.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q It was primarily Scientology, though, wasn’t it?
A No. If you go on their website, you know, Scientology has its place, but there are many other cults that they have provided information, ex-members speaking
808
about it, you know.
Q Well, the staff members of FACTNet tended to be people that were more interested in Scientology or had had some involvement with Scientology as opposed to other groups. Correct?
A No. That is actually false. There was one person that was a staff — that was a staff member in FACTNet, I think her name was Justine. She was a Christian woman that had never been in Scientology before.
Q You are telling me so you learned about how you could make some money involving Scientology from Ms. Brooks.
So when did that happen?
A You know, I —
THE COURT: Make some money involving Scientology? That doesn’t make sense.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Who was the first person that told you –suggested to you that you might be — you might be a witness and could be paid as a, quote, expert on Scientology? Who told you that?
A No one told me that, Mr. Weinberg.
Q Who asked you to be involved in the first case that you got involved in?
A Mr. Leipold.
Q He just reached out for you?
809
A He was an associate of Mrs. Brooks. Mrs. Brooks was explaining to me about FACTNet. And the whole subject came about because we were talking about being in touch with people that we had lost contact with, old friends that were in Scientology. So she was introducing me, “Well, you know, another person, you know, people from Los Angeles, hey, do you know this one? He’s out.” And Andre Tabayoyon, I think I spoke with him. We were just talking about the people that we knew in Scientology that were no longer there that were out, you know, getting on with their lives, doing what they do.
Q What were you doing in Ohio with Mr. Haney and Ms. Brooks? I mean, why Ohio? You live in Minneapolis. She lived in Seattle. Why were you in Ohio?
A That is where she was when she called me. And I was in Connecticut and she was in Ohio.
Q Is there something special in Ohio?
A I think that is where Mr. Haney lives. She was in Columbus, Ohio. That is where Mr. Haney lives.
Q You went to New Hampshire. How did you get in touch with Mr. Minton? Did you call him? He call you?
A I think I answered this before. This happened through Mrs. Brooks. I met Mrs. Brooks, and then I had — you know, sometime after that I spoke to Mr. Minton on the phone and maybe a month or two later actually went to visit
810
with him.
Q He flew you to New Hampshire —
THE COURT: He said he didn’t know who paid for the ticket. We can assume it was Mr. Minton, directly or indirectly.
MR. WEINBERG: Right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Somebody arranged for you to fly to New Hampshire, right?
A Stacy Brooks.
Q All right. But she wasn’t at this weekend — was it a weekend?
A Actually a couple weeks.
Q You were at Mr. Minton’s house for a couple weeks?
A Yes.
Q Who else was there other than you and Mr. Minton?
A His family would come occasionally. His wife. His children.
Q And anybody — I mean, other than his family, anybody else?
A No.
Q What did you-all — did you talk about Scientology in those two weeks?
A Yes, we did. We talked about Scientology. We talked about why — why he became involved. What this was
811
all about. He was very interested to know my involvement, my history, compared to other people that he had talked to.
And again, this is all in reference to, hey, you know, these ex-people, these people that used to be in and now they are not in and now they’re getting together and talking to each other and it is okay to do that.
Q And did he give you some money, some expense money at that point, either before the trip or during the visit or after the trip?
A No. No. I don’t think so.
Q Did he pay for your expenses to move from Minneapolis to Denver?
A Yes.
Q And —
MR. DANDAR: I object because we have got to establish a time frame here. It sounds like it all happened on the same day.
THE COURT: That is true. Whatever the time frame is, I don’t think it all happened on the same day.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
A It didn’t.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q It didn’t. I’m not suggesting that. Do you remember how much he gave you to move from Minneapolis to
812
Denver?
A Mmm, $10,000.
Q In a check? Cash? I mean, how did you get the money?
THE COURT: What difference does it make?
MR. WEINBERG: Probably not.
THE COURT: It doesn’t make any difference.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Where did you get the money? I mean, did this happen in New Hampshire? Or did it happen after the trip to New Hampshire that he gave you the $10,000?
A You know, I’m not sure because, you know, I made a couple of trips to New Hampshire. So I’m not really sure how that came about. But I’ll do the best I can to explain it to you, Mr. Weinberg.
I went there once, I stayed there for a couple of weeks, came back to Minneapolis. The threats started. I was starting to get letters from Elliot Abelson, Scientology attorney in Chicago, letting me know I would be sued. I had private investigators starting a noisy investigation in my neighborhood. And I think I alerted Mr. Minton and Mrs. Brooks, I said, “Look, I can’t believe this whole thing is starting all over again.” You know — you are right, I did do the bankruptcy thing. I cut ties with Scientology
813
completely. I was done with it. I didn’t want another thing to do with it. You know, it is kind of like every time you put your hand in the fire, you know you are going to get burned. I was done.
Q You were done but then you decided to get involved in cases against Scientology?
A Then I went to meet these people and my freedom of association was trying to be inhibited from Scientology — by Scientology. They didn’t want me to associate with these people. There were no — no criminal activity occurred, nothing happened. I’m simply talking to people that used to be in Scientology.
Q All I asked you, did you get the money from Mr. Minton during your trips to New Hampshire or after. That is all I asked, and if you don’t remember just —
A In one of the trips.
Q — just tell me you don’t know.
A In one of the trips, Mr. Weinberg, I did get the money from him to move.
Q Now, did Mr. Minton tell you that he would, in essence, take care of you thereafter to support you with regard to your work involving Scientology?
A No, he did not.
Q But in reality, that is what happened for the next four years, didn’t it?
814
A No, it is not.
Q Well, you began to get money from Mr. Minton after this first $10,000, correct? I mean, from that point on for the next four years you received money, directly or indirectly, from Bob Minton on a monthly basis, didn’t you?
A Mr. Weinberg, I received money from FACTNet when I started working for FACTNet, when I moved from Minneapolis to Boulder, Colorado. I started to receive some — and very little from FACTNet. The fact of the matter is that I was able to live and do what I was doing because I had been — I had my own business, I had staff working for me in two states. I was receiving regular moneys from profits that I had made. And this was where the bulk of my money was coming from.
Q So you had all these profits that you had accumulated after the November bankruptcy between November and June of ’98?
A Correct.
Q Okay. Now, you got the $10,000 from Mr. Minton.
And how much money do you remember that you received from FACTNet?
A Maybe a couple of thousand. You know, one month.
A thousand another. You know, it was kind of back and forth.
Q And then you came — then, shortly after this, you
815
came to Florida in the fall of 1998 to begin work with regard to the PC folders in this case. Correct? You flew to Florida?
A Correct.
Q And you spent how many days with Ms. Brooks reviewing the PC folders of Lisa McPherson in the fall of ’98?
A You know, I’m not sure, but it was like many days, maybe even more than a week. And it was something I came back to, as well, and participated in getting the folders copied. So this whole thing with the folders started in December but it went through a period of time, a month’s period of time of going through those folders.
Q So at that point when you first came you were now officially on board as an expert for Mr. Dandar in the Lisa McPherson matter, correct?
A I — I wouldn’t say that. The reason why Mr. Dandar wanted me to go through those folders is because of my expertise in Scientology, my prior technical experience, the many courses and certificates and internships I had finished.
THE COURT: Were you his consultant, as well?
THE WITNESS: Not at that time. I just came down to do the preclear folders. Mr. Dandar and I did not have a relationship because we didn’t know
816
each other. And through time — and he could see my competence in interpreting Scientology policies and bulletins — that I then became a consultant and worked more closely with him on the case.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Well, at the time — when you were reviewing these folders it was in Mr. Dandar’s office?
A Yes.
Q And you had — you met with Mr. Dandar at that period of time?
A Yes.
Q I mean, you introduced yourself to him and all that?
THE COURT: Well, Counsel, come on.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did you bill him for your time?
A No.
Q You just did this for free?
A Yes. And I had done it for free many times. I mean, I have worked for Morrison & Foerster, and Feaster from — out of San Francisco in a legal case. I worked for Mr. Leipold in a legal case. I worked for Mr. Dandar. I mean, by that time I had been working with these different attorney firms or at least they had been calling me to see if I could assist them in these other legal cases.
817
Q Well, who was paying you to be in Tampa, St. Pete, wherever it was, that you were to work with Mr. Dandar and Ms. Brooks with regard to this case in the fall of 1998 and early 1999 when you were going through these PC folders?
A Again I’ll say that my expenses to fly down to Florida, I believe, was paid by Mr. Dandar. The money that I used to exist for that period of time, I think we’re talking about maybe six months, for the most part — for the greater majority of it were residuals from the business I operated in Minneapolis.
Q Well, didn’t Mr. Minton give you checks in early 1999, $5,000, $6,000 a month?
A No.
Q He didn’t do that?
A He may have did it a time or two but it wasn’t consistent. And FACTNet was a very small organization. It sometimes just didn’t have money. And my — you know, and this was kind of like a period of time like where how do you fit in? So, you know, I would occasionally tell Mr. Minton, “Hey, you know, these people don’t have money. I can’t live on air here. Can you help out?”
Q Well, why Mr. Minton? Why not Mr. Dandar who you were doing the work for?
A Because I was working on FACTNet now, you know.
We’re mixing apples and oranges here. FACTNet was a
818
corporation that Mr. Minton was on the board of directors of.
Q Well, I thought — correct me if I’m wrong, I thought I heard you say that starting in the fall of 1998, into 1999, you spent a number of days, weeks, whatever, working on this case, the Lisa McPherson case?
A Well, hold on, hold on, hold on. I never even met Mr. Dandar until 1999. So let’s leave 19 —
Q How can you say that? You just said you were in his office in the fall of 1998 looking at the PC folders?
A Wait — okay. Well, okay, I’m confused with the dates. So —
THE COURT: So what is the right date?
THE WITNESS: I don’t know. I mean, was it 1998?
THE COURT: That is fine. I told you and I’ll tell you again and it is really a wonderful answer, you know, 1997, ’98, ’99, there could be a lot of these dates you simply don’t know, and there is nothing wrong with saying, “I’m not sure what the date was. I don’t know for sure.”
THE WITNESS: Thank you, your Honor.
A Mr. Weinberg, I don’t know. I don’t recall for sure.
819
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, when did you become the expert/consultant in the Lisa McPherson case?
A I believe that I got a letter from Mr. Dandar quite possibly in March of 1999 that memorialized the fact that he wanted to hire me to be his consultant. We had had a working relationship at that point because I helped him a lot and I — and —
THE COURT: You know, I haven’t heard a date yet. When is the question?
A March of ’99. I think that is when we formed an agreement and decided on terms.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q All right. Prior to March of ’99, in the months prior to March of ’99, you had done a lot of work assisting Mr. Dandar with, for example, PC folders, correct?
A Correct.
Q So whether that started in November or December of ’98, it was sometime several months before March of ’99 when you signed on as the expert. Right?
A Yes.
Q And —
A To the best of my recollection.
Q And prior to signing on as the expert, can you tell us how much time you had spent down here helping out
820
Mr. Dandar before you signed on as the expert?
A I’m sorry, I can’t tell you how much time it was.
Q Okay. Now, once you signed on with Mr. Dandar, then was it established that you were on a monthly salary?
A Mmm, I think the letter that memorializes that agreement, I was on a monthly retainer of $5,000 a month and my billable hours which I believe was either $100 or $150 an hour.
Q If you exceeded the $5,000? Or is it in addition to the $5,000?
A The $5,000 retainer, and the hours against that, plus any other hours if I put in more hours or whatever.
Q But you didn’t keep your hours, we established — remember we established that in front of Judge Moody that you didn’t keep your hours. Right?
A Well, no, in the beginning I didn’t. And again, Mr. Weinberg, there was nothing to keep prior to that because I had just literally done the work for free.
Q Well, we have asked for your hours as part of the various discovery, and it came up in the Judge Moody hearing when you testified in front of Judge Moody and your testimony was, I believe, that either you didn’t keep them or you didn’t have them.
A Right. I didn’t have accurate records. I didn’t have any notes to turn over or — no.
821
Q So what you got paid by Mr. Dandar was $5,000 a month because you didn’t keep the time in order to get anything in addition to that. Correct?
A Well, you see, we’re mixing apples and oranges here again now. Because I think, you know, you talk about that time period from 1998 to —
THE COURT: I’m — he’s talking about the time period from March of ’99 when you were placed on a $5,000-a-month retainer, was it $100 or $150 an hour again that — which was it?
THE WITNESS: I’m not sure, I think it may have been $150, actually.
THE COURT: Let’s assume it was $150 an hour.
Basically how that works, if you go over, whatever $150 into $5,000 is, then you get more, but if you get less, you still keep the five.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Was that the deal?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: So you didn’t keep records, apparently?
THE WITNESS: No.
THE COURT: You were paid $5,000 a month?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: For whatever — for however many
822
hours you worked?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q We’ll show you the checks, but that continued up until — your recollection is that continued to a particular point in time, I believe the records will show, May of 2000 when you left Mr. Dandar’s payroll and went on LMT’s payroll. Correct?
A My reference point for that, Mr. Weinberg, is that we had finished the depositions of all of the Scientology persons that needed to be deposed. And Mr. Dandar was going to go on to —
THE COURT: Well, is that correct? Is that the date? I mean, all he wants to know —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q All I want to know —
A I don’t know if that is the right date. I’m saying my reference is this —
Q At some point, and we’ll show you the checks, I’m representing to you I think the last Dandar check is May of ’99 — or May of 2000. At some point in time you quit getting Dandar & Dandar checks and you started getting LMT checks?
A Correct.
Q And LMT continued to pay you at $5,000 a month?
823
A Correct.
Q The same $5,000 — the same amount. And you negotiated that rate with Mr. Minton?
A And Mrs. Brooks.
Q Now, and then the LMT at some point — you testified about either yesterday or the day before — closed down, correct?
A Correct.
Q And whenever that was, your recollection it was sometime in August or September of 2001. Right?
THE COURT: When was the date? When was the date?
MR. WEINBERG: That I don’t know exactly. I mean, it depends on — I mean, I’m really asking Mr. Prince.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I believe that you, Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks said it was sometime in the August/September of 2001 time period, is that correct?
A Mr. Weinberg, my recollection is I think it ceased to exist as a corporation — I think there was something that Stacy wrote. But again as I testified to yesterday, there was that period of time when Judge Beach still had to come into the trust in order to go through all of the offices, the library, looking for discovery, so in effect it
824
was kind of forced to stay open longer after that.
Q Well, we’ll show you the checks. But the records from LMT —
THE COURT: If you have got the checks, wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to show him, then I wouldn’t have to listen to this?
MR. WEINBERG: Right. I will.
THE COURT: What you said yesterday was even after it closed down there was a period of time when you were working and you got paid for that, too, is that right?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Whatever the checks show, the checks show.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And then at some point you quit getting LMT checks, right?
A Correct.
Q And — but Mr. Minton continued to pay you. Right?
A No. That is incorrect. Mrs. Brooks did.
Q You knew that Mrs. Brooks was getting the money from Mr. Minton. Right?
A Well, you know — come on.
Q Come on yeah?
825
A Do I need to assume that for you to make a point?
The answer to the question is I was being paid by Mrs. Brooks. Her name is on the check. It is to me. That is it.
Q All right. And that was at $5,000 a month, as well?
A Correct.
Q And who did you negotiate that deal with?
A Mrs. Brooks.
Q And did you talk to Mr. Minton about it?
A No. I specifically talked to Mrs. Brooks about it because she wanted everyone to take a cut in pay. And, again, this constant figure of $5,000 is something that we had discussed many years earlier.
Q “We” being?
A Mrs. Brooks, Mr. Minton. This is what I need to be able to live.
Q So —
A This is comparable to what I was making before I came and started doing this. I —
Q I’m sorry, before you ever signed on with Mr. Dandar, you had already discussed with Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks that you needed $5,000 a month to live, correct?
A Correct.
Q And is that what you’re getting paid at FACTNet,
826
as well?
A No.
Q Now, when you started getting these checks — they were checks, right, from Ms. Brooks, you were still living in Clearwater. Right? Or — or Florida?
A I’m still living here. Yes.
Q And you’re living in a house that Mr. Minton gave you a $50,000 down payment on. Correct?
A That was part of the down payment that I had to make. My total down payment for that house was $70,000.
Q How much of that $70,000 did Mr. Minton give you?
A $50,000.
Q And when was that? When did he give you the $50,000?
A You know, I guess it was sometime in February.
And, you know —
THE COURT: If you have the check, show it to him.
MR. WEINBERG: I don’t have the check, I don’t think.
A Well, you know, we’ve said —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Well, could you just tell me when you bought your house?
THE COURT: If he doesn’t know, he doesn’t
827
know. If you don’t know, say you don’t know.
A I know when I bought the house. I think the 21st or 22nd of February of 2000.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And at that point in February of 2000, you were getting Dandar & Dandar monthly checks as his consultant.
Right?
A Correct.
Q All right. And how did it come about Mr. Minton gave you $50,000 of the $70,000 that you needed for the downpayment?
A You want to hear this?
Q You asked him for it?
THE COURT: Go on ahead. You asked. He can tell it. Go on and rattle off however long this story is going to take.
A Prior to moving down to Clearwater, we had discussed — had many discussions about, well, where to put the Lisa McPherson Trust. We were kicking around this idea of the LMT, where is it going to go? Should it be in D.C., should it be in Boston, in the Los Angeles area. Bob said Clearwater.
We discussed this, David Cecere, myself, I think Mrs. Brooks, Mr. Minton and there — there quite possibly could have been someone else there — I don’t remember — of
828
where to put this thing.
And Mr. Minton really wanted to put it in Clearwater. He felt that it was important that it happen in Clearwater. Which meant that everyone that was going to work there would be displaced from where they were currently living to move here.
Mr. Minton offered to pay the moving expenses for all concerned and to help all concerned establish residence in Clearwater.
Q So he paid your moving expenses which —
A Correct.
Q — included a $50,000 downpayment?
A No, sir. That is what was discussed in — in New Hampshire, you know, before we moved here. Ultimately, Mr. Minton gave me the $50,000 loan to purchase that house, but I paid for my own moving expenses and I paid — I mean, the whole deal cost about $80,000 for me to relocate.
Because I had a place in Memphis. And by this time I’m kind of living with — in Chicago. By this time I’m kind of living with my fiancee in Memphis, Tennessee, as well. So when I moved down to Clearwater I had to move from two cities; I had to move from Chicago, I had to move from Memphis, Tennessee, to Clearwater.
Q Mr. Minton paid some other things for you. He paid your attorney fees in the criminal case down here,
829
didn’t he?
A I believe the Lisa McPherson Trust paid those.
Q Well, did you — did you discuss with Mr. Minton that you needed funds to pay an attorney when you got charged down here?
A No.
Q So who did you discuss that with so that the Lisa McPherson Trust paid for your attorney fees?
A I wanted to hire a fellow named Rob Love to defend me in that action. Mrs. Brooks insisted that Mr. DeVlaming would handle my case and it would be taken care of by the Lisa McPherson Trust as a job hazard.
Q As a job hazard?
A Yes.
Q Okay. And that was around $60,000 or $70,000?
A The bill that I saw — I think it was about $45,000 that I saw.
Q Do you think it was more than that or you don’t know?
A I think it could have been more.
Q Now, how long — so how would you get these checks from Ms. Brooks after the Lisa McPherson Trust closed down?
A She would mail them to me from Atlanta.
Q The last check you got was on or about April 4 of 2002?
830
A Correct.
Q And did you have a discussion — all these discussions that you had with Ms. Brooks and Mr. Minton that you have testified about this year, in any of those discussions did you discuss with them your need for them to continue paying you?
A Mmm, no, I haven’t had a discussion about that. I mean, we — I think I brought up earlier, in September there was a renegotiation of — Stacy wanted people to take pay cuts or whatever. And —
Q But you didn’t take one?
A Correct.
Q I was talking about April. In that — do you remember you said you had all these conversations, that you referred to them in your affidavit, with Mr. Brooks — with Ms. Brooks and Mr. Minton —
A Oh, okay.
Q In those conversations did you raise the fact that you needed more money, you needed money, you wanted money?
A No.
Q Okay.
A I did not.
Q Now, you said that you began as the paid expert/consultant in the Lisa McPherson case in March of — of 1999. Correct?
831
A Yes.
MR. WEINBERG: Now, let me have the reporter — the clerk —
A To the best of my recollection.
MR. WEINBERG: — mark as a 3-page exhibit, if we can do that, your Honor —
THE COURT: Sure.
MR. WEINBERG: — some checks. This will be 225.
THE COURT: All right. Do I have the right order, the way you handed it to me?
MR. WEINBERG: I think so.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: It is possible, however, that I screwed that up, but —
THE COURT: It is all right.
MR. WEINBERG: But the order should be February, March and May. That is what I’m hoping.
THE COURT: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q This is 225, Mr. Prince.
A Okay.
Q And you recognize the first page of 225 to be a February 2nd of 1999 check from Bob Minton for $6,500 to you?
832
A Yes, I do.
Q Do you recognize the second page to be a March — appears to be March 18, 1999 check to you for $5,000, do you see that?
A Yes, I do.
Q From Mr. Minton again?
A Yes.
Q And the third check to be a May 4, 1999 check for $5,000 from Mr. Minton?
A Correct. Q Now, this was — these checks had to do with the agreement that you had already worked out with Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks about you getting at least $5,000 a month?
A Correct.
Q But you were getting this on top of what you were getting from Mr. Dandar?
A No.
Q Okay. You think you started getting from Mr. Dandar a little bit later?
A Yes.
Q Now, what was this $5,000 a month for? I mean, one was $6,500. Do you know why it was $6,500?
A Do you know, I don’t know. I was looking at that. That is an anomaly. That must have been money left over from another month. Because as I said, there was a
833
stretch — period of time after I met — certainly from 1998 until I guess this first check here that I was just simply not paid at all.
Q But this — you are not getting paid for FACTNet work, you are getting paid for Lisa McPherson work prior to signing on with —
A No.
Q — Ken Dandar?
A No.
Q Well, what is this work? What is this —
A I’m in FACTNet when this is happening.
Q Why was FACTNet paying you?
A Well, I think I mentioned earlier that sometimes FACTNet just didn’t have money and I would call Mr. Minton. I can’t just be down here.
Q Now, when —
THE COURT: Weren’t you making $3,500 a month at FACTNet? Or am I thinking of something else?
THE WITNESS: Your Honor, you may be right about that because we did have — have some agreement, I think I reached some agreement with them to do that. And, you know, at that time I still had my other business. I still had other employees. I would often make trips, you know. So that could have been the case.
834
But the fact of the matter is the organization didn’t have the money.
THE COURT: I’m trying to think of why — I have no idea why it was $6,500 either unless perhaps —
MR. WEINBERG: I think it might have been some expenses or something.
THE COURT: Or perhaps he was getting $3,500 from FACTNet. He was supposed to start getting $5,000 from whatever, and I didn’t get — the difference from $3,500 to $5,000 would be $6,500.
That would be rational but —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q In any event, Mr. Minton knew you had been doing this work in Clearwater for Mr. Dandar with regard to the PC folders? He knew that?
A I assume he did.
Q I mean, you were in — once you had spent that however long you said it was, I forgot now, a couple weeks at his house, you communicated with him regularly after that, didn’t you?
A Up until this very occurrence, yes.
THE COURT: What is “this very occurrence”?
This —
THE WITNESS: That is occurring here.
835
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: Now I’m going to mark as our next exhibit, your Honor —
THE CLERK: 226.
MR. WEINBERG: — 226, this is 226 —
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, 226 is a response that was filed by Mr. Dandar on April 6, 2001. And attached — and the response shows that it has checks attached, but if you’ll look at the summary on Page 2, it identifies a 6/30/99 check, an 8/20/99 check, a 9/15/99 —
A Excuse me, I’m not following you at all.
MR. WEINBERG: If I could approach a second?
THE COURT: You don’t need to read them all into evidence. Just put it into evidence.
MR. WEINBERG: I just wanted him to look at it.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You see those?
A Uh-huh.
Q Attached is those checks. So either look at the attachment or summary there.
Is it your recollection that is the sum and substance of what Dandar & Dandar paid you while you were on the — you know, being working as a consultant/expert?
836
A I believe this is correct with the possible exception of recent activity.
Q Right. No, I’m talking about prior to 2002.
A Okay.
Q And that the first check was on or about June 30, 1999. Do you see that?
A Yes, I do.
Q And the last check was on or about May 24, 2000.
A Yes.
Q And it’s your recollection that after you received the last check, that is when you started getting paid at the same rate by Lisa McPherson Trust?
A Correct.
Q You see for the most part these checks are $5,000 a month?
A Correct. I think I can explain what this other one is for, $1,772.
Q What?
A I mean all of $5,000 with the exception of the $1,772 —
Q Is that some expense check?
A Yes.
Q Okay. Now, the Lisa McPherson Trust actually withheld from your check. Right?
A Yes.
837
Q In other words, you — your salary was $5,000 a month but your take-home was whatever —
A About 35.
Q So I’m going to show you a series of those checks, as well.
A Okay.
Q You were on a 1099 for Mr. Dandar, in other words, he didn’t withhold from your checks, right?
A Correct.
THE COURT: You were considered an independent contractor when you worked for him, is that right?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: All right.
THE CLERK: 227.
MR. WEINBERG: This is 227, your Honor.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q This is 227.
A Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll mark as 228 this document.
And all this is is the payroll records of Mr. Prince which show that the salary was $5,000, it shows what the withholding was.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: That is 228.
838
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: These were produced by the Lisa McPherson Trust.
THE COURT: These weren’t additional moneys.
MR. WEINBERG: No, it just shows what the salary was, 228, and they withheld —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q If you look at the checks, Mr. Prince, they are $3,552, starting in June of — of 2000, do you see that?
A Mmm, yes, I do.
Q And it is June, July, August, September, October, November, December —
THE COURT: Counselor — Counselor, just can you go from the beginning to the end?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q It begins in June — end of June of 2000 and ends — one is out of place — ends —
THE COURT: June ’01.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q June/01, except if you look at the other exhibit, Mr. Prince — if I could just approach, your Honor — the payroll records indicate that you would have received — you would have received a — one last payment on August 1, 2001 of $5,000 salary with all of the withholding. Do you see that?
839
A I’m trying to follow.
Q It is the last page. Right there (indicating).
August 1 —
A Oh, yeah. Okay.
Q All right? So that was probably the close-out payment or something?
A That was the last check. Yeah.
THE COURT: Counselor, from LMT again?
MR. WEINBERG: These are the LMT records, this is what they produced.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So it appears you were paid a salary as an employee from June of 2000 until August of 2001 at $5,000 a month. Correct?
A Correct.
Q And after August 1 of 2001, you continued to get your $5,000 a month but it was from Ms. Brooks?
A Correct.
Q Now, did Ms. Brooks withhold from — I mean —
THE COURT: What could she withhold from? I mean, she was not paying him out of a business; she was giving him money.
MR. WEINBERG: It’s a good question.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did — what were you considered at that point when
840
you were getting this $5,000 a month from Ms. Brooks?
A What was I considered? Stranded in Clearwater.
All of the other staff had moved.
THE COURT: Was this a friend giving — giving you living money until you could get some other job?
THE WITNESS: Absolutely.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Was there some understanding how long that was going on?
A No.
Q Was — had there been discussions it was going to end?
A No.
Q Now, you have a monthly mortgage, obviously, because you haven’t sold this house yet, right?
A Correct.
Q Who paid you in May of 2002?
A It’s not here?
Q May of 2002. The last check from Ms. Brooks you said was April 4, 2002.
A Correct.
Q You said for years you needed $5,000 a month to live.
A Correct.
Q So my question is who paid —
841
your money to live in May of 2002?
A I think from the State of Florida.
Q What do you mean?
A I filed for unemployment.
Q Well, how did you do that?
THE COURT: Because he was unemployed.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q But you’d been unemployed since August of 2001.
A Yeah.
Q Or did you tell them that you had been employed since August of 2001 and just lost your job when you had this argument or disagreement with Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks?
A Mr. Weinberg, it is actually quite a simple process. You go online, you tell them you are employed — unemployed, you put it in there, and they send you a check. You check in. You have to look for employment. I mean, that is what I know about.
Q And who did you say your last employer was?
A Lisa McPherson Trust.
Q And what did you say the circumstances were that you had lost your job?
A Mmm, I — I think — I think maybe the place was bankrupt, went out of business, closed shop. Something like that, you know.
842
Q Is there some application you have to fill out?
A Online, yes.
Q And is there — so it is all online, it is with the State of Florida?
A Yes, it is with the State of Florida online, yes.
Q And so since May of 2002, you have been on unemployment?
A Since late May of — yeah. Late May of 2002.
Yes.
Q So you are still on unemployment?
A No.
Q Well, when did that end?
A Well, when I worked out a new agreement with Mr. Dandar and came to appear as an expert and give testimony here, he gave me a check which I think he said he would send here, and at that point when you receive money — when you are employed and you are actually receiving money, whether it is self-employed or otherwise, that terminates unemployment.
So that check effectively terminated my unemployment.
Q And so you notified the authorities of that?
A Yes. And I haven’t received another check since.
Q How many checks did you get — where do you get it, from the State of Florida, is that where you get the
843
checks?
A Yes.
Q And how many checks did you get for unemployment?
A Mmm, well, they do it — I think I was getting like $293 a week or something like that. Then they would double them up so the checks were like $494, I would get two of those —
THE COURT: Were you getting weekly checks?
THE WITNESS: No, I had it every other week.
So I got $494 — I believe I received —
THE COURT: Do you know?
THE WITNESS: No.
THE COURT: Then why don’t you say that?
THE WITNESS: Sorry. I don’t know.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q When did you get the first money from — when did you sign up with Mr. Dandar to be an expert again? What date?
A I don’t know.
Q Well, that can’t be long ago, so what is your best —
A Well, I don’t know the date. I don’t know.
Q What were the circumstances of you becoming an expert again?
A Mmm, you know, again, this whole thing was over.
844
People were going home. It was over. Your client took Mrs. Brooks and Mr. Minton as trophies and we are sitting here today and this brought me into this position here again today. So, you know, those are kinds of the circumstances.
THE COURT: Are you back as a consultant or expert or combination of the two?
THE WITNESS: I have been a combination of the two with him.
THE COURT: And what time did that start, about? Was it like —
THE WITNESS: Maybe a week ago, two weeks ago or however.
THE COURT: So between May of 2002 up until that time you were collecting unemployment?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And is there some agreement you executed with Mr. Dandar a week or two weeks ago?
A Yeah, that I participate in the case, I would help —
Q No, is there some written agreement?
A Oh, no.
Q And the day that it started is when you got the check. Is that when you became the expert, when you got the check?
845
A You know, I’m not — I’m not sure because —
THE COURT: As opposed to they talked, then they got a check —
MR. WEINBERG: I’m trying to date it. It is not that long ago. I’m trying to date it.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I mean, when it happened, did you — I mean, did this essentially happen simultaneously that somehow it was established that you were going to be the expert again and you negotiated what you needed?
A There was no — I’ll try to explain it as best as I can, Mr. Weinberg.
THE COURT: I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it, I’m not interested. I’m just not interested.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Could I ask the amount then? What is the agreement? Are you getting paid on monthly basis? Salary?
A We have no agreement like that. I just — you know, I will put in X amount of time, I’ll get through this hearing —
THE COURT: Are you going to bill him per hour, or what?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor, I am.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And how much have you received from Mr. Dandar?
846
A $4,000.
Q Is that just a retainer?
A Yes.
THE COURT: Are you keeping records now?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor, I am.
THE COURT: What is your hourly fee?
THE WITNESS: 150.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: I think this would be — I have a few other questions.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did anybody else, between the time that Ms. Brooks quit giving you money and the time that Mr. Dandar did give you money, did anybody else give you whatever you want to call it, expense money, living money, expert money, money?
A No.
THE COURT: Between the time Ms. Brooks —
MR. WEINBERG: — quit giving him the money in April of 2002 of this year and whenever it was Mr. Dandar gave this check.
THE COURT: Other than his unemployment?
MR. WEINBERG: Other than his unemployment.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did anybody else give you money?
A The answer is no.
847
MR. WEINBERG: I think that — you know, I’m sort of at the end of this section. If you want me to start another section I will, or we can —
THE COURT: Yes, I would like to go until about 12:15, if you don’t mind.
MR. WEINBERG: No.
THE COURT: Because we kind of got a late break.
MR. WEINBERG: No, I really don’t mind.
THE COURT: Gee, I thought you were about to say you were done.
MR. DANDAR: I thought so, too.
THE COURT: I was real excited.
MR. WEINBERG: Or I could put it a different way. Maybe I could have some time to collect my thoughts. No, I’m not done.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you have been asked before about —
THE COURT: Could I ask one question? I’m sorry.
MR. WEINBERG: Sure.
THE COURT: What is the number of the response from Mr. Dandar? Can somebody give me a number on that?
848
MR. DANDAR: 226.
THE COURT: Thank you. I forgot to mark it.
MR. WEINBERG: Which means that the — that the LMT —
THE COURT: I have everything else marked. I just didn’t have that marked.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You have been asked before and testified about going to Key West. Do you remember that?
A I don’t remember testifying about that.
Q Well, did you go to Key West?
A Yes. But I don’t remember testifying about it.
MR. DANDAR: It is outside of the scope of direct.
THE COURT: Well, I don’t know what he’s going to ask about it, but it is probably doubtful it is outside of the scope of direct but —
MR. WEINBERG: It is. It is.
THE COURT: Go ahead.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And you were in Key West for what purpose?
A Vacation.
Q For a fishing trip is what you previously testified to.
849
A Yes, okay. And, you know, I don’t want to do this — if I have testimony, could you please just show it to me and ask me about it?
THE COURT: That is a fair question. I mean —
MR. WEINBERG: Well, let me ask a few questions and then I will show it to you because we do have — actually we’ll show you the video.
THE COURT: If he wants to see it, you show it to him now.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, this is it. He can look at it.
THE COURT: Then put it up then.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, I need to ask him one question before.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: One series.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q In Key West, it didn’t have anything to do about Scientology or this case or cases against Scientology, is that right?
A Mmm, you know, we were there for a fishing trip.
I was there with Mr. Haverty, Mr. Haney, Mr. Ford Greene, Mr Dan Leipold, Mr. Dandar; Mr. Garko came out there. We all have a common interest, and it would be crazy for me to say that the subject of our work didn’t come up and was
850
discussed or whatever at some — you know, during the fishing trip.
So the — that is the best way I can answer that question.
THE COURT: So the answer is yes, you all discussed the case?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Well, let me play your testimony and then I’ll ask you about it.
THE COURT: What testimony? This is on direct?
MR. WEINBERG: No, it’s in his deposition under oath in this case on November 17 —
THE COURT: See, you misled — I think Mr. Prince and I both thought you were talking about on direct examination which is what Mr. Dandar said was outside the scope.
MR. WEINBERG: No, in this case about Key West.
THE COURT: But it was in his deposition?
MR. WEINBERG: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. When you say testimony in this case, I’m going to assume you’re talking about direct.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m sorry.
851
THE COURT: So if it is something else, you need to identify it for him and for me.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: What page number is this going to be?
MR. WEINBERG: Right here. This is a transcript of where this comes from.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: May I have a transcript, too?
MR. WEINBERG: Oh, sure.
THE WITNESS: Thank you.
______________________________________
(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did you go to Key West?
A Yes.
Q Who sent you to Key West?
A No one sent. I went.
Q Who paid for the trip?
A I paid for the majority of it while I was there, but it wasn’t — really not much to pay for. I paid to be on a boat to go out fishing. I paid —
Q Who — well, who gave you the money?
A I used my own money.
Q Well, where did that money come from?
852
A Money that I earned from working.
Q For FACTNet and Mr. Dandar and Mr. Leipold?
A I think we’ve covered this earlier. You know, I have a — you know — different businesses, as well as expert, and, you know, the money that I used for that particular trip came from money derived from income from work that I’ve done.
Q Including FACTNet, Mr. Dandar and Mr. Leipold, right?
A I’m not sure why you’re bringing up FACTNet. I thought we —
Q Is that right?
A No, that is wrong.
Q Well, when was the trip to Key West?
A Well, six weeks ago now.
Q And who was on the trip? What people were on the trip?
A Oh, you know, I really don’t want to discuss that because I was on a complete pleasure trip. It had nothing do with McPherson, or Wollersheim. Nothing. It had to do with fishing and having a good time. Okay?
Q Now —
A And I explained to you earlier that I am very reticent to bring up the names of people that I’m involved with that is activity outside of Scientology because of the
853
behavior of your client. How many times do we have to keep going over this?
Q Were you on the trip with Mr. Dandar? Or are you embarrassed about bringing his name up? Were you on the trip with Mr. Dandar?
A No, Mr. Dandar was not —
Q Answer yes or no?
A — on the trip. No.
Q Was Mr. Leipold on the trip?
A Mr. Leipold — Leipold was there, Mr. Weiner (sic). He was there.
Q Was Mr. Minton on the trip?
A No.
Q Ms. Young on the trip?
A No.
Q Vaughn Young on the trip?
A No.
Q Mr. Jacobsen on the trip?
A Who is Mr. Jacobsen?
Q You don’t know Mr. Jacobsen?
A No.
Q That is fine. Mr. Ward on the trip?
A No. No.
Q Did you talk about Lisa McPherson on the trip?
A Very little.
854
Q So Mr. Leipold went from California to Key West to just fish —
A Yes.
Q — with Jesse Prince?
A Yes. We went deep-sea fishing. We went 40 miles off the coast, caught fish like this. Had a ball.
Q And there was no planning session with regard to litigation. Is that correct?
A No.
Q Was Mr. Haney on the trip?
A Yes. And his son. And he learned to fish.
Excuse me. Now that we don’t have a question pending I would like to take a break. My leg is going to sleep.
Q We just broke ten minutes ago?
A Well, okay, I’m sorry, my leg is going to sleep.
I’ll take a two-minute break. Is that okay, Mr. Weiner (sic)?
Q Okay, take a break.
____________________________________
Q Now, I asked you if Mr. Dandar was in Key West with you. And you said no. You said no repeatedly. Is that correct?
A I don’t — if I did say no, I’m very sorry. He was not part of the trip. He came and appeared one day,
855
said, “Hi,” we had dinner and he left.
Q When you were outside did they — did they — Ms. Young remind you that you had made yet another mistake under oath? Did they tell you that?
A How could Ms. Young said — say that when I gave you testimony that she wasn’t there?
Q Well, who told you that then? Who told you — who corrected your — your false testimony that Mr. Dandar wasn’t there?
A I never gave false testimony. You asked me if Dandar was part of the trip that I went fishing. I said no.
Q And you were absolutely insistent that Mr. Dandar wasn’t there and yet he was in Key West?
A And came and had dinner and left. One time.
Q Flew down to Key West to have dinner and left.
MR. DANDAR: Objection, asked and answered and don’t answer it again.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did he stay in a hotel down there?
A I don’t know.
Q What do you mean, you don’t know?
A That means that I don’t have personal knowledge of it.
Q And you understand what personal knowledge is,
856
right?
A Oh, come on, please.
Q No, do you understand it, personal knowledge?
A I do not know if he was staying in a hotel there.
I was in a different place. I don’t know where he was.
Q How many — how long did you spend with him in Key West on that trip this summer?
A A dinner. Maybe 15, 20 minutes. Outside of dinner —
Q Dinner is usually at night, right?
A Correct.
Q Did you see him the next morning?
A No.
Q Now, was Mike Garko down there?
A Yes, he was. Dr. Garko was there.
Q Was Thom Haverty down there?
A Yes. He was.
Q So that is like the whole consulting team for the McPherson case?
A Mr. Garko was with Mr. Dandar.
Q So he just flew in for dinner?
A Came in and left.
Q Didn’t have anything to do with the Lisa McPherson case?
A No.
857
Q Who paid for your trip?
A As I gave testimony to earlier, I paid my own expenses to — Mmm — take the boat out. I went out on a boat several times. I paid about 50, 60 bucks a time. I bought beer, wine, food, cigarettes.
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________
THE COURT: Counselor, is it — is it important that —
MR. WEINBERG: We are demonstrating —
THE COURT: Right now we have testimony coming out, I paid for my trip.
MR. WEINBERG: We are playing it in context.
THE COURT: No, it is not. I see about a jillion pages. You are on Page 259 and I see it going straight through to Page 267. That is a lot of pages. And I see that you’re — there is a lot of consistent testimony here.
MR. WEINBERG: But, your Honor, when we play this, I think you’ll see that there is a lot of inconsistent statements.
THE COURT: Yes, you already played it. I’m saying why do I have to listen to the consistent testimony from a deposition, it is improper.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, because — because —
858
there has been a lot of argument, accusations in here about taking things out of context so we left it in context is what we did.
THE COURT: All right.
If you have any more like this, you — you cut and paste. You can give it all to me, go to where you want to go, but I don’t want to hear it —
MR. WEINBERG: I understand.
THE COURT: I have better things to do than listen to this man’s testimony two times when it is exactly the same both times. Now, there is differences and I’m interested in hearing the differences.
MR. WEINBERG: And it is different from the other sworn testimony before —
THE COURT: And I’m interested in hearing that.
I’m not interested in hearing that which is not inconsistent. Do I make myself clear?
MR. WEINBERG: Yes.
THE COURT: It is improper. All right.
MR. WEINBERG: We could play it on rebuttal case, and we thought it would be appropriate to play it here with Mr. Prince on the stand and get his explanation for the inconsistencies between this and —
859
THE COURT: I have no problem with your playing inconsistencies.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE COURT: That is called impeachment. I do have a problem with having to listen to Mr. Prince’s testimony on the stand and then listen to identical testimony in a deposition. Cut and paste it. You can give me the whole deposition, so if I want to read it in between, I can.
MR. WEINBERG: I apologize. Just play the rest — no, are we done?
That is fine.
THE COURT: I mean, there is more here and there may be more inconsistencies and I want you to play that —
MR. WEINBERG: I understand, and we don’t have it set up and I’ll go back and look at it at the break.
THE COURT: Let me look and I can see what you have underlined and that is probably the important part. I see I have two pages here not underlined.
MR. WEINBERG: The only stuff being played is the underlined stuff.
THE COURT: That is not true, Counsel, it is not true.
860
MR. DANDAR: And I don’t have anything underlined.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, then — then I should have followed the transcript.
THE COURT: Page 259, this is about the time I interrupted you, “Who paid for your trip down there?
“As I gave testimony to you earlier, I paid my own expenses. I went out on a boat several times –”
MR. WEINBERG: Wait a minute. I thought — point made. I really thought when I was — that I had this — only the stuff that was yellowed.
THE COURT: No.
MR. WEINBERG: That is why it was yellowed.
THE COURT: If there is something else in here you want to impeach, that is perfectly fine, you can catch it during lunch.
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll catch it during lunch. I think I pretty much made my point.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, in Mr. Dandar’s testimony in this proceeding on May 3, 2002 —
A Not this?
Q No, it is not this.
A Okay.
861
Q On Page 90 — this is in his direct testimony when it first started at the beginning — I could hand this up.
THE COURT: If you are going to try to impeach this witness from Mr. Dandar’s testimony —
MR. WEINBERG: No, I’m going to ask him a question about it.
THE COURT: You don’t need to show him Mr. Dandar’s testimony or ask him about it. You can’t do it. If their testimony differs, it differs. You can bring it up, inconsistencies in their testimony, but you can’t show him Mr. Dandar’s testimony and say, “Is that true?”
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I take it that you did not spend hours and hours talking about Scientology strategy, the Lisa McPherson case and the other Scientology cases with Mr. Dandar or anyone else at the Key West meeting. Is that correct?
A That is correct. My recollection, I didn’t spend hours speaking to anyone about this. I mean, you know, there were a point in time when the attorneys were meeting, you know. And again, I don’t profess to be an attorney, I don’t try to be an attorney. I was there on a fishing trip, you know. Mr. Leipold has certain experience in dealing with Scientology. Mr. Ford Greene has certain experience with dealing with Scientology because of the cases he has
862
done. They had discussed with Mr. Dandar about that. This had nothing to do with me.
Q Well, you said Mr. Dandar in your testimony was only there for dinner one night for a few hours with Dr. Garko and flew back and there was no discussion about — about the case. That is what you said?
A You know —
Q Under oath. Correct?
A This is getting ridiculous, Mr. Weinberg. I mean, he flew in for dinner. He flew in. He brought in Mr. Garko. He had his own personal pilot. They were flying a little personal plane. They came, you know, while it was still light outside, you know, “Hi.” Thom Haverty’s wife is there and Captain Wayne’s wife is there, the boat. This is a social setting.
Q All right, so —
A There is nothing sinister about it.
Q So Mr. Dandar was not there for two or three or four days with Dr. Garko, was he?
A Not to my recollection. No.
Q Did you fly back to Tampa with Mr. Dandar?
A No, I did not.
Q And did you talk, on the trip in Key West — which you remember it was in August of 1999?
A I’ll take your word for it.
863
Q And do you remember that on August 20th of 1999 is when you wrote that David Miscavige affidavit that was used about him ordering the death of — letting — ordering or allowing her or causing her to die? Do you remember that?
A You got me all screwed up on the dates now. Could you just tell me again?
Q The testimony in this case is that the Key West trip was around August 8, 9, 10, 11 of 1999. Or 12th of 1999.
A Whose testimony is that now?
Q Mr. Dandar’s testimony, Dr. Garko’s testimony, Mr. Haney’s testimony. That is the testimony.
A Okay.
Q All right? You executed an affidavit — the affidavit in this case, part of what this hearing is about, on August 20 of 1998?
THE COURT: We are talking about that is the date he signed it?
MR. WEINBERG: Yes, that is the date he signed it.
THE COURT: You are not going to suggest to this witness that whole affidavit was written on the date it was —
MR. WEINBERG: I wasn’t going to ask that.
864
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Just ten or fifteen days later you executed this affidavit, right?
A Correct.
Q Now, did you participate in any conversations in Key West with anyone, whether it is Ford Greene, lawyer on Scientology cases, or Dandar Leipold, or Ken Dandar, or Dr. Garko or Thom Haverty, part of the — part of the Lisa McPherson team, did you have conversations with anybody down there about any of the assertions in this what became the August 20th affidavit?
A Not that I recall.
Q Did you have any discussions down there with anyone about adding David Miscavige as a strategy to the Lisa McPherson case?
A Not that I recall.
Q As far as you know, was anybody down there talking about the strategy of adding David Miscavige to the Lisa McPherson case?
A Not that I know of.
Q And was it —
A Or not that I recall or have memory of.
Q But you did leave Key West and go directly to Tampa, correct, after that trip that you call a fishing trip?
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A I believe that — that that is correct.
Q And as soon as you got to Tampa, you started work — you must have started working on this affidavit. Right?
A I think that affidavit was a work in progress by the time I got to Tampa already. If you notice — I mean, that thing is pretty detailed. I have references. I have studied. You know, it takes me time to do these affidavits.
I just don’t sit and imagine it. I have my calendar, I have my notes or whatever and I sit and I do these things.
Q But the first check you got from Mr. Dandar was June 30, 1999. Correct?
A If that is what you just showed me, I’ll take your word for it. Okay.
Q So as you look back, as you think back, do you recall whether you were working on this affidavit before you went to Key West?
A I’m pretty sure that was a work in progress.
Q So you had already had discussions with people about adding Mr. Miscavige to the case?
A I don’t know. I don’t recall it so I’m going to say I don’t know.
THE COURT: The only thing I’m going to allow you to inquire about — remember we had this little business about the work product — is the meeting
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which is at issue in this case, the meeting, whether Minton was there and whether Minton influenced that. Whether this man, as a consultant, paid or otherwise, had a conversation about adding David Miscavige is what I would have expected him to add. Nothing sinister about that.
MR. WEINBERG: Nothing said it was sinister, except Mr. Dandar already asked Dr. Garko about meetings, Mr. Haney about meetings, Ms. Brooks about meetings, so —
THE COURT: Meetings? What meetings? The only person that I know of that was asked about the Key West meetings was you-all. Maybe he brought it up —
MR. WEINBERG: He brought it up on May 3rd.
You didn’t let me cross-examine him. Mr. Dandar is the one that brought up the Key West meeting, said that is where he —
THE COURT: Well, do you think I think all those people sat down there and didn’t talk about this case?
MR. WEINBERG: No, I don’t.
THE COURT: I don’t care what they said.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m just —
THE COURT: I mean, you know —
867
MR. WEINBERG: I —
THE COURT: You are acting as if you have a jury here that — I’m a judge that has been involved in this case very deeply, and as I tried to suggest to you on several occasions, I’m not an idiot.
MR. WEINBERG: I know that.
THE COURT: I know what lawyers do.
MR. WEINBERG: I understand that.
THE COURT: And I know if you get this many lawyers together, all of whom have Scientology cases, you put them on fishing trip or movie theater or whatever, the subject comes up and they talk about it.
MR. WEINBERG: And you couldn’t have said it better, and I’m making a record which I’m done with on this thing —
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: — indicating that this witness, that is what this — you know, this Paragraph 34 in the complaint is all about, his sworn affidavit, has told lies. You know, I’m using that —
THE COURT: I already told you and I told your team, save it for the jury. I don’t care if he told a bunch of lies or not. The law in Florida is if he qualifies as an expert, he can testify.
868
MR. WEINBERG: No, I understand your ruling. I’m —
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: This is for credibility purposes.
THE COURT: I understand.
MR. WEINBERG: All right. But I’m pretty much done with this area.
THE COURT: All right. Then let’s have lunch.
MR. WEINBERG: Good.
THE COURT: And as I said, you just have to forget — I hope you all don’t forget that I was a lawyer for a long time.
MR. WEINBERG: Judge, believe me —
THE COURT: Please.
MR. WEINBERG: — I am well aware of that.
THE COURT: Frankly, my findings will go to the court this time with a presumption of correctness.
This is not a de novo hearing —
MR. WEINBERG: No, I understand that.
THE COURT: — by the Second District.
MR. WEINBERG: No, but it has also been a long proceeding.
THE COURT: Well, I understand, but it seems to me as if part of what you want to do is have
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Mr. Prince up here just forever. I made statements before about Mr. Prince. I’m aware of Mr. Prince’s bias. I mean, Mr. Minton, according to Mr. Prince, shows where I said this before, this is not new.
MR. WEINBERG: I understand, but I just started yesterday — I mean, yesterday late —
THE COURT: I understand. But you are spending an awful lot of time about pickets which I knew what they would say, with pickets that I knew would not be pretty, all as if you are trying to show me what I already know. You are wasting time here.
MR. WEINBERG: But —
THE COURT: We’ll be in recess until 1:30.
(WHEREUPON, a recess was taken from 12:00 to 1:35 p.m.)
______________________________________870
REPORTER’S CERTIFICATE
STATE OF FLORIDA )
COUNTY OF PINELLAS )I, LYNNE J. IDE, Registered Merit Reporter, certify that I was authorized to and did stenographically report the proceedings herein, and that the transcript is a true and complete record of my stenographic notes.
I further certify that I am not a relative, employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties, nor am I a relative or employee of any of the parties’ attorney or counsel connected with the action, nor am I financially interested in the action.
DATED this 10th day of July, 2002.
______________________________
LYNNE J. IDE, RMR
Testimony of Jesse Prince (Volume 5) (July 9, 2002)
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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO. 00-5682-CI-11DELL LIEBREICH, as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF LISA McPHERSON,
Plaintiff,vs.
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FLAG SERVICE ORGANIZATION, JANIS JOHNSON, ALAIN KARTUZINSKI and DAVID HOUGHTON, D.D.S.,
Defendants._______________________________________/
PROCEEDINGS: Defendants’ Omnibus Motion for Terminating Sanctions and Other Relief.
CONTENTS: Testimony of Jesse Prince.1
VOLUME 5
DATE: July 9, 2002. Afternoon Session.
PLACE: Courtroom B, Judicial Building
St. Petersburg, Florida.BEFORE: Honorable Susan F. Schaeffer, Circuit Judge.
REPORTED BY: Lynne J. Ide, RMR.
Deputy Official Court Reporter,
Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida.583
APPEARANCES:
MR. KENNAN G. DANDAR
DANDAR & DANDAR
340 West Kennedy Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33602
Attorney for Plaintiff.MR. LUKE CHARLES LIROT
LUKE CHARLES LIROT, PA
112 N East Street, Street, Suite B
Tampa, FL 33602-4108
Attorney for PlaintiffMR. KENDRICK MOXON
MOXON & KOBRIN
100 Cleveland Street, Suite 900
Clearwater, FL 33755
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. LEE FUGATE
MR. MORRIS WEINBERG, JR.
ZUCKERMAN, SPAEDER
101 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 1200
Tampa, FL 33602-5147
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. ERIC M. LIEBERMAN
RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD
740 Broadway at Astor Place
New York, NY 10003-9518
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.584
MR. STEPHEN J. WEIN
Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein, P.A.
980 Tyrone Boulevard
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Counsel for Robert Minton.585
THE COURT: You may be seated. Okay, before we begin, two questions. Have you decided when you want the trial date, Mr. Dandar?
MR. DANDAR: September.
THE COURT: All right. Have you decided whether or not you need Mr. Rosen?
MR. DANDAR: No, I don’t need Mr. Rosen.
THE COURT: All right. Then I’m going to assume that — I will go ahead and enter an order pro hac vice admitting Mr. Rosen, just in case.
He’ll be admitted, just for this purpose. And I’ll let you have —
MR. FUGATE: Should I prepare an order, Judge?
THE COURT: Do you mind?
MR. FUGATE: No.
THE COURT: Tell him to prepare an order, whatever.
MR. FUGATE: I’ll do it.
MR. DANDAR: So, Judge, since we will start picking a jury for the trial in September, what specific date would that be?
THE COURT: The second week in September. Whatever that Monday is.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: You may proceed.
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MR. DANDAR: Thank you.
THE COURT: That, of course, assumes the motion to dismiss is not granted.
MR. DANDAR: I understand.
THE COURT: Mr. Lirot, are you still of the mind that if Mr. Dandar is removed as counsel, you are prepared on that date?
MR. LIROT: Hope springs eternal, Judge. But yes, Judge, I’ll be prepared on that date if need be.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, what I was trying to do before the lunch break was finish up on the meetings that you had with Mr. Minton and Stacy Brooks.
A Okay.
Q I believe we left off with your meeting with them when things got a little testy at the hotel for dinner.
A At the Radisson.
Q At the Radisson. In my — your note attached to your affidavit, you said you met with me before you met with them that Sunday. So that was April 14th.
A Okay.
Q All right? So let’s go from then on. What happened after April 14th?
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A Mmm —
THE COURT: I’m sorry, he met with you before he met with them?
MR. DANDAR: That same day. That is where this handwritten note —
THE COURT: Right. For some reason, I thought it was after. But it was before?
MR. DANDAR: On this particular day he met with me at the mall with Mr. Lirot. And that was April 14th.
THE COURT: In the afternoon? Then he went there in the evening?
MR. DANDAR: Then he went there.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What happened after April 14th?
A Mmm, well, contact again — and I think I mentioned I had the one phone conversation with Mr. Minton where I invited him over to my house.
But they — they talked to me — or got messages to me via my fiancee. They would talk to her.
And if anything happened — we wouldn’t talk, we were not talking.
Q And what messages did you receive from Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks that way?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. Hearsay, your Honor.
THE COURT: Hearsay. That would have to be
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hearsay. I mean, that would have nothing to do with Mr. Minton’s state of mind or anything in this proceeding, so you would have to, at the very least, bring in the other person.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So you never talked with Mr. Minton or Ms. Brooks since then directly, one-on-one?
A I talked with Mrs. Brooks. Mmm, she just told me that everything was going to be fine, regardless of whether or not I agreed to go with them or participate in activities with them with Scientology. She just told me things were
going to be okay.Q When did Ms. Brooks stop paying you your monthly income?
A Either March or April.
Q And you said before that you went to Denis deVlaming’s office and spoke with him, and he couldn’t help you because of the conflict of interest. Did you go to any law enforcement?
A Well, it’s not entirely true to say that Mr. DeVlaming couldn’t help me.
What Mr. DeVlaming did do is refer me to his brother because, again, I wanted to somehow get a federal law enforcement involved in this, since my perception was that the criminal activity — conspiracy and criminal activity happened at least in New
589
York, New Hampshire and Clearwater.
Mmm, he said that he would talk with a federal agent that he did know and get back with me. He — I guess maybe a day or so later, he had a conversation with the federal agent, Mr. Douglas DeVlaming.
And he told me, after speaking with an agent, they thought that it would make a difficult case because Mr. Minton was now on the stand lying, telling lies. If he changed his mind —
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. Hearsay, your Honor.
THE COURT: Sustained.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did you ever meet personally with law enforcement?
A Yes, I did.
Q All right. Who did you meet with?
A I met with FDLE Agent Lee Strope.
Q Did you talk about Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks?
A I pretty much gave Mr. Strope a complete rundown of the meetings, with the dates similar to how I laid it out there in the affidavit. And after —
THE COURT: Mr. Strope is with what agency?
THE WITNESS: FDLE.
THE COURT: FDLE?
A And after speaking with him, he asked me to give Bob Minton a message. And the message was that if it is determined that you have perjured yourself on the stand,
590
that he would see to it that charges would be brought.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q This is Mr. Strope telling you to talk to Mr. Minton?
A This is a message Mr. Strope asked me to give Mr. Minton specifically.
Q Did you give him that message?
A Mmm, I wrote — I hand-wrote what he said. I gave it to my fiancee and she read it to Mr. Minton over the phone.
Q Okay.
THE COURT: Mr. Prince, is it your testimony here today under oath an agent of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement asked you to deliver a message to someone?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Any other meetings with law enforcement?
A Not about this specific incident.
Q Okay. Now, what was your impression, after meeting with Ms. Brooks and Mr. Minton, on the meetings you have just mentioned, all of these meetings —
MR. WEINBERG: Objection to the form. What was his impression?
THE COURT: Yes. What does that mean?
591
MR. DANDAR: I didn’t finish my sentence.
THE COURT: Go ahead.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What was your impression as to who was the person who was creating the scenario that I told Mr. Minton to lie?
A Mr. Rinder.
Q And what is the basis of that? What is the basis of your impression it is Mr. Rinder?
A Because that is what they said.
Q Who said?
A Bob and Stacy.
Q All right.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, could we just — I mean, is that — your Honor, so his testimony is that at some point Bob Minton and Stacy Brooks said that Mike Rinder said for Mr. Minton to lie?
THE COURT: Yes. That is his testimony.
MR. WEINBERG: Could we date that testimony, please?
THE COURT: Mr. Prince, is that your testimony?
THE WITNESS: Yes, it is.
THE COURT: If you could look at your affidavit and tell us which one of these conversations that that conversation took place.
THE WITNESS: Okay. Let me see if I see it
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here. I don’t seem to have my affidavit up here.
THE COURT: You don’t? I think I have it right here, if it will help.
MR. DANDAR: Well, I have the affidavit right here. I’m sorry. I was looking at it instead of listening to the Court.
THE WITNESS: This would have had to have happened sometime after the date that I mentioned on Page 5, Line 16, Paragraph Number 11 of the 3rd of April or 2nd of April, sometime after that time period.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q After this — after the 2nd or 3rd of April?
A Correct.
Q All right. Did Mr. Minton or Ms. Brooks tell you this on more than one occasion?
A Well, the subject of the meetings — after they returned to Clearwater with Mr. Bunker April 2nd, the many times that I met with them, the subject of the conversations concerned what they were asked — or what they were being asked to do, what they wanted me to do.
So that was a continuing theme until, you know, the point that it finally broke off, because I didn’t, I guess, qualify to meet with the Scientologists or speak with them about this myself. But it was a continuing theme of
593
conversations.
THE COURT: I believe that, in fairness, Mr. Prince may have testified to some of this yesterday, too.
MR. DANDAR: I think so maybe.
THE COURT: And may have dated some of this yesterday. I’m looking through his affidavit. I am remembering some of his testimony from yesterday.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, yesterday you talked about Volume 0 and 00. Do you recall that? You looked in the book Introduction To Ethics and you said —
A Yes.
Q — what you were looking for may be in Volume 0 and 00?
A Yes.
Q And there are a bunch of books over there. Are there any of the books you want to refer the Court to?
A Sure, if I could just walk over there.
MR. DANDAR: Is that all right, Judge?
THE COURT: Yes. By the way, Ms. Greenway asked if she could take my picture. You can’t take pictures when court is in session. So I gave her permission to come in and take pictures when court
594
wasn’t in session of whatever she wanted to take pictures for. But when court is in session you cannot take pictures unless you are connected with the media and you are a pool photographer. Then you can.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q No other books?
A No.
Q All right.
A This is — first off, I would like to say yesterday that I said that this was a crime for a person to give testimony about Scientology. I actually misspoke. It is a suppressive act to do that, according to this document here, suppressive acts, suppression of Scientology, Scientologists, the fair game law. And what it states specifically is —
THE COURT: Tell us, first of all, what are you reading from.
THE WITNESS: Oh, sorry.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q The book?
A I’m reading from HCO Division 1 Policy Volume, Scientology Policy Volume.
THE COURT: Okay. Those are Scientology policies in a book?
595
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Is there a page number?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor. It is 553, what I’m going to make reference to.
MR. LIEBERMAN: Could we have the date on that book?
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Copyright on the front?
THE COURT: Would it matter with these policies —
MR. LIEBERMAN: Well, some, it may.
THE WITNESS: This is copyright 1970 through — what is it, 1950, it looks like. These are all of the copyright notices here.
THE COURT: Okay. I’m going to let you-all take a look at it.
MR. WEINBERG: Now? Or —
THE COURT: No. Let him go ahead and have his testimony, and then before cross-examination you-all can look at the book.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So a suppressive act is someone saying they want to leave Scientology?
A Yes. And testifying as a hostile witness against Scientology in public is a suppressive act.
596
Q All right. That has to do with testifying?
A Correct.
Q What about leaving Scientology or saying you want to leave?
A Mmm, yesterday I showed the reference and we went through that. It’s a high crime to publicly depart Scientology.
Q This may be something I already marked. Let me show you what has been marked as Plaintiff’s Exhibit 133. CS Series 22.
Can you identify that Exhibit 133?
A Yes. This is an HCO bulletin of 28 November, 1970, Mmm, subtitled “CS Series 22.” The “CS Series” means case supervisor series. It’s — it’s a series that is a staple or basic for persons that are supervising auditing in Scientology. And this document refers to the subject of psychosis.
Q And this document came from the PTS/SP course book you read yesterday. Is that correct?
A Correct.
Q Okay. Now —
THE COURT: Who is permitted to take that course? Maybe you asked it before, but, I mean, if I’m a new Scientologist, new public member, can I go register for that course?
597
THE WITNESS: You certainly could. Any Scientologist in good standing —
THE COURT: Could take that course?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q This course book also contains the search and discovery bulletin?
A I believe it does.
Q Okay. Now, this particular document, Exhibit 133, CS Series 22, does this have anything to do with people wanting to leave?
A Well, if you turn to the second page, it talks about the easiest ways for a case supervisor to detect the insane, and we go down here to Number 6, it says: “They often seek transfers or wish to leave.”
Q Now, does this apply to staff as well as public members?
A Absolutely.
THE COURT: I think this is already in evidence, isn’t it?
MR. DANDAR: I’m not sure. You told me to mark this yesterday as an exhibit.
THE COURT: Well, now that I’m looking at it, I’m thinking I read it before. But if you are not
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sure, you want to introduce it again, why, that is all right.
MR. DANDAR: I’m really not sure.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. DANDAR: I know we talked about this yesterday.
THE COURT: I’m not positive if this was the document, but I have read some of this before.
MR. DANDAR: Yes. It is quite possible.
MR. WEINBERG: We have no problem, but the next-to-last sentence says: “The insane can be helped, they are not hopeless.” We don’t have a problem with this. But the introspection rundown comes after this policy.
THE COURT: But you have no objection to this being introduced?
MR. WEINBERG: No.
MR. DANDAR: We move it into evidence.
MR. WEINBERG: It was referred to in the introspection rundown which was introduced three or four years later, this policy.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Speaking of the introspection rundown, Mr. Prince, speaking of your experience, expertise, is there any part of
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the introspection rundown that is considered religious?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection to his competence to this because Mr. Prince previously testified he wasn’t trained on the introspection rundown and never — as an auditor never did any introspection rundown.
THE COURT: I thought he did.
THE WITNESS: That is correct. I did. I never was — I never stated that I was not trained on the introspection rundown.
THE COURT: I’m sorry, what?
THE WITNESS: I never stated I was not trained on the introspection rundown. That is false. I am very trained on the introspection rundown.
MR. WEINBERG: What he said was he participated in an isolation watch, not as the auditor, you know, but as one of the people staying with Teresita.
THE COURT: Is isolation watch and introspection rundown the same?
MR. WEINBERG: It is part, Step whatever it is, 0, 00.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. DANDAR: This will kind of answer the question, I think.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So, Mr. Prince, is there parts or all of the introspection rundown that is religious? A religious practice?
A Mmm, in the very first bulletin about the introspection rundown, L. Ron Hubbard describes it as a new technical breakthrough that marveled something else of the 20th century, I forget specifically what it says there. But it was hailed as a researched scientific discovery for handling insanity.
MR. WEINBERG: So, your Honor, is what Mr. Dandar is doing is challenging whether or not the introspection rundown is part of the religion of Scientology? Because if he is, I think that has already been decided in this case and it is not appropriate and we should not be wasting our time on it.
THE COURT: Haven’t we decided that — or — I don’t know because I don’t know — I saw a motion once that dealt with religiocity. I didn’t hear any of that.
MR. DANDAR: That was not the —
MR. LIEBERMAN: But you have stated several times, your Honor, that there is no question in this case as to the religious nature of Scientology or
601
religious nature of the introspection rundown.
THE COURT: Okay. I know I have stated that I have no question on the — that the Church of Scientology is a religion and it is a recognized religion in the Church. And I have no question in my mind that Lisa McPherson was undergoing some sort of introspection rundown. I didn’t know whether I said that introspection rundown is part of the religion of the Church. I don’t even know if that is a call for me to make, to tell you the truth. I would suspect the Church doctrine would tell us whether it is or isn’t.
MR. LIEBERMAN: That is correct. And the Church characterizes what is religious practice.
THE COURT: I don’t know if I have seen that or not. I know we have a Mr. Rice affidavit. I haven’t looked at it in some time.
MR. LIEBERMAN: And he quite clearly places it within the Scientology practice. In fact, every part of Scientology, by definition, is part of Scientology belief and practice and is not a matter for the Court to challenge what is characterized by the Church as this religion.
THE COURT: I am going to let him answer this. I think he already has answered it, but I don’t know
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we’re going to go there. And certainly one answer isn’t going to get it there.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, Mr. Hubbard called it scientific breakthrough?
A That is correct.
Q Did he ever call it religious practice?
A Never.
Q Did he call auditing a religious practice?
A No.
Q Oh.
A Not to my knowledge. I mean, this whole business of religion — I don’t know, you know, it is kind of — has kind of reared its head in Scientology every now and again. When I was here at the Flag Service Organization in 1979, there was a scare — a cold war scare of some nuclear threat and conscription in the Army and on and on. This is what we were told. So all of the staff had to do a two-week course called the minister’s course where you are instantly trained to be a minister. This was part of — a program which, in part, was to kind of improve or create a religious image for Scientology.
But if you will notice, in every document that Mr. Hubbard writes about Scientology, whether or not it is a
603
green —
THE COURT: I don’t want to hear this. The United States Government, State of Florida, on and on down, determined Scientology is a religion, the Church of Scientology is a church. I don’t care what they used to think, what they used to say. It doesn’t matter. That is it.
MR. DANDAR: What I’m — I was getting at is just the introspection rundown itself.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q The part of the introspection rundown talking about get some rest —
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, could I —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q — make sure you eat —
MR. WEINBERG: This is precisely why Mr. Prince should not be an expert, considered an expert in Scientology, because as he sits here today, he still is sitting there saying it is not even a religion or a church. He doesn’t recognize it —
THE COURT: He wasn’t. He was talking about some things that were said back in the 1970s when they were all sitting around talking —
MR. WEINBERG: He just said that — well, I
604
don’t want to argue with you. I mean, it — that is where he was going with this and that is what this — that is what this is about.
MR. DANDAR: It is not what this is about. I just asked him what I’m asking him now, the introspection rundown, the part that talks about resting and eating — resting and eating, something else —
THE COURT: 0, 00.
MR. DANDAR: Yes, those two steps.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q In your experience within the Church of Scientology, was that ever considered a spiritual or religious part of Scientology?
MR. LIEBERMAN: Your Honor, again, this is unconstitutional inquiry. You can’t bifurcate a religious practice and say part is and part isn’t. To just even hear this testimony is an unconstitutional attack on the religion.
THE COURT: Mr. Lieberman, your objection on that is preserved.
MR. LIEBERMAN: Thank you.
A Well, you know, since — you know, people that are atheists or other ideas also rest and sleep. You know, it never came to me that this was a religious experience to
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rest and eat.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well, and in your knowledge of Scientology, if someone is injected with Valium or chloral hydrate, are they eligible to have auditing?
A According to — Mmm — the HCO bulletin entitled Model Session —
Q How do you spell that?
A Model, M-O-D-E-L, model session, a person who has had drugs or who has used drugs continuously is not eligible for auditing until six weeks after the period of taking the drugs.
Q Now, in your experience with Teresita, you said Dr. Dink, Hubbard’s doctor, came out and injected her with some kind of drug?
A Correct.
Q And she went to sleep?
A Correct.
Q How soon after that did she have auditing?
A Within hours after awaking.
Q Was that within the written policy?
A Is that what now? I’m sorry.
Q Is that per policy to have an auditing right after you have slept off the effects of the drug?
A Well, in the introspection rundown bulletin, it
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states that each program is tailored specifically for the individual. So to that degree, if the person had to sleep first in order to get auditing, they would get the auditing, but then there is also later references in Scientology technology which state that in a period after the auditing that was delivered, while the person was on drugs, you could then go back and check those areas again to make sure that everything is fine.
Q Okay. Let me show you Exhibit 134. And do you recognize where this copy of this Page 258 comes from?
A Yes. This comes from the Hubbard Administrative Dictionary.
Q And what — how does it define the phrase “high crimes”?
A It says: “High crimes. 1. These consist of publicly departing Scientology or committing suppressive acts. Cancellation of certificates, classifications and awards and becoming fair game are amongst the penalties which can be leveled for this type of offense as well as those recommended by Committees of Evidence.”
MR. DANDAR: Okay. That is all of the questions I have.
THE COURT: All right. Thank you. You may inquire.
MR. WEINBERG: Thank you.
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CROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Mr. Prince, David Miscavige busted you from your position of authority — your executive position of authority in the RTC — in March of 1987, didn’t he?
A Correct.
THE COURT: I’m sorry, you just got started.
Did you want to introduce this 134?
MR. DANDAR: Yes, sir. In fact —
MR. WEINBERG: We object to that. I would like to see the dictionary, see what the date of the dictionary was.
MR. DANDAR: Do you have it here? In fact, I just realized, unless you want to do this later, there are a bunch of things I marked and didn’t move them into evidence.
THE COURT: I’ll go ahead and let you do that —
MR. DANDAR: Later?
THE COURT: — later. But don’t forget.
MR. DANDAR: Right. Yes.
MR. WEINBERG: Should I start over?
THE COURT: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Mr. Prince, David Miscavige busted you from your
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position — your executive position of authority in the RTC in March of 1987, didn’t he?
A Correct.
Q And at that time you were removed from your post, the last executive post you ever held in the Church of Scientology. Correct?
A Correct.
Q And that post, you said, was deputy inspector general external. Right?
A Right.
Q Now, you were removed because you had supported Pat Broeker and Annie Broeker and Vicki Aznaran in their effort to change Scientology tech. Correct?
A That is categorically false.
Q That was precisely what occurred, that Pat Broeker, who had designated himself the loyal officer, was in the process of changing, among other things, the Scientology grade chart, right? That is what he was doing?
A That is categorically false.
Q So Mr. Broeker wasn’t doing that?
A Correct.
Q And you never acknowledged that Mr. Broeker did that?
A Correct.
Q So Mr. Broeker wasn’t off on his own, trying to
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change the religion of Scientology, after Mr. Hubbard died?
A Well —
Q Yes? Or no?
A Excuse me. Let me answer the question.
THE COURT: Well, I’ll tell you how this works on cross-examination. Go ahead and answer the question, but if you feel you have to explain your answer, you are allowed to do that after you have answered it.
THE WITNESS: Okay. I’m sorry.
A Ask me the question again.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Wasn’t Mr. Broeker caught in — in an attempt to change Scientology tech?
A I have no percipient knowledge of that.
Q You have no percipient knowledge of that?
A In other words, I was not there — let me — I was not there. I didn’t see him changing anything. And, again, I was going to say, I have heard some hearsay about it. Since you vehemently object about it, I won’t comment about it, but I — you know, I haven’t personally been with Mr. Broeker when he’s altering Scientology technology.
Q When you were in the RTC prior to March of 1987, in that year after Mr. Hubbard died, you became aware of the
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fact that some point in time that Mr. Broeker was changing and altering Scientology tech, weren’t you?
A Incorrect.
Q You became aware of the fact that Vicki Aznaran was part of an effort to change Scientology tech, weren’t you?
A Absolutely incorrect.
Q And what happened in March of 1987 is that Mr. Broeker was removed from all authority. Correct?
A Mr. Broeker was removed from authority.
THE COURT: Wasn’t? Or was?
THE WITNESS: He was, your Honor.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Annie Broeker, his wife, was removed from all positions of authority. Correct?
A To my knowledge, that is correct.
Q Your boss, Vicki Aznaran, was removed from her position of authority. Correct?
A Correct.
Q And you were removed?
A Correct.
Q And you were at that time — at that point in time, you went from what you described as an executive position with some authority in the — in RTC. Right?
A Correct.
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Q To no authority whatsoever?
A No. That is incorrect.
Q From — for the next five years after March of 1987, did you ever hold a position where someone was junior to you? You know what I mean by that?
A Yes, I do. And, yes, I have.
Q I mean, you were, what, a machine operator after that?
A Mmm, no. I worked on post-production, pre-production and post-production for films.
Q That was one of the things you did, and you were a Cinemix, was that your job?
A No.
Q What was your job?
A My job was like an assistant engineer, assistant sound mixer. Again, I state I worked for post-production and pre-production for films and videos.
Q During that period of time you were in the RPF a couple of times. Correct?
A Incorrect.
Q How many times were you in the RPF?
A I was in the RPF two times, but not that period of time.
Q You were in the RPF in March of 1987. Correct?
A Correct.
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Q All right. Until what, the end of 1987?
A Mmm, I think it was — I wasn’t in there a very long time. I think maybe four months.
Q By the way, there is no higher crime in Scientology than changing the tech. Correct?
A That is incorrect.
Q Well, what would be a higher crime than changing Mr. Hubbard’s scriptures?
A Placing Scientology and Scientologists at risk.
Q One of the highest crimes in Scientology is to alter the tech. Correct?
A It is a high crime to do that. Yes.
Q Now, for the next — for those five years after you were busted — and that was the day you claimed, by the way, that you pulled these guns on David Miscavige and threatened to kill him?
A You didn’t mention a specific day. What day are you talking about?
Q Well, what day are you talking about when you were busted?
THE COURT: Without worrying too much about the date, the date you testified about when you were rousted from bed or got out of bed and went and got the guns, that is on the same day, right?
THE WITNESS: Yes. I’m sorry.
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THE COURT: That is the day you were busted?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: That is what he was referring to.
THE WITNESS: Okay. I’m sorry. I just didn’t understand the question.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q That is the same day you claim you pulled these guns on David Miscavige and you threatened to kill him.
Correct?
A I didn’t threaten to kill Mr. Miscavige. What — maybe you have a wrong idea about what happened there.
I came there to defend myself. Twelve people were attacking me, were trying to hold me. Because I do know karate and have a black belt in it, I was able to get them away from me until I went and got protection for myself.
Q So then these twelve people that were attacking you let you go back to your room, get these two loaded guns?
A They didn’t know where I was going.
Q That didn’t really happen, did it, Mr. Prince?
A Yes, it did.
Q You didn’t pull guns on David Miscavige.
A Yes, it did.
Q So this is the person you say you could still be friendly with?
A You know, Mmm — yes. And I need to explain
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something here because, you know, Mr. Weinberg, you and I have been around and around on this in front of Judge Moody. So, you know, you are giving me the exact same questions and I’ll sit here and be patient with you, but I think the record reflects we have done this one or two times before.
THE COURT: See, I haven’t heard it. This is my hearing, so we’ll do it again.
MR. DANDAR: Explain yourself.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So you contend that you really did go back to your room, get two loaded weapons, and walk back and enter a room and point them directly at David Miscavige?
A No, I never walked back into a room. By that time —
Q You ran back into the room?
A Would you like me to explain it? I —
Q Explain it.
MR. DANDAR: Wait. Wait. Objection.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did you —
MR. DANDAR: He needs to explain it.
Mr. Weinberg —
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll withdraw that question.
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BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did you point two loaded guns —
MR. DANDAR: That is not fair.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q — at David Miscavige?
A No, I did not.
Q Who did you point them at?
A I had the one gun on my hip and the .45 in my hand. And they stood this way. The assault rifle never was pointed at anyone. It was just on my hip like this. And I had the .45.
And Mr. Miscavige, when he saw me, walked directly up to me with those guns in my hand and said, “Jesse, we are friends. Let’s talk.”
So I don’t think he felt that threatened. And I think that Judge Moody pointed that out to you the last time we were doing this.
Q I mean, no one would feel threatened when they had just busted somebody from position and the person got so mad to go back to the room and get two loaded guns and walk into a room. You can’t imagine anybody would be threatened by that, would they?
A I think that is a mischaracterization of what happened.
Q Well, my question is was there a particular reason
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why you never told that story until — until you started getting paid to be a witness in the FACTNet case in 19 — whatever it is, 1998?
Why you waited all those years to tell that story?
A Mmm, I don’t know how to answer that question, Mr. Weinberg. You are associating things that don’t associate. You are associating with me being paid telling stories. And there is no association there.
Q Well, is there a particular reason, in the years after this alleged incident took place, that took you until 1998 to first tell this story about pulling guns on David Miscavige?
MR. DANDAR: Object to the form. It makes no sense. Telling stories where? Under oath? In a deposition? To his friends?
THE COURT: I don’t, either, because I don’t know whether you are talking about the first time he ever testified about that, and if that is the first case he was ever involved in, that is the first time he ever testified about that.
MR. WEINBERG: I —
THE COURT: I’ll tell you one thing —
MR. WEINBERG: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to —
THE COURT: — don’t get ahead of me because you want to go at this witness.
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MR. WEINBERG: You are right.
THE COURT: I won’t have it.
MR. WEINBERG: Right.
THE COURT: I won’t have you really cutting this man off. I mean, I know you want to get where you want to go. But you’ll have to go slow.
And, Mr. Prince, whatever you told Judge Moody, I haven’t heard it, I haven’t seen too much of the transcript before Judge Moody, so I don’t want to hear what I — I already told Judge Moody this, I am not Judge Moody.
THE WITNESS: I understand.
THE COURT: If he asks you a question, unless I tell him, “You can’t ask that question,” just answer, even if you have already answered it before.
Okay?
THE WITNESS: Okay. Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Let’s go.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You were interviewed by Earle Cooley while still in the Church in 1988, weren’t you, in relation to another lawsuit?
A I would have to see something about that. I’m not sure what you are talking about.
Q You didn’t say anything about the guns to him, did
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you?
A Again, I would have to see what you’re talking about.
Q Well, you mention the 1994 interview with Mr. Cooley. You didn’t say anything about the guns to him in that interview, did you?
A I mean, you know, you are mixing apples and oranges. I mean, I don’t understand what you are asking me. I mean, I have told that story long before 1998 to my friends, my family, people that I know. I mean, you know, it isn’t like here is some money, let’s tell this story. I beg to differ with the way you are characterizing what happened here.
Q The reason you told the story to Mr. Minton in April of this year was to threaten him as to what you would do as to what kind of person you were? I mean, what did you tell him about it for?
A I told him that story, as I gave testimony yesterday, to show that Scientology, more than likely, will never keep or honor an agreement with anyone. It wasn’t to say I’m going to run and shoot you with guns. It was to give him an example to show him that Scientology will never honor an agreement.
Q Now, you would agree that the positions that you held after you were busted were extremely low positions in
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the Church of Scientology?
A I would beg to differ on that, as well.
Q Now, you were — you were so humiliated, apparently, by Mr. — what you claim Mr. Miscavige did in March of 1987 that you pulled these guns on him. That is what it was about, wasn’t it?
A Absolutely not. And even as we have been sitting here, I think I made it clear to you why I went and got those guns. It wasn’t humiliation. It was being attacked.
Q You were —
A Physically attacked.
Q You resented the fact that you had been busted?
A I resented the fact I was being physically attacked by people that used to be my friends.
Q No. My question is did you resent the fact that you had been busted from your executive position in RTC?
A And I’ll answer the question it isn’t so much that I resented the fact that —
THE COURT: Come on, Mr. Prince, of course you must have been annoyed. I don’t know why we’re playing a semantics game. Anybody would be annoyed if they were busted from the position they thought —
THE WITNESS: No, your Honor, that isn’t right.
I think that deserves clarification because I was
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pretty much tired of that activity that I had been involved in, in Scientology. I was ready for a change. I was ready to be done with that position because that — that position responsibility entailed being involved in criminal activity.
This is something that I had not experienced in Scientology prior to going to Gilman, Hot Springs and working at that level. To me, Scientology was something different than what I was doing.
So, no, it wasn’t a big deal for me, you know. I was already wanting to be away from that responsibility.
But what was a big problem for me was twelve people grabbing me, because I had an earlier incident of that happening in Scientology where six people grabbed me and locked me in a room for three months, and I ended up staying 16 years. So that had precedent over that position I was being removed from.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So you were relieved by the fact you were busted from your position?
A Yes. I was somewhat relieved by it.
Q Now, you — you, Jesse Prince, dislike vehemently David Miscavige, don’t you?
621
A I would not say that that is true. I have no vehement dislike for him. I dislike the things that he does. But I don’t envy his position. He’s the leader of a religion. He has a lot of responsibility. That doesn’t give you license to be a criminal, though.
Q You spent the last four years, ever since you met apparently sometime in the summer of 1998, started getting paid by, ever since you met Mr. Minton, you spent the last four years trying to destroy David Miscavige, haven’t you?
A That is incorrect.
Q You have picketed where you have spoken vilely and obscenely about Mr. Miscavige, haven’t you?
A Yes, I have.
Q You have picketed various Churches of Scientology around the country and even in the world, correct?
A That is incorrect. I never picketed an organization outside of the United States.
Q Just in this country?
A Correct.
Q You have threatened David Miscavige in these pickets, haven’t you?
A I need you to clarify what you mean by threatened for me, please.
Q Threatened to do harm to him.
A I have jokingly alluded to it, yes, I have.
622
Q You thought it was funny?
A Yes, I did.
Q And did you think it was funny when you were outside the various Churches of Scientology, including what you call the mecca of Scientology, holding signs and shouting obscenities about the leader? You thought that was funny, too?
A I — I think you would have to show me or present evidence that I was holding a sign, shouting obscenities.
Q Oh, we will, Mr. Prince.
A Okay. I would like to see that.
Q Did you think that was funny?
A I would like to see the evidence, please, sir.
Q Would you consider, sir — I mean, I think you said that Mr. Minton was the — something basically the most harassed person you’d ever seen, something to that order?
A Something along that order, correct.
Q Would you consider what you and Mr. Minton and Ms. Greenway and Mr. Alexander and Mr. Oliver and the other folks at the LMT — would you consider what you were doing harassing Scientology?
A Well, what were we doing that was supposed to be harassing?
Q I mean —
THE COURT: His question to you is whatever it
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was you were doing, would that be, in your mind, harassing Scientology?
THE WITNESS: Well, I guess to clarify it, if it meant picketing, does that mean harassing Scientology? It has a broader meaning to me. It means I’m exercising my First Amendment rights as a citizen to protest.
Mmm, if you want to call that harassing Scientology, I call it exercising my freedom.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I’m asking you, because remember you talked about the harassment time line of Mr. Minton?
A Yes.
Q Do you remember talking about that?
A Yes.
Q And my question to you, if — if we put all of your pickets and all Mr. Minton’s pickets and all your postings and all Mr. Minton’s postings and all of the postings of these folks that have been in and out of the LMT and all the pickets of them on a time line, do you think that time line might be somewhat larger than this Minton harassment time line?
A I think it would be minuscule and it would pale by comparison.
Q By the way, are you part of an anti-Scientology
624
movement?
A I have never been part of an anti-Scientology movement.
Q Are you an anti-Scientologist?
A No, I am not.
Q What do you consider yourself?
A I consider myself in the instant case where I’m sitting right here today an expert witness concerning Scientology.
Prior to that, I worked in an establishment whereby I helped people who had been victimized by Scientology.
Q And would you consider Mr. Minton to be an anti-Scientologist during those four years that you were part of the A team, I think you said?
A I consider Mr. Minton to be an activist.
Q An activist?
A Yes.
Q What is that?
A You tell me what it is. Do you need to know what the word means? I mean, he was an —
Q What do you mean —
A — activist concerning —
Q What do you mean when you say he was an activist?
A He was an activist ensuring the rights, basic
625
human rights, that are accorded to us through our constitution.
I think Mr. Minton got started on his relationship with Scientology when he found out a Scientologist was trying to remove the name “Scientology” from a newsgroup — or at least this is the way he explained it to me. And how
lawyers and raids and things would come to even discuss Scientology, which is how I knew it from being in Scientology.I knew if you ever spoke about Scientology outside of Scientology, you would get clobbered. So to actually see people doing it openly on the Internet was —
THE COURT: That is well past the answer. You don’t have to — we have to try to get through this.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
THE COURT: He simply asked you to define what an activist was. And I think you have done that.
THE WITNESS: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, when did you begin — when did you begin your work against Scientology? What date or time?
A Mmm, I began to give testimony concerning Scientology, to the best of my recollection, in the FACTNet case.
Q Specifically, up until I — I think you said you
626
considered yourself a Scientologist until, I think you said, 1997. Correct? Isn’t that what you said in your testimony?
A I think maybe ’96, I said.
Q All right. So you considered yourself a Scientologist after you left the Church of Scientology in 1992, after you say that you were — you said all those horrible things happened to you in the five-year period, you still considered yourself a Scientologist in ’93, ’94, ’95 and ’96. Correct?
A I think I should clarify that for you, if that is okay. I think that I still had Scientology values. I think that I still respected some of the tenets of Scientology, and I freely associated with Scientologists.
Q Well, you were working for a public member of Scientology for several years, right?
A Several years is incorrect.
Q How many years?
A Maybe one.
Q This is the job that the Church had helped you get after you left the Church where you were making $60,000 or $70,000 a year. Was that your testimony?
A I think you are mis-characterizing what happened. No, that is not my testimony. The Church didn’t help me do anything. It never has.
Q Well, just tell us one of those Scientology values
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that you — that you continue to accept and feel close to after you left the Church of Scientology.
A That man — man is a spiritual entity. That — Mmm — man is capable of seemingly — seemingly more capable than is realized and those potentials can be cultivated and used and expanded on.
Q Any other ones?
A You know, some of the organical principles about the importance of organization, the importance of schedules. You know, these kind of things.
Q When you were a Scientologist, you believed, did you not, that psychiatric problems were spiritual in nature. Correct? That is what you believed? And could be dealt with spiritually through the religion of Scientology. You believed that when you were a Scientologist, didn’t you?
A Yes, I did.
Q And that is what Scientologists believe, don’t they?
A I can’t speak for all Scientologists. I know that, you know, as you are trained in Scientology, you accept more and more of what you read, and it’s a progression, it is a degradation of belief system, I guess.
But I couldn’t say that everyone believes that.
Q Well, you could say that Scientologists — no Scientologist would want to be committed to a mental
628
institution. You can say that, can’t you, from your years as a Scientologist?
A Mr. Weinberg, I can say that about Scientologists and anyone else. There is no one that I know that is aching to be committed to an institution.
Q But I’m asking you from when you were a Scientologist —
A Uh-huh?
Q — the last thing that you would have — you would have rather shot yourself than be committed to a mental institution?
A Absolutely not. I mean, that is unreasonable. It is irrational.
Q Well, can you think of anything worse, as a Scientologist, than to be committed to a mental institution?
Can you just answer that question?
A Rehabilitation Project Force, maybe.
Q One of the fundamental principles of the Church is — is the Church’s abhorrence with psychiatry and mental health treatment. Correct?
A Well, you know, Mr. Weinberg —
Q Can you just answer that question?
A I used to believe that is the answer. I used to believe that. But I found, from Mr. Hubbard’s autopsy report that I had a copy of, that he himself was taking
629
psychiatric medication —
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. Move to strike.
A — in his life. So maybe —
THE COURT: Stop. There is an objection. You have to stop.
MR. WEINBERG: It is not responsive to the question. It was a very simple question. Yes or no.
MR. DANDAR: I would say this is outside of the scope of direct and the issues.
THE COURT: It is not outside the scope of direct and not outside the scope of the issues but, quite frankly, this is not helping me any.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE COURT: It is an interesting banter between you and Mr. Prince and —
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll go on.
THE COURT: — this might be of interest to a jury, but it really isn’t of interest —
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE COURT: — to me.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Since you have met Bob Minton, all of the money that you have received since June, other than this apparently $4,000 that you just got from Mr. Dandar, that
630
you have received since June, July, of 1998, up until April of 2002, came directly or indirectly from Mr. Minton, didn’t it?
A That is incorrect.
Q And all of the money — all of the money that you have received in that period of time you received as a result of your work about or against or involving Scientology?
A That is incorrect.
Q Correct?
A That is incorrect.
Q What is incorrect about that statement?
A I think that — Mmm — that all of the money that I have had during those periods of time derived from those activities, that is — specifically is incorrect about it.
Q What, 99 percent of it? 95 percent of it?
A You know, I have turned over my financial records to you. I think they speak for themselves.
Q All right. Let me play you — because you asked me to — let me play you a video — some videos and maybe this will refresh your recollection. I’ll ask you some questions about it.
A All right.
MR. WEINBERG: Get the first one.
MR. DANDAR: We’re going to object. If he
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plays the video that they would like to play from the Boston picket, I demand that they play the whole video so that you, Judge, can see what Mr. Prince was responding to in that very vile video that you may have already seen.
You only saw their version of it. There is like two, three, four minutes of extremely vile language coming from ministers of the Church of Scientology to bull bait Mr. Prince into responding the way he did on video. So if they are
going to do that, they need to play the whole thing.MR. WEINBERG: That is not the one I’m playing, first of all —
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: — to make it easy. Secondly, if he wants to do something later, he can.
THE COURT: There is a rule of completeness which we’ll get into when we get to trial. At a trial, if somebody will try to pick and choose, I’m probably going to insist on the rule of completeness in an appropriate case.
But in this hearing, if they play something and you think I need to see it all, make a little note, tell them to keep it there and play the whole thing on redirect.
632
MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: Or ask them if they’ll play it all.
If they say no, then you play it.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: Now, this is a video in front of the Ft. Harrison on November 30, 1998.
______________________________________
(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“You want to see the other side of the sign, too? Just want to make sure you get all of the information, all of the data.
“Tell David I’m coming with a dick so big, I’m gonna knock his goddamn spine out cuz I’m black. I got a big dick. I’m black. I got a big dick.
“Hey. Hey. Didn’t that guy have curly hair? (Inaudible.)
“No. No. Jesse. Yo momma. I been fucking your momma a long time (inaudible). That’s why you got that curly hair.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Do you recognize yourself, Mr.~Prince?
A Yes, I do.
Q You recognize Mr. Minton?
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A Yes, I do.
Q And you thought that was funny? Your statement about Mr. Miscavige?
A Yes, I did.
Q You don’t consider that a threat?
A No, I don’t.
Q You think it is appropriate for an expert, or anybody, for that matter, but particularly an expert on — supposedly on religion to be in front of the Ft. Harrison to be making obscene statements about David Miscavige like that to other — to Scientologists?
A You know, I think there was an indiscretion that happened there, certainly.
Q And you consider it harassment for you and Mr. Prince — and Mr. Minton and others to be holding signs like the one you were holding, “Lisa, blood on her hands,”and the one Mr. Minton was holding about the Third Reich, do you consider that harassment to be walking in front of the mecca of Scientology? Do you consider that to be harassment?
A I consider it to be exercising my constitutional right —
Q Okay.
A — as a citizen of America.
MR. WEINBERG: Want to play the next one,
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please? Actually, let me — go ahead.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played. No audio available.)
MR. WEINBERG: This is on the same day in front of the Criminal Court Complex.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, do you remember this being the day of the arraignment in the criminal case and do you remember being in front of the complex with Stacy Brooks, Bob Minton, Ken Dandar, Dr. Garko and yourself? Do you remember that photo?
A I remember that photo.
Q And do you recognize that as the criminal complex in Clearwater?
A The one on 49th Street?
Q Yes.
A Yes, I do.
Q And who took that photo?
A You know, I’m not sure.
Q And do you think that is funny? “Scientology, Hubbard Third Reich,” do you think that is funny?
A You know, I think those people in that picture are exercising their constitutional rights.
Q Do you think it is appropriate for the trial team of Mr. Dandar, Dr. Garko and you and Ms. Brooks, along with
635
Mr. Minton, to be standing in front of a public building holding signs like that?
MR. DANDAR: Objection.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Do you think that is appropriate?
MR. DANDAR: Objection. Mr. Minton is not part of any trial team.
THE COURT: He said “and Mr. Minton.” So I’m assuming he was excluding him.
MR. WEINBERG: That is what I did.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Do you consider that to be appropriate behavior?
A I consider that unless I’m committing a crime, I’m exercising my constitutional rights as an American citizen.
Q Do you believe that that constitutes harassment of the Church of Scientology?
A No, I don’t. I think if I was doing anything illegal, Scientology would have had me arrested on the spot.
Q Okay.
THE COURT: Harassment is not illegal. I guess what he’s trying to ask you is, in addition to exercising your First Amendment rights, did you consider that that might be considered harassment?
THE WITNESS: You know, and I — my answer again is no. My answer is I’m exercising my
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constitutional rights as an American citizen.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You wouldn’t consider that picket —
MR. WEINBERG: Can you put that photo back up?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Somebody asked you — I think Mr. Dandar asked you whether or not he was ever on a picket.
THE COURT: Now, Counselor, in all fairness, that is a picture, that is not a picket. What we saw before —
MR. WEINBERG: I understand. I was asking to ask him. This is a picture.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q My question is what was going on with these signs in front of the Clearwater courthouse? What were you-all doing with these signs?
A I think we had been picketing earlier.
THE COURT: Was Mr. Dandar with you when you were picketing?
THE WITNESS: Absolutely not. Neither was Mr. Garko.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And whose idea was it to pose for this picture?
A I don’t know. I don’t recall. I don’t remember.
Q I mean, no one forced you-all to do this.
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Correct?
A Correct.
MR. WEINBERG: Go to the next one, please.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“You work for a criminal organization. And they’re going to be found out. You take that and put it on the camera and run it to Miscavige, your leader, your guru. He’s going down.”
(End of playing of video tape.)
______________________________________
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, that was right outside the Clearwater Bank building where all the people go in to eat. Correct?
A Yes. It was.
Q And right down the street, as you look down the street, is where the LMT offices were?
A That is correct.
Q All right. And do you consider that to be a threat to Mr. Miscavige where you say he’s going down?
A No, I do not. And I think I have to — you know, because this is just a little snippet you are showing here, I think I should give the situation that was occurring.
On that very street that you saw me in front of where the Lisa McPherson Trust is around the corner, on that
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particular day I had gone to a shop on Cleveland to buy a pack of cigarettes and go back to the office.
From the moment I walked out of my office, all of the way up to the door of the shop I went to and all of the way back, a Scientology OSA person had a camera on me like this (indicating).
I was annoyed. If that is a crime, find me guilty.
Q Now, was that your purpose when you say, “You’re going down,” was your purpose to get rid of Mr. Miscavige from being the chairman of the board or the ecclesiastical leader of Scientology?
A My purpose was to express my annoyance.
Q And “guru,” were you just being funny?
A Again, my purpose was to express my annoyance.
Q Now, was that your agenda? Strike that.
Was it Mr. Minton’s agenda — was part of his agenda to get rid of David Miscavige?
A You had Mr. Minton up here —
Q I’m just asking you.
A — Mr. Weinberg, forever, you know.
Q I’m asking you.
A He never said that to me. He never said that to me.
THE COURT: There is an answer in the
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courtroom. It is called “I don’t know.” If it is —
A He never — no, he never said that to me.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you described you, Ms. Brooks and Mr. Minton as the A team, right?
A Correct.
Q And the A team got formed in the summer of 1998?
A I would say — Mmm — thereabouts.
Q Right. And the A team continued to be —
A Maybe — wait a minute. I misspoke about that because that A team business didn’t come up until after — after we’d worked together for a while and had done things.
And that concept came out — in the summer of ’98 is when I first met them, so I think it would be a misrepresentation to say that the A team was in the summer of ’98, at least to my best recollection as I sit here today.
Q So when was it?
A And I can’t be sure. It was sometime later.
Q When you said it became the A team after you had done things, what kind of things? Are you talking about like — do you mean like pickets and sending postings and things like that? Are those the things that you were doing?
A I think more like helping people directly.
Q Helping people?
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A Yes.
Q How was Mr. Minton helping people, by standing and holding signs like that?
A Well, you know, I guess there is a myriad of answers for that. But what I meant to say, helping people, I meant helping people that had run into problems with Scientology and were not able to resolve them so that they can get on with their lives.
Q Now, where did the A team concept come from?
A You know, I think there used to be a television program.
Q Are you talking about the one with Mr. T?
A If you let me finish. You know, the reason why I can’t answer that question, because when those television series were going on, I was in the Sea Org and we weren’t allowed to watch TV. So I have a big missing section in my life with serial programs and things like that.
So again I’ll say there was some program that had the A team on it. And I think Mr. Minton brought it up and — but —
Q And —
A — but I have never seen a program called the A team or anything like that.
Q When you said the A team yesterday, what did you mean, A team? What was it that the A team was doing?
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A The A team was myself, Bob and Stacy. And the A team were helping people that needed help to resolve issues with Scientology.
You know, just to — to show how far at the other end of the spectrums were, Mr. Minton actually thought he was helping Scientology by helping these people resolve issues with Scientology.
Q Do you remember speaking to the media about bringing Mr. Miscavige down?
A No. I do not.
MR. WEINBERG: Play that next one, please.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“It takes standing up and recognizing it for what it is, a dead, arcane idea. We’re dealing with people who are ignorant and we’re going to bring them down.”
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Do you remember that?
A I object to that very — I can’t object, but that was an obvious edit where you sliced two things together.
And I think you are mis-characterizing a speech that I gave for a vigil for Lisa McPherson where the press was there. I was not speaking for the press. I was speaking to former Scientologists.
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Q Were you talking about bringing down Scientology?
Is that what you were talking about?
MR. DANDAR: We object and ask the whole thing be played.
THE COURT: I think that is fair.
MR. WEINBERG: It was a newscast, we didn’t — we can play the whole newscast. It takes a minute.
THE COURT: I don’t want the whole newscast.
Just whatever Mr. Prince said.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, that is what Mr. Prince said. That is all he said is what we just played.
THE COURT: Well, it did look like there was a definite splice.
MR. WEINBERG: There was. One of these newscasts where the reporter said something and Stacy Brooks said something and he said the first thing on there, Mr. Prince, then somebody else said something, then he said the last thing.
We took the two things Mr. Prince said and put it together. But we can play the whole section.
THE COURT: It makes it look like he said all that together, and it may not have been.
I think if what it is you are trying to do is every time he said we’re going to bring him down, what is it you mean when you say that?
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THE WITNESS: Expose — expose what is actually going on.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: You know, expose the fact that private investigators are being used to terrorize citizens because they disagree with Scientology.
Expose the fact that someone gave $100,000, and it is Scientology’s policy, if you don’t use a service that you paid for, they will refund it to you.
THE COURT: Normally, when you want to say we’re going to expose somebody, you don’t say expose somebody, you say bring them down, that kind of means put them out of business. That is what I mean by that. What did you mean by it?
THE WITNESS: I mean ending the criminal activity. Ending the assault of citizens who have no way to protect themselves once they get on the bad side of Scientology.
THE COURT: When you say “We are going to bring you down,” this is your testimony, you did not mean put the Church of Scientology out of business, do away with the Church?
THE WITNESS: Right, in the illegal activities. I never had a — as I said, corrupt activities wasn’t even anything in my mind during the majority
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of my stay in Scientology. These are things that I learned about after I got to Gilman, Hot Springs, and started working directly for Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Miscavige. I was an ignorant, blind person to it prior to that time.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q When you said in that newscast that I just played, quote, “It takes standing up and recognizing it for what it is, a dead, arcane idea,” that was how you — that — you were expressing your opinion about Scientology, that is what
you meant by that, isn’t it?A No. You have taken this out of context because I don’t know what “It is.” You showed me a little snippet. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
THE COURT: I don’t, either.
MR. WEINBERG: I have the transcript. We’ll play the whole tape because we are obviously not going to get done today.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q But — it was a response to a question, “Today they spoke out against the Church of Scientology,” and then they play what you said about it. But we’ll play the whole thing. It takes about a minute. All right.
You remember going on several trips to Europe with Mr. Minton, correct?
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A I think I went on a couple of trips with Mr. Minton.
Q All right. He paid for the trips?
A Correct.
Q Who else went with you?
A You know, as a matter of fact, I only traveled to Europe with Mr. Minton one time.
Q And the purpose of that trip was?
A To visit with his business partner, Jeff Schmidt, to have a face-to-face with him to find out specifically what Scientology-hired private investigator David Lee was doing to try to get him to a — do a similar thing as Bob and Stacy, basically turn against Bob and provide criminal information so Scientology could use it to attack Bob Minton.
Q Now, do you remember being in Germany with Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks in or about June of 2000?
A I think I was in Leipzig, Germany.
Q And Mr. Minton paid for that trip?
A I think that trip was paid by the Lisa McPherson Trust.
Q So in June of 2000 you were on the payroll of the Lisa McPherson Trust at that point?
A Correct.
Q You had just gone on the payroll?
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A You know, I can’t remember.
Q And do you remember — you remember being in the DB lounge?
THE COURT: What is that?
A Yes.
THE COURT: What is a DB lounge?
MR. WEINBERG: It is a bar of some sort.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Correct?
A We were at a train station in Leipzig, and there was a bar called the DB Bar, which we thought was amusing because DB means something very specific in Scientology, it means degraded being.
Q And you were there with Ms. Caberta, we heard about, the German government official that works against Scientology, right?
A Correct.
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll play this clip here. This is something turned over to us by the Lisa McPherson Trust.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Okay, so — so, Stacy, you start. DM, this drink’s for you.
“DM, this is a special toast to you coming
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straight from the DB Lounge in Leipzig, Germany.
“I’m not going to call this guy DM anymore. Remember what my new name for David Miscavige is, the former ecclesiastical leader of the Church of Scientology.
“I know this is going on camera.
“I know, but what did I say — (inaudible).
“Yes — yes, this is — this is a toast to David Miscavige, also known as Pope David I, from the DB lounge in Leipzig, Germany. Up, up, up and away.
“Now, Ursula.
“Hi, Mr. Miscavige. We did a great work here in Germany. And we will finish Scientology soon.
“This is to you, Miscavige. We are so thankful that you give us reason to live. Salute.
“Pope David I. Cheers.
“Cheers.
“Just some DBs hanging out here.
“David I.
(Inaudible.)
“This is to David Miscavige in the DB Lounge in Leipzig, Germany at the train station.
“Pope David I.
“Cheers, Miscavige.
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“Rear Admiral.
(Inaudible.)
“Listen, listen, just —
“No, just stop here now. Now listen.
“We all know in Grady’s deposition, when Grady was deposing David Miscavige, that he went ballistic over the thought of Graham —
“Now —
“– of Graham Berry spending time –”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Does that bring back memories, Mr. Prince?
A Yes.
Q And you think that is funny?
A Well, what I think you have is a home video of our trip in Europe that was never made public — Mmm — to anyone. And we were just having fun. Yes, I do think it was funny. We were just having fun at the train station.
Q Does that man, Mr. Minton, look like the most harassed person on the face of the earth?
A He does, to me.
Q And when Ms. Caberta, the German official who has — who flew over here and who is working against Scientology, when she said, “We’re going to finish
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Scientology,” she was talking about getting rid of it, wasn’t she?
A No. I think she was specifically talking about Scientology isn’t viewed as a religion in Germany.
Scientology is viewed as a political group. The reason Scientology is viewed as a political group —
THE COURT: I don’t need to know that.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
THE COURT: I don’t need to know, care, what is going on in Germany.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q When you talk about the reason for living, when you-all were talking about, you know, David Miscavige gives us a reason to — a reason for living — reason to live for, talking about so that you can malign him, is that what
you-all are talking about?A No. Not at all.
Q And do you remember — it was cut off at the end.
Do you remember that — that at that point, Mr. — Mr. Minton said something very obscene about Mr. Miscavige?
A I do not remember that. But, again, I’ll state that this was a video that we made on our trip that was a private video, never made public, never put on the Internet, and it is being exploited here today.
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Q Well, it sort of gives you a different impression about what you-all were about, doesn’t it?
A Who is you-all?
Q Excuse me?
A Who are you talking about, you-all? What you-all were about. What are you talking about?
Q You, Ms. Brooks, Mr. Minton?
A The —
Q The A team?
A I didn’t get that impression.
Q Now, who took that video, this home video that ended up in the LMT on this trip that was financed by the LMT?
A I think Mr. Bunker.
Q So he was there, too, obviously? Was anybody else on this trip? You have the A team, you have Mr. Bunker. Is there anybody else on it?
A Not that I specifically recall.
Q And you-all thought the DB was kind of funny because that is a Scientology term?
A Correct.
Q Now, after looking at your obscenities in front of the Ft. Harrison about Mr. Miscavige, watching this toast, you still think that he would be your friend? Wasn’t that your testimony this morning?
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A You know, I’m talking to a camera there. The answer to your question is yes, I think that if he and I sat down and actually had a discussion, we would certainly find friendship, would be able to communicate.
I mean, isn’t Scientology all about helping people learn —
THE COURT: That didn’t really answer the question. You have that opinion and that is fine. Then that is the answer to the question.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You talk about counseling. The principal purpose of the LMT, when it moved into Clearwater, was for the A team and the people that were working for the A team to picket and harass Scientology, wasn’t it?
A That is incorrect beyond belief.
Q Okay. Now —
A I would like to explain that, if I could. I would like to explain why the LMT came here, since you brought it up, and if you would allow me to just fully answer the question.
Q So you were involved in the —
THE COURT: I’m going to let him answer the question. What was the purpose of the LMT that — what do you believe the purpose of the LMT was?
THE WITNESS: The purpose of the LMT —
THE COURT: Fifty words or less.
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THE WITNESS: Okay, fifty words or less, and I won’t talk too fast for the court reporter.
THE COURT: That is 25.
THE WITNESS: When Lisa McPherson left that hotel, she had no place to go. She had a minor accident, stripped off her clothes, told people that she needed help. She ended up back in the Ft. Harrison. Seventeen days later, she was dead.
The reason that Lisa McPherson came to Clearwater and the reason it was there, in case there was another instance where someone needed a safe place to go where they could come and get help.
That is why we were there. And that is the only reason we were there.
And those were the dying wishes of Fannie McPherson, Lisa McPherson’s mother, when she was on her deathbed.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So all of this picketing which happened on a regular basis, correct —
A Incorrect.
Q Well, can you, like, give us an estimate of the number of times you participated in a picket against the Church of Scientology?
A Yes, I can. Let me think. Because I certainly
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remember the first one well enough. I think I have probably been involved in maybe six or seven pickets.
Q So in the —
THE COURT: Over what periods of time, Mr. Prince?
THE WITNESS: From 1998 to the present.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So in a four-year picket —
THE COURT: Four-year period. Not picket.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Right, I have picket on the brain. In the four-year period, you say you only picketed six times?
A I roughly estimated six or seven times that I picketed, yes.
Q And do you have a sense of how many times Ms. Brooks and Mr. Minton picketed in that four-year period?
A I do not.
Q A lot more than six?
A I believe so.
THE COURT: He said he didn’t know.
MR. WEINBERG: I believe he just said “I believe so.”
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, in Clearwater there were other people in the
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LMT that participated in pickets, including Peter Alexander, correct?
A Yes.
Q Patricia Greenway?
A Yes.
Q Frank Oliver?
A I — I can’t say that I have ever seen Frank Oliver carrying a sign, picketing.
Q So you are not aware he picketed?
A Correct.
Q Of course Minton — of course, the A team, right?
A You know, I think Stacy herself maybe picketed maybe five or six times, as well. But then she didn’t do it anymore because it was not anything she agreed with, nor did she feel it was effective in handling the problem that we
were dealing with.Q Well, let me ask you this. Do you remember that on September 2, 1998 you and Mr. Minton participated in a picket in Boston at the Boston Airport?
A At the Boston Airport? We — I think you have that in complete reverse. Scientologists picketed us at the airport.
Q Do you have signs, “Scientology, The Third Reich”?
A Do I have signs?
Q Did you-all, you and/or Mr. Minton?
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A Mmm, it’s a possibility. I don’t know.
Q In September of ’98 did you and Mr. Minton picket in front of the Church of Scientology in Boston?
A That is possible.
Q Well, that is when he was actually arrested for assault and battery. Right?
A Correct.
Q In October of 1998 did you picket with Mr. Minton in front of the Church of Scientology in Boston?
A It’s possible.
Q You remember several pickets in Boston in October of ’98 with one of Mr. — one with Mr. Minton and one with Ms. Brooks?
A I don’t remember that specifically, no.
THE COURT: Tell me why we have to spend so much times on these pickets.
MR. WEINBERG: Because, your Honor, it — it — it demonstrates — first of all, it puts the lie to what we’ve heard all of the way through —
THE COURT: But I know that this man has been involved in pickets.
MR. WEINBERG: It is way beyond that, your Honor. I mean, really —
THE COURT: Pardon?
MR. WEINBERG: It is way beyond that. You have
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before you a harassment time line. And Mr. Dandar has spent literally 28 days suggesting that somehow Mr. Minton was harassed to the point where — where, for reasons that don’t make any sense to me, for that purpose he would come in and incriminate himself.
And the fact is — we’re not playing all of the pickets. But when you see these clips, most of which we got from the Lisa McPherson Trust in these videos that were just turned over, you will see what was really — what was happening here in Clearwater.
THE COURT: I have no doubt that at the LMT Trust they had very little use, if any, for the Church of Scientology. And they picketed them fairly regularly. Quite frankly, if they had fallen on their face, they wouldn’t have cared; that they were out, in essence, to undo what they perceived to be the bad things that they perceived the Church of Scientology did. I don’t have any doubt about that.
I think the record is clear. So I don’t know why we keep going over those things.
There are things that are really critical to this hearing. And I don’t think those are it.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, I mean —
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THE COURT: It might be important to the counterclaim, but not to this hearing.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, I mean, if you rely on, for example, what Peter Alexander said, he said he didn’t have anything — or essentially nothing to do with it. You’ll see essentially the opposite.
You have heard that somehow Mr. Minton was harassed. And you’re going to see what was really going on, that the Church was harassed beyond comprehension.
THE COURT: I have no doubt Mr. Minton harassed the Church, as well as the Church harassed Mr. Minton. It is just that simple.
MR. WEINBERG: But nothing is more — well, can I proceed with my cross-examination?
THE COURT: Yes. You may.
MR. WEINBERG: Thank you.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You went on the Internet, as well, didn’t you?
A I have been on the Internet. Yes, I have.
Q You made postings on the Internet?
A Yes, I have.
Q In that Leipzig toast you — instead of using the name “David Miscavige,” you actually said “Miss Cabbage,” didn’t you? That was a little joke, wasn’t it?
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A Did I say that?
Q I’m asking you.
A I thought I said “Miscavige.”
MR. DANDAR: I think we need to hear the video, rather than someone’s transcript.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m going to show you a posting.
THE COURT: In a posting we have heard him called Rear Admiral. We know what that means. And we know they called him Miss Cabbage. And they don’t speak kindly of David Miscavige.
MR. WEINBERG: I understand that. And I’m going to show him, have him identify, his Internet postings.
A I will admit — I have said that before, Miss Cabbage. I just don’t know that — if that is what you are seeing there.
MR. WEINBERG: Could I stand up here with Mr. Prince?
THE COURT: You may.
MR. WEINBERG: I have no other copies.
THE WITNESS: I have no idea what this is.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q This is your postings, isn’t it?
A Excuse me?
Q This is your postings?
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A I don’t think so. I think it is a fictitious document created —
Q So you didn’t send a posting that said:
“Too bad, Little Miss Cabbage has a corncob up your ass, 724365. I know the feeling. That is why I have him reeling, spending money like a bitch kicked from a pimp. Roll on, ho, big daddy can see you. Jesse.”
A Yes, correct. But that is a fictitious document that was created for the purpose of — to malign me.
Q To malign you?
A Yes.
Q But you have used Miss Cabbage?
A Yes, I’ll admit it. Freely admit it.
MR. DANDAR: Objection. This does not have the normal E-Mail headers on it that you would find if it was an original document, instead of something that someone altered.
A I don’t even know who Robert is.
THE COURT: I don’t know. If he can’t authenticate that, I don’t know whether — I don’t know whether it is in or not. At the top it says
“Spread the word, bitch.”
Then it goes on to some other comments. And that is not the way an E-Mail normally —
MR. WEINBERG: It is not an E-Mail. It’s a
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posting.
THE COURT: Well, the same thing. I don’t know. It would seem like this Jesse Prince, Jesse77@GTE.net would be Mr. Prince’s — that would be — is that what you go by?
THE WITNESS: I had that in 1998, I think, when I had a particular type of computer, I used to have that address. But as I sit here today, I don’t know what name — the name Robert.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Well, when you use the word “Miss Cabbage,” what do you mean?
MR. DANDAR: Objection. That is not his E-Mail.
THE COURT: No, he admitted that he has called David Miscavige Miss Cabbage.
A It’s an obvious derogatory use of Miscavige.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And derogatory in — I mean, in what context did you use it when you used it?
A I don’t remember. I just know that — you know —
I have said that before. I admit to it.
Q Now, let me show you — see if you recognize this posting. Or is this another fictitious one?
MR. WEINBERG: What will this be?
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THE CLERK: 219.
MR. DANDAR: What exhibit number is that?
MR. WEINBERG: 219.
THE COURT: The one before that was 2-what?
MR. WEINBERG: 218.
THE COURT: That did not come in because —
MR. WEINBERG: He said he couldn’t authenticate it.
THE COURT: So that is not in evidence. That is Number 218. This one you just gave us is 219?
MR. WEINBERG: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Did you make that posting?
A Yes, I did.
Q And do you consider that to be a — a posting that would indicate a derogatory view toward Mr. Miscavige and the religion of Scientology?
A Mmm, I think that this posting is a result of the Scientology operations being run on me.
While I’m trying to testify in a court in front of a judge in Denver, Scientology hired a prostitute, had a deep undercover agent, Laura Terepin, working on me, helping me with the deposition, saying there are people other than
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who they are. You know, this is an annoyance response to what had been happening to me. You see I clearly speak about private investigators following me.
In Denver, very strange things happened.
Q What do you mean, they hired a prostitute?
A A prostitute.
You know, this guy from Denver — there was a private investigative agency in Denver that was watching me. He brought a woman who said it was his sister, who was a whore. She got a room directly across the street from my — not across the street, across the hall from my room in the hotel that I was staying in.
And when I came out — and she was a beautiful woman, you know. “Oh, can you help me get my key,” on and on and start this conversation.
This guy says, “This is my sister. We’re just in town.”
Suitable guise. Mr. Sharp will explain it to you. And they started this whole routine of, “Come on. Party with us tonight. We’ve got drugs, we have this. We’ve got whatever.”
I’m supposed to testify. I literally had to get rid of them.
The other person, Laura Terepin was — her real name wasn’t Laura Terepin.
Jolie Steckart, specifically paid by Scientology
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to infiltrate Mr. Dan Leipold’s office as I sat there writing my declaration for his case.
It was these kind of things that annoyed me, and I would write these things.
Q So when this hooker came to your room, you told her to leave?
A Yes.
Q Or did you —
A We were at the bar. And then she wanted to come to the room. I’m like, “No, I have to testify.”
Q But I think you testified previously that she actually — you let her come to your room and you did something with her. Right?
A No. I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I — I think that you are fabricating that.
Q Now, when you say in the first sentence: “It seems some people (Miscavige) just don’t have the guts to quit when it’s over,” what did you mean by that?
A What I meant specifically by that is that I came into the case — the FACTNet case — Scientology had brought an action against FACTNet for copyright — certain copyright violations.
And — Mmm — I — I remember vividly the whole issue of copyrights in Scientology. I have given a — a detailed affidavit about it.
But the fact of the matter is the copyrights — or
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at least some of them — were completely bogus. And the filings of the copyrights were filed under false premises.
I did an affidavit against that concerning that — concerning that naming specifically the people that were involved. Another officer, staff member, Pat Brice, was involved, because after Mr. Miscavige dismantled the Guardian’s Office, there was always a section in Scientology, according to its own policy, to register trademarks and copyrights all of the time.
Q That is what you meant —
A Excuse me I’m still talking. And they let that lapse a period of time. So you had a large section of materials that they claim copyright protection for which, in fact, they did not have. And I was able to identify what that was.
Q So that is what you meant when you said, “When it’s over, they just don’t have the guts to know when it’s over”?
A Correct. They submit false documents to the Court. I point out to the Court that the documents are false and show them how, is specifically what I mean there.
Q The third paragraph, the last sentence, where you say: “Can’t you just –” talking about Miscavige now, “Can’t you just take it like a man? Soon you’ll be in a place where you’ll be taking it like a man regularly,” that
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is sort of like the Miss Cabbage thing, you’re talking about him being in jail and sexually assaulted?
A I’m talking about him being incarcerated for being involved in criminal activity.
THE COURT: Was this a posting to David Miscavige, or somebody else?
THE WITNESS: No. It was that newsgroup, alt.religion.scientology.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Let me show you another one. You did hundreds of these things?
A I don’t think so.
Q You just felt compelled, as an expert, to go on this alt.religion.scientology and say obscene things about David Miscavige?
A At the time of these writings, I was not operating — I don’t think I was — I don’t know. I don’t remember. I don’t think I was an expert in this — I think I came in here in December of ’99 when —
THE COURT: I mean, there are people that learn things from this case. Mr. Prince, if you are going to ever testify in another case, you ought to learn not to post things on an Internet, especially not to be involved in vulgar demonstrations. They’ll always come back to haunt you in a court proceeding.
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Just like I hope Mr. Dandar learned, whether you call it picket or vigil, if you are a lawyer, you ought not to be there.
There are certain things you need to have learned. I hope you learned that.
THE WITNESS: Your Honor, that is a true statement. I have learned that from Judge Moody. He taught me quite a bit about how I needed to act in relationship to this.
And you are right, I have had some indiscretions. All right, if we need to talk about that, we will.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I showed you what I marked as Defendant’s Exhibit 220. Do you see that, Mr. Prince?
A Yes, I do.
Q Do you remember writing that open letter to David Miscavige?
A Uh-huh.
THE COURT: That is a yes?
THE WITNESS: Yes. I’m sorry. Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And — and this is when you are definitely involved as an expert, you already worked on Wollersheim, you already reviewed the PC folders for Mr. Dandar.
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Correct?
A Quite possibly I’ll agree with you there.
Q And so you say in the first paragraph: “How desperate you must feel. If you sit quietly and listen carefully, you will hear it.”
MR. DANDAR: Objection. I need to have the question asked of the witness to identify this document and make sure it is his.
MR. WEINBERG: He just did.
A This is my document. Yes.
MR. DANDAR: It doesn’t have headers on it. That is all.
THE COURT: Well, he has identified it, so —
MR. DANDAR: All right.
A Yes.
THE COURT: You are introducing this?
MR. WEINBERG: Yes, I am.
THE COURT: It will be received.
MR. WEINBERG: And I —
THE COURT: Honestly, I’ll tell you the same thing, I don’t need you to read it to me. If there is some part you want to point to —
MR. WEINBERG: Really, the first paragraph and last paragraph.
THE COURT: Okay.
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A Yes, I wrote — I wrote the first paragraph, all of the paragraphs in the middle, all of the way to the end.
And I think if you read this whole thing, you’ll see that I’m upset, I’m very peeved over the fact on Page 2, second paragraph, that —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q I didn’t ask about Page 2. I asked about the first paragraph. That is all I asked you.
A Oh, okay.
Q And the last paragraph. You wrote that, where you quote the Bible?
A Correct.
Q And the reason for quoting this passage from Revelations about “Avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth” was what?
A Well, you know, if you know this passage, these are the saints that died for righteousness but evil and corruption carries on. And when the fifth seal is opened, biblically speaking, the saints’ blood will be avenged.
This is specifically what I’m talking about. And how this relates to Miscavige and Scientology is the corruption — the agonizing activity that I had to go through to deal with my children, my father, old girlfriends, Scientology did their noisy investigation on me.
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I wish I would have had this document when Mr. Dandar was asking me do you remember noisy investigations. They ran around to my entire family. I had to go to Chicago, I had to go to Minneapolis, to Memphis, Tennessee, to deal with friends and associates and family as a result of Scientology doing their, quote/unquote, noisy investigation, spreading lies and false information about me.
THE COURT: Are you done with Number 220? We need to take our break.
MR. WEINBERG: We offer 220. And I do also offer 219, the one before that.
THE COURT: That will be received, too. And we’ll go ahead and take our afternoon break. It is 25 after. A 20-minute break.
MR. WEINBERG: Thank you.
(WHEREUPON, a recess was taken from 3:25 to 3:50.)
______________________________________THE COURT: You may continue.
MR. WEINBERG: Thank you. At the break I had one more of these things I was going to mark. I’ll go on. That is 221.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, do you recognize Defense Exhibit 221 as a posting which you made on or about August 6 of
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1998?
A If you’ll give me just one minute —
Q Sure.
A — to review this document, please, I’ll indicate it for you.Okay, yes. I do remember this document.
MR. WEINBERG: All right. I’ll offer this, your Honor. I have a couple questions to ask on it.
THE COURT: All right. It will be received.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, this is one of the first postings you made after you had joined the ranks of working against Scientology, correct?
A I would hardly characterize it as that. But this is one of the first postings that I made on the Internet concerning Scientology. Yes.
Q All right. Now, in that first paragraph you say, second sentence: “You know, I just can’t refer to Scientology as a church in any way. It would be an insult to all religions.” Do you see that?
A Yes.
Q And that is how you feel today, isn’t it?
A You know, it is not. And I can explain to you why.
Q You don’t need to.
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A Okay. Then I have answered the question.
Q So you think it’s a church?
A Correct.
Q So you just sent this out of some hatred?
MR. DANDAR: Objection. He didn’t want him to explain it. Now he’s asking him. So let the man explain his answer.
THE COURT: Well, I think that was a different question. And I think that Mr. Prince is capable of answering that question, then I think he can explain it.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You sent this out of some hatred for Scientology?
A Mmm, no, sir.
Q Now, if you go to the fourth paragraph where it says, I quote:
“The bottom line is that the hierarchy of Scientology is composed of people who are very, very, very mentally ill, sick people of the worst sort. Why? Because they are sick and don’t know it. In all honesty, I hope to reach them so they can wake up and start getting well like I have and others have.”
You wrote that, right?
A Correct.
Q Wasn’t that what you have, in essence, been doing for the last four years, trying to get rid of the hierarchy
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of Scientology, including David Miscavige?
A You know, that is not exactly what I say here, to get rid of those people. I said I hope that I could reach them so that they can wake up and start getting well themselves.
Q Now, you — the truth is, isn’t it, Mr. Prince, that you and Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks, the A team, had a ball with regard to all this picketing you-all participate in over the last four years?
A I’m sorry, I hardly can agree to that, Mr. Weinberg. I wouldn’t call it a ball.
Q You had a lot of fun doing it, wouldn’t you say?
A I wouldn’t say that either, Mr. Weinberg.
Q You remember the first time that you went to New Hampshire and — and — and encountered picketing in New Hampshire?
A Yes, when Scientologists came in and picketed Mr. Minton’s home.
Q Right. And that was on Mr. Minton’s — that was on Ms. Brooks’ harassment time line. Right?
A It very well could have been. Sure.
Q And do you remember that you were there with Mr. Minton and that you-all were laughing and giggling and making fun of the Scientologists, the few that came by in the cars? You called it a drive-by —
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A The picketers, yes, it was amusing because the Scientologists came by and stood in the road with their signs, and it is quite a narrow road up in New Hampshire, there aren’t sidewalks where Mr. Minton lives. So a state trooper came and asked them not to stand in the road because it was dangerous. It was actually kind of a blind curve by Mr. Minton’s house that makes it dangerous, being there are no sidewalks.
And what was particularly amusing about what the Scientologists resorted to at that point is that they — Mmm — went around and pulled their cars way back, then took their picket signs out the window, because they were too big to stick through the window, and they held them outside of the car and drove back and forth. I thought that was pretty pathetic.
Q And you and Mr. Minton had anti-Scientology signs, correct?
A Mr. Minton had signs.
Q You did, too?
A No. I never owned a picket sign myself.
Q You never held a picket sign?
A I never owned —
Q I didn’t ask you whether you owned it.
A I’m sorry.
Q You had a sign. There were signs there that you
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and Mr. Minton had, correct? Anti-Scientology signs?
A That may or may not be correct. I don’t specifically recall.
Q All right. Do you remember doing a posting with regard to that incident that appears on the harassment time line?
A I do. But — but, Mr. Weinberg, I have to say this because, you know, you selectively are taking paragraphs out of these things and you are painting a picture here.
But really what this is about is — this last thing you handed me is about trying to help these people. I’m telling the story about something that happened to Marty Rathbun, something that might have had a psychological
impact on him that he would need help resolving.Q But that wasn’t my question. All my question was, you did another posting about this incident which appears on Mr. Minton’s harassment time line in front of his house in 1998. Correct?
A You know, I need that time line right here. I mean, I’m saying it’s possible. But if you want to pull it out, you want to show me what you’re talking about, I think I can answer the question better.
Thank you.
MR. WEINBERG: Marked as 222.
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BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You can identify this as your posting, can you not, Mr. Prince?
A Yes.
Q And in the second paragraph you say, “Bob and Jesse quickly helped with the pilot and started bullbaiting the protesters.”
When you say bullbaiting, that would suggest that you were, what, holding signs or doing something back?
A No. Bullbaiting is a term that is used in Scientology specifically to designate some of their training routines. The training routines are called TRs; TRs for short.
Part of the training routine is to be able to sit across from a person without flinching and without moving when the person makes gestures or tries to do something shocking; in other words, this is a routine to train you to keep your countenance during an adverse commission, I guess.
Q In here you said, “We had great fun”?
A Correct.
Q Now, do you know why this appeared on the harassment time line if it was so much fun?
A Well, you haven’t shown me that — and I have asked you, too, to show me on the time line. So I can’t answer these questions — you know, you are referring to
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something that I don’t have in front of me. I can’t see it.Q I thought from the testimony yesterday that you had reviewed the time line pretty closely?
THE COURT: Well, believe me, he has. It’s a very long thing. I think it’s a fair request. If you want him to specifically note whether it is on the time line or not, show him the time line.
MR. WEINBERG: I will.
THE COURT: My recollection is that document was extremely long.
MR. DANDAR: It is. And, Judge, I object to 222 because there has definitely been editing done. Right after “barbecue” and before the word “soup,” something is taken out.
MR. WEINBERG: No, it is not. You knew exactly what it is.
THE WITNESS: Where is that at?
MR. DANDAR: Where it said, “You invited Minton for barbecue,” after “barbecue” there is a blank, then there is “soup.”
THE COURT: 222, you are talking about?
MR. DANDAR: Yes. Right here.
THE WITNESS: Second paragraph? Oh, yes, you are right. You are right. It has been edited.
Something has been deleted from there.
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BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q What was there? Because we didn’t edit anything.
A Yes, maybe you didn’t, but your client did. And I know specifically why.
What it said, “We were having BT and cluster soup.” BT is part of the secret cosmology of the upper levels of Scientology. So this has been, in fact, edited.
MR. DANDAR: I object to it. It is an altered document.
MR. WEINBERG: Are you testifying, first of all?
MR. DANDAR: I’m objecting to it based on Mr. Prince’s testimony. It’s an altered document by the defendant.
MR. WEINBERG: He identified it before, your Honor.
THE COURT: Well, Mr. Dandar just indicated that it had been altered. And so if it now — I’ll ask you, Mr. Prince, is that the original document, or has it been altered?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor, this has been altered. This is not the original.
THE COURT: If you have one that has not been altered, then it will be admissible.
MR. WEINBERG: First of all, we didn’t alter
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anything.
THE COURT: I didn’t say you did. But if — I mean, I’m happy to write in the original what was there if Mr. Prince remembers it and everybody agrees.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Do you remember what was there?
A I remember exactly what was there. It says we were having barbecue BTs and cluster soup. “BTs” and “clusters” are words Scientologists aren’t allowed to use outside of Scientology.
Q So it’s a derogatory thing?
A No, there is nothing derogatory about BTs and clusters. This is a reality – something they believe in.
Q Well, I —
A But they are sensitive to it, so they altered the document.
MR. DANDAR: And I would object. If there is any more altered documents, that they not attempt to use them, or tell you in advance.
THE COURT: You just heard counsel say he did not know or believe it had been altered. So be careful, though, when you look at your documents.
That does look like something is missing from there. But I do know on my own E-Mails sometimes they
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all get askew and don’t seem to line up right. I was on the Florida Supreme Court website looking up stuff on the death penalty cases. And all of a sudden they go and they just stop. So you can’t tell by looking.
MR. DANDAR: But this one —
THE COURT: That one does appear to be where there is something clearly missing. So —
MR. WEINBERG: It obviously was not what I was focusing on, BT and cluster soup. But with the record indicating what Mr. Prince was saying was there, I offer the exhibit.
THE COURT: Take the original back and write it in.
MR. WEINBERG: Sure.
THE COURT: And ask Mr. Prince if that is what he recalls it said and, if so, then we can admit it with that —
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll let him write it because I don’t know — I assume how to spell it but I’m not sure how to spell it.
THE COURT: BT , is that like two initials.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Here. Do it like this.
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THE COURT: Everybody make notations on your copies. Cluster is C-L-U-S-T-E-R.
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay. And the original has “BT” and that he wrote in.
THE COURT: Okay. That will be admitted.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you remember that at this —
A Excuse me.
Q I wanted to show you the harassment time line. Let me show you what has been previously marked as the harassment time line, the “Time Line of Scientology Harassment of Robert Minton and Colleagues.”
I show you the entry for September 7, 1998. It says: “Scientologists picketed Mr. Minton’s home in New Hampshire again but it was done in a car with picket signs held out of the car window.”
A Correct.
Q So that was the incident, right?
A Yes.
Q Now, I want to play this. This is that — you remember you-all videoed this?
A I don’t remember videoing the incident, but let’s see what you have got.
Here is your pen, by the way —
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______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Don’t block her sign now, Jesse. I’ve gotta get a picture of that good sign.
“Okay. Let me put mine up.
“Okay, yeah.
“Hey, Maureen, just out here having a little chat.
So did you see that last — “(Inaudible.) I don’t know. All I can say is when I was in your position, there was a lot of —
“That you’re a staunch Scientologist. And it’s dangerous for you to believe otherwise because you’d be wrong.”
______________________________________
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Those are Mr. Minton’s signs?
A Correct.
______________________________________“Drive-by pickets. That’s cool.”
______________________________________MR. DANDAR: Could we clarify the people in the car are Scientologists?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q They are, aren’t they, Mr. Prince?
A They are. OSA personnel.
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______________________________________“Damn dumb asses. I got ’em. See, what they need, what they need is like a — what they need — what they need is a chain — I mean a long line of cars.
“They just don’t seem to be able to get more than two —
“Yeah.
“– for these little New Hampshire things.
“Hey, it’s an hour from Boston, man.
“Ain’t it pathetic. One person holding one sign out the window. And then when they go by this way, the driver can’t do it so the fucking sign’s over there. Oh, my God. How pathetic.
“They must think this is having some kind of terrible psychological impact.
“Yes, it’s just entertaining as all hell.
“Here they come.
“Okay.
(Inaudible.)
“Hey, you fucking idiot.
“They don’t have enough nerve to try to run over me.
“Me, either. I stood there, too. I just stood in the middle of the road and got ’em driving up.
“Look at this. This is a good one.
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“Here they come again. That’s when they were coming earlier. That’s all I got of them so far, but the two of them are good.
“Yeah.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________MR. WEINBERG: That is it?
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So you were having fun, you and Mr. Minton, in this thing on the harassment time line?
A Mmm, you know, Mr. Weinberg, I think even I said on that tape it was just an annoyance that they do it; though it was pathetic and though it was funny, it’s annoying. Now, you made a huge point about how harassed Scientology feels about being picketed. But when these people come by and picket, we’re supposed to be having fun. You can’t have it both ways.
Q Well, what do you call what they were doing, by the way? Do you call that harassment? Or do you call that the First Amendment?
A They were exercising their First Amendment rights.
But what happened that was harassing is that Bob and I didn’t have a clue they were even out there until they parked their cars, ran up to the door, knocked on the door
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screaming, “Minton, Minton, Minton,” then ran back to their cars. This is the only way they let us know they were there.
We are upstairs fooling around on the computers. These guys are banging on the doors. We wonder, what the heck. We run down. And we got the drive-by pickets going on.
Q They didn’t shout obscenities?
A Absolutely. “Where is your whore, Minton?” This kind of thing. Absolutely.
Q You didn’t hear that on the tape, though, did you?
A Well, of course not. Because what I’m speaking about is when they knocked on the door, and we were way in the back of the house. They wanted to make themselves known. Now, what they’re doing, going up and down there,
okay.Q Now, after this, after September of 1998, was this your first encounter with picketing, having signs and stuff like that?
A It could have been.
Q Now, after this, for the next — for the next four years, or almost four years, Mr. Minton and you and Ms. Brooks and other people affiliated with the Lisa McPherson Trust did all kinds of pickets in front of Scientology buildings, shouting obscenities, making threats,
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interfering with — with Scientologists going into their buildings and the like, didn’t you?
A That is categorically false.
MR. WEINBERG: Could you play the first tape, please. This is May 27 — this is again — this is the Lisa McPherson Trust.
______________________________________
(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Stick this in the right place. Scientology is a scam. A white meter. Fucking criminal. David Miscavige is a white Jew. He will be a convicted criminal.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, do you consider that harassment of the Church of Scientology? That was out in front of the church in Boston, wasn’t it?
A Yes. Was I there?
Q I’m asking you, do you consider that harassment?
MR. DANDAR: Objection. He’s not there. He should not be asked to comment about —
THE COURT: I think he can comment on that.
Overruled.
A You know, what I see there, that little snippet that you showed me, I would say yes, that is a bit annoying
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and harassing.
But I also suspect, because when Bob Minton would go out and picket, he would just be quiet, he wouldn’t say a word, he would just walk up and down the street.
But then the OSA people would come out, Maureen Garde, the person I was walking with in the previous video, they would come out and start talking to Mr. Minton about things from his therapy sessions.
This is where the therapy information started, in picketing the Boston org. And they would kind of whip him into a frenzy. And the whole idea was to bait Mr. Minton to make him look like an ass.
Well, you know, I agree everyone ended up looking like an ass on some of those things, but, you know, let’s put this in perspective, because these little snips aren’t going to work. These people were specifically targeting Mr. Minton to do psychological terrorism on him.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, is it a bit annoying that Mr. Minton said that L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige were wife beaters?
That is a bit annoying?
A And I’m sure he’s annoyed because Mrs. Maureen Garde started speaking to things about — from his confidential counseling sessions with Scientology.
How Scientology got that information, God only knows, because no one will ever speak on it, will they? But that is what was
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happening there.
Q And Mr. Minton, according to your testimony, was quiet on his pickets?
A He would just be as quiet as hell. Then if he got antagonized, he would start in. And I think that was known.
And, you know, you talk about me hating Scientologists. When you saw me in that first —
THE COURT: We’re well past the answer to that question.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: Play the next one, please.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Reform Scientology now. Don’t let David Miscavige destroy Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard would not approve of what David Miscavige has done.
“It’s safe to look. It’s safe to talk. Don’t let David Miscavige destroy the Church of Scientology. Make it something you can be proud of. Dump David Miscavige. Dump David Miscavige. It’s safe to talk. It’s safe to look. Don’t let David Miscavige destroy Scientology. L. Ron Hubbard would never approve of what Miscavige is doing. (Inaudible.)
“Reform Scientology now.
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“Don’t let the introspection rundown kill you. You don’t have to die in introspection rundown. You don’t have to let Miscavige scare you to death.
“Don’t be afraid.
“Don’t let Miscavige scare you out.
“It’s okay to confront the fact that Miscavige cannot handle some pressure.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You recognize that as people including Mr. Minton from the Lisa McPherson Trust, right where the Scientologists in Clearwater go to eat, right? That is where that was, wasn’t it?
A Yes, it was.
Q And that sure sounded like a direct attack on David Miscavige, didn’t it?
A Mmm, it sounded like there was definitely some problems with Miscavige being voiced there.
Q You saw Miss Greenway there, didn’t you?
A Yes.
Q You saw David Cecere from the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A Yes. I didn’t see me, though.
Q You were the vice-president of PR at the Lisa
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McPherson Trust, weren’t you?
A That is such a fabrication, it is laughable. I have never been — had anything to do with public relations, period. Can’t you tell?
Q So what was your position at the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A I was there specifically to help people who had been in — somehow had some gripe with Scientology that they wanted to make right.
And again I’ll say it. The work that we were doing at the Lisa McPherson Trust helped Scientology because you had a lot of garbage in the street, people that were hurt, people giving you a bad name.
When we finished with those people, they signed releases saying they wouldn’t speak disparagingly about you again, they got their money and they went on their way. Okay, that part needs to be told.
Q My only question was what was your title or position in the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A Vice-president.
Q Vice-president of what?
A The Lisa McPherson Trust.
Q And what was your responsibility there?
A I’ll say it again.
THE COURT: He just already said that.
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MR. WEINBERG: That is just what he said?
THE COURT: Yes.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, were you referred to as the big boss at the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A No.
MR. WEINBERG: Play the next one, please.
_____________________________________
(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Make Scientology something to be proud of. Reform it now before David Miscavige ruins it. Find the new leaders within your organization whom you can be proud of.
“Stacy, why don’t you try to round some of them up?
“The Lisa McPherson Trust was established at 33 North Ft. Harrison Avenue in order to let the world know about the abusive practices which David Miscavige has caused Scientology to live by.
“The Lisa McPherson Trust will always be here to remind you that you have a responsibility to be good human beings. David Miscavige is ruining your organization.
“Telecommunications is one of the powerful things you have learned in Scientology. Use it.
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Try to use it to make the world a better place and start with dumping David Miscavige.
“If you ever want any help from Scientology, you can run to 33 North Ft. Harrison Avenue to the Lisa McPherson Trust.
“If you remember, Lisa McPherson is the woman who was held by Scientology for 17 days.
“The whole episode in the Church of Scientology’s Ft. Harrison Hotel was totally out-tech. Even the state prosecutor said it was totally out-tech. The whole thing was run by David Miscavige. David Miscavige is responsible for that woman’s death.
“Remember, David Miscavige is the one who performed the out-tech on Lisa McPherson.
“Remember, David Miscavige was responsible for the out-tech, out-tech handling of Lisa McPherson. She died after 17 days in captivity here.
“It was totally out-tech and you know it. You can look and smile.
“David Miscavige pulled the plug on Lisa. He pulled the plug on Hubbard’s tech. It’s time to face reality. Reform Scientology or it will be destroyed by David Miscavige.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
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______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, what was the reason that the Lisa McPherson Trust documented all these pickets by taking videos like this?
A Mmm, I think the purpose of the Lisa McPherson Trust always having the video when in close proximity to Scientology is the same reason that — for the same reason that happened to Mr. Minton when David Howe (phonetic) and another staff member — I think that was a staff member that attacked him. I personally took him to the hospital. He just raced him, no one is looking, boom.
So it became routine to take a video camera, in case something did happen that was truly criminal, that it could be documented. That was the purpose.
Q But it was for evidentiary purposes?
A Correct.
Q It wasn’t for posterity?
A Correct.
Q I mean, wasn’t this what the Lisa McPherson Trust was about — let me finish my question — to try to get rid of David Miscavige and to terrorize, using your word now, the Church of Scientology?
A I — I think Mr. Minton was very clear on what the Lisa McPherson Trust was for. And I’m glad you showed that
693
video, because he made it clear he wasn’t out to destroy Scientology, make Scientology go away, as you have, you know, suggested earlier. He wanted it to reform. He wanted the criminal activities to stop.
Why does he pick David Miscavige? I think we need to talk about it. Because you know why? He’s the man that has the private investigators do what they do. He’s the one that — that instigates these vicious attacks against individuals who have any disparaging thing to say about Scientology.
Why does Mr. Minton mention him? Because he knows he’s the person that can change it. Just like that letter that was turned into evidence concerning Bernie McCabe.
He’s the person that can do it. If anyone can do it, Mr. Miscavige can do it.
Q Right. And you accused Mr. Miscavige of murder in your affidavit, didn’t you?
A I accused of — Mr. Miscavige of letting her die?
Q Of intentionally letting her die?
A Letting her die.
Q Intentionally?
THE COURT: We’ll not get anywhere. The document speaks for itself.
MR. WEINBERG: You are right.
694
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You suggested, stated, in your affidavit, that a decision was made, an intentional premeditated decision, to let her die?
A Correct.
Q This is the same man that you shouted obscenities about, it’s the same man we are watching videos of Mr. Minton and others stand up, asking to be deposed or thrown out of position, right?
A It’s the same man I audited. It’s the same man I have been friends with many years. It’s the same man I have done training with. It’s the same man I helped myself establish and build Scientology for many years. So add that into the equation, too.
Q You think he would call you his friend?
A I think if David and I sat down and talked, he would —
THE COURT: I have heard this question and I have heard this answer at least twice.
MR. WEINBERG: Thank you.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, when Mr. Minton said the words “Out-tech” that is something that means something to a Scientologist, correct?
A Correct.
695
Q I mean, Mr. Minton, prior to getting involved with you —
THE COURT: Counselor, it is getting pretty bad to me because I understood it.
MR. WEINBERG: But — all right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q A Scientologist, or a judge that sat in a hearing for 28 days.
THE COURT: There you go.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q That is not something Mr. Minton or any of us, having not been exposed to Scientology before, would understand, correct?
A Yes.
Q And to be out — out to accuse the ecclesiastical leader of being out-tech is about as — about as serious and severe an accusation as you could possibly make against David Miscavige, isn’t it?
A Mmm, Mr. Weinberg, my answer is if the shoe fits, wear it.
Q Just answer that question.
A I did. If the shoe fits, wear it.
THE COURT: No, he wants to know if that is a serious accusation to make to other Scientologists about their ecclesiastical head. Is that a bad
696
thing to the head of Scientology to be out-tech.
THE WITNESS: Yes, it is.
THE COURT: To another Scientologist, those folks seeing that demonstration, if they believed that, would not think very highly of their leader?
THE WITNESS: Correct.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q And would you not — from looking at that video or the other videos that you have seen so far, it doesn’t look like any of the Scientologists are having a lot of fun at your demonstrations, correct?
A You know, you have only shown me specifically Mr. Minton. You haven’t shown me what the Scientologists are doing or not doing, Mr. Weinberg.
Q Well, in that video we just showed, it was —
A It was going back and forth.
THE COURT: You know what, the deal is we are showing this for —
MR. WEINBERG: That is correct.
Could you play the next one, please.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Communicate to David Miscavige that he’s fired.
“Remember Lisa McPherson.
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“When you’re eating, remember Lisa at her last meal in December of ’95, held captive by the Church of Scientology leader, David Miscavige.
(Inaudible.)
“What is not safe for you is to stand there and do nothing. Tell David Miscavige he’s wrong. Tell him that L. Ron Hubbard would never approve of what he is doing to destroy your church.
“PK, PK, don’t run away.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Does it look, in that video — I mean, and others that we’ve seen — that Mr. Minton is terrorized, harassed or anything like that?
A Mmm, it looks like Mr. Minton was picketing, to me.
Q Now —
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Okay, are we going to do the locks?
“But the — are we going to do the alarms or –” (Inaudible.)
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________698
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You were just having a big time, you and Ms. Greenway?
A You know, that is an edited video you have there. It is — there is obvious editing there, so I would be hard-pressed to draw that conclusion.
Q When it started, it started like all of the pickets started inside the offices of the LMT, correct?
A That is a mischaracterization of how pickets started because every picket did not start in the Lisa McPherson Trust. Other people picketed the Ft. Harrison that weren’t associated with the Lisa McPherson Trust or employees of the LMT — Lisa McPherson Trust.
Q That clip from the LMT film library, that one started in the LMT building, didn’t it?
A I don’t know if it started or finished there because you have shown me one tiny segment. So, you know, if I could have some perspective and see the whole thing, I would be able to comment more accurately.
Q Now, the LMT — literally at times these pickets were intended to literally shut down Clearwater around where you-all were picketing, right?
A No.
MR. WEINBERG: Play that one, please.
______________________________________699
(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Last year, we were all over the place in a clump. We shut down here, we shut down here, we shut down there. We had Flag shut down for the whole day, anyway. This year we spread out in strategic spots and shut down the whole city.
“Frank Oliver came and caused the last breach. So far about two hours now they can’t hardly move anybody any way. They can pick up people from Flag but they can’t bring them in because they have to bring them in there, and they can’t do it.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
_______________________________________
BY MR. WEINBERG:Q That is somebody from the LMT?
A Absolutely not.
Q Who is that?
A Greg Hagglund. He lives in Canada.
Q And he was down here for the picket in December?
A Looking at that date of that, he was down for the picket and vigil. People come from all over the United States and even Europe for that. They were doing that long before the Lisa McPherson Trust ever existed or it was here in Clearwater. So, you know, it would be a real bad stretch to think that, you know, he’s working at the trust because
700
he’s picketing.
Q Well, is there a particular reason why the trust had that tape in its film library?
A Maybe someone videotaped it and gave it to the trust, Mr. Weinberg.
Q Well, who was the videotaper for the trust?
A Mark Bunker.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Remember Lisa McPherson. Okay, let’s go. (Inaudible.)
“– is one of our old friends.
“Yes. Some other friends from Germany, too.
“That is a good one, too.
“Where else would you like –”
(Inaudible.)
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Those are all people from the Lisa McPherson Trust, weren’t they?
A False.
Q Oh, Miss Caberta was from Germany, your guest over here?
A Ms. Caberta was here on vacation. Mrs. Caberta.
701
And if you will recall, you yourself earlier said she’s employed by the German government. So, you know, she’s not LMT. She’s just like you said, employed by the German government.
Q This was an LMT-sponsored picket in front of the Ft. Harrison Hotel?
A LMT has never, to my knowledge, sponsored a picket.
Q Is there a particular reason why Mr. Merrett was at that picket?
A I believe Mr. Merrett was at the picket to make sure that nothing happened, there were no altercations, no scuffles, no — you know, you’ll notice this, people, for the most part, are just silently walking up and down the street.
They are not screaming at Scientology itself or yelling at Scientologists; they are exercising their constitutional right to protest.
Q Do you think it might be somewhat harassing to the — on the doorstep of the mecca of Scientologists with signs saying “Blood of Lisa McPherson on your hands” and things like that?
A You know, I can see where someone could draw that inference or conclusion. But the inference and conclusion I draw is people were exercising their constitutional right.
If it was even a civil crime, they would have been sued out
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of existence.
Q Do you remember that the Lisa McPherson Trust — people documented by Lisa McPherson Trust video picketed in front of the Ft. Harrison Hotel when a Hindu wedding was going on? A Hindu wedding?
A No, I was not there. I know nothing about it.
Q As your position as the VP of the Lisa McPherson Trust, you don’t remember that one?
A Correct.
MR. WEINBERG: Why don’t we show that.
THE WITNESS: Was I present here?
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Well, Jesus, that is one thing Scientology didn’t believe in or any other religion, isn’t that right, guys? Isn’t that right? Isn’t that right? That is all — let’s let all of the Nazis come out.
“People are trying to have a wedding, sir.
“What is that?
“Hey, this is fine.
“They’re just trying to have a wedding. They are not —
“Listen, it’s not my fault they got married here.
“Come on now.
“This is a public sidewalk, buddy, so don’t start
703
pushing.
“This is not — (inaudible).
“This is a public sidewalk. Let’s get out of the way. It is still a public sidewalk. Okay?
“When you get out of Scientology, your luck will — (Inaudible.)
“Let’s go. Let’s go.
“Let’s go.
“Come on.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Why did the LMT put that in its film library?
A I think that every — and I’m not sure if this is not Mr. Mark Bunker’s film library that you are referring to — but, you know, we’re — we’re looking at here your two star witnesses. You are showing me videos of your witnesses that you have used in this hearing to testify for you. What are we doing here?
Q I think you said that this is the most harassed person you have ever seen. Does it look like Mr. Minton is the most harassed person you have ever seen when he’s standing there with a sign with skulls on it in front of the Ft. Harrison —
704
THE COURT: Don’t —
MR. WEINBERG: I’m sorry.
THE COURT: — raise your voice up to this witness and start approaching him.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m sorry.
THE COURT: I won’t have it. And I’m not going to remind you again.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q With a sign with skulls on it, interrupting a Hindu wedding?
A Mr. Weinberg, I agree with you what happened there — what happened was extremely inappropriate. And I don’t agree with it. And you didn’t see me there.
Q I’ll show you one you are at, Mr. Prince.
By the way, before you play that, that tape was done — the one we just played was done in — in September of 2000.
You were full-time at the Lisa McPherson Trust, correct?
A That is possible, yes.
Q Not possible. That is correct?
A I said it’s possible.
Q Why do you say it’s possible? I mean —
A Because I’m not sure when I made that transition from — I’ll explain it to you, I’m not trying to be coy
705
here, but there came a point in time when my work with Mr. Dandar involved doing a bunch of depositions of Scientology staff members or Scientologists or whatever and we worked together quite a bit then.
But then there came a period of time when it was time for the medical experts. Those people are the experts. He certainly didn’t need me there. So there came a point in time when I started working at the Lisa McPherson Trust.
Q In September of 2000 when that took place, you were on the payroll of the Lisa McPherson Trust, correct?
A It is possible, yes.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Jesse is — this is — Jesse, show him what you’re going to do if they come at you.
“Drop and fall. That is all. I’m going to fall down.
“Hey —
“You know what (inaudible).
“That is a good idea.
“Full resistance, that is our motto.
“How are you going to do it?
“Just carry the sign.
“Oh, my God.
“Kind of like the Three Stooges.
706
“The St. Pete Police.
“Yes, I told them I would be there by quarter to seven.
“Oh, God.
“Let’s do this.
“Guys, remember what we all agree with. We’re all staying together.
“Yes, boss.
(Inaudible.)
“Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay, well — Mmm, no.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, that is one of your six pickets?
A Rhetorical.
Q Excuse me?
A That is one of the six pickets I have probably been in.
Q And in that video we saw Patricia Greenway, correct, who is in the audience, right?
A Show it to me again. I missed that.
THE COURT: Yes, she was there.
THE WITNESS: Okay. I’ll take your word.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Peter Alexander, who testified in this hearing?
707
THE COURT: I don’t know if he was there or not.
MR. WEINBERG: He was.
THE COURT: I didn’t recognize him, but —
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q The gentleman, sort of young guy in the pink or red shirt, that was Graham Berry, correct?
A Correct.
Q The lawyer from LA?
A Correct.
Q Now, your sign, “Mafia Cult”?
A Correct.
Q And that was —
A In relationship to the black operations that are run out of OSA.
Q And you were picketing, you walked from the LMT — this was an LMT operation, wasn’t it? That is where you-all left from, from the LMT?
A Yes.
Q And at that point, you were full-time at the LMT?
A I — I’ll stipulate to that, sure.
Q Except you were still working for Mr. Dandar, you were still doing stuff on the Lisa McPherson case, weren’t you?
A Well, you know, as I said, Mr. Weinberg, there
708came a time when Mr. Dandar was solely doing medical experts. There was certainly no need for me to sit there through that.
MR. WEINBERG: One second, your Honor.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, you, Mr. Dandar and a number of other people from the LMT were at the closing when Mr. Minton closed on the purchase of the building either at the — at the beginning — January 5 of 2000, is that right?
A I believe that is correct.
Q And Mr. Dandar was — and you and Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks were very enthusiastic about the LMT and how the LMT was going to — to operate. Correct?
A Yes.
Q And Ms. Liebreich was very enthusiastic about the LMT opening, correct?
A I don’t think Mrs. Liebreich was there.
Q But do you remember that the first phone call that was made was made to Ms. Liebreich, and you talked to her, among other people?
A I think I remember something about that, yes.
Q And she was very enthusiastic about that. Right?
A She was very happy and proud that the last wishes of Fannie McPherson were actually taking effect, which was to expose any deceptive and abusive processes by
709
Scientology, you know.
Mr. Minton is — just wants reform, tired of people calling, tired of people saying, “Can you please help.”
Q Your testimony, I believe, was — and correct me if I’m wrong — that you never met with Mr. Dandar for any purpose — for any meeting type purpose at the LMT. Is that right?
A Correct.
Q Now, do you remember at this opening that — at this closing where, in essence, the LMT was opening, that you described — or someone described what your position and responsibility was going to be at the LMT?
A I don’t recall it specifically, Mr. Weinberg.
Q And you deny it was in charge of PR, right?
A Correct.
MR. WEINBERG: If you could play that, please.
This is another video from the LMT.
______________________________________(WHEREUPON, the video was played.)
“Ken, I’m sorry there’s no more chairs.
“It is okay.
“Sign first — (inaudible).
“You want to sit down? Here is the — these are the — (inaudible).
710
“Did you bring the property insurance papers?
“Of course not.
“You didn’t?
(Inaudible.)
“You mean the balance, it’s everything you did fax me yesterday.
(Inaudible).
“The insurance papers are the closing paper for the mortgage.
“Yeah. Right. Right.
(Inaudible.)
“That is okay. That is okay.
“It’s just that we don’t have the check for him — or, we have the check but — (inaudible).
“How are we going to do it? How are you going to do it?
(Inaudible.)
“No, I’ll just tell you to send a check and how much it is. (Inaudible.) It’s a binder.
(Inaudible.)
“If Scott has a fax machine I can fax it to him.
“Hang on one second. Okay?
“Yes.
“Okay.”
711
______________________________________BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Is that Tom Tobin from the St. Pete Times?
A I believe it is.
______________________________________“This is Steve Mitchell. This is Jesse Prince.
“Nice to meet you, Jesse.
“Nice to meet you.
“He’s an expert on Scientology in the Lisa McPherson case. He’s going to be also working at the trust.
“Oh. Terrific.
(Inaudible.)
“So he has an idea of what we’re dealing with. Big time, right?
“Big time, Bobby. This is too cool.
“Jesse, what are you going to do with this organization?
“Make it as successful as possible.
“I mean, what’s your job or what — do you have functions or duties or —
“I’m on the board of directors. And I’m going to just, you know, be here with the organization, get it through its initial phase of establishing itself, and run around and do public relations.
“Oh, really.
712
“Yes.
“He’s also an expert on the Lisa McPherson case so he’s going to be spending a lot of time with Ken Dandar so he’ll be –”
(Inaudible.)
“He’s been working, you know, intimately with Ken on this case for a long time.
“Oh.
(Inaudible.)
“You mean, does he own the building now?
“Thank you very much. Thank you. Scott.
“Thank you.
“Thank you very much. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.
“I wish you the best. I hope you do well with this.
“Thank you.
“Scott’s been under a lot of pressure, I’m sure.
“Congratulations.
“Thank you.
“Jesse.
“Hey, Ken?
“Hey, Ken?
“So anybody want to open that champagne?
(Inaudible.)
713
“Ken, your comments?
“Well, I think this is a good day for downtown Clearwater.
“Hi, Mike. How is it going?
“Happy New Year.
“We just closed on the building.
“Okay. Call me.
“I have a binder in my office.”
(End of playing of the video tape.)
______________________________________MR. DANDAR: Could we have a stipulation that was edited by the defense?
MR. WEINBERG: I mean —
THE COURT: I don’t know if it was or not.
MR. WEINBERG: I mean, Mr. Bunker edited a lot of these tapes before he ever gave them to us. I mean —
MR. DANDAR: Well, whatever.
MR. WEINBERG: I mean —
THE COURT: All I can say, Counselor, it is available for you to get a copy of, so —
MR. DANDAR: I know.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, what was the Lisa McPherson trial consultant and the Lisa McPherson case lawyer doing at the closing of
714
the LMT building?
A It looks like they were partaking in the festivities, to me.
Q It does to me, too, Mr. Prince.
A Yeah.
Q Now, when Ms. Brooks said that you were going to be doing public relations, was your first job to get Tom Tobin from the St. Pete Times there?
A You know, I think that is a leap in logic. And I think the person that actually said doing public relations stuff was me. I don’t think it was Ms. Brooks.
Q All right, I stand corrected. When you said you were doing public relations, what did you mean?
A I think that that was just an offhand comment. And I didn’t even know what I meant. Maybe I had some intention on doing something public relations-wise.
But what factually ended up happening is once the door opened, the phones started ringing. And as I mentioned, you know, getting through the initial establishment part, to find out exactly what our role is going to be, it simply turned into servicing current and ex-Scientology members.
Q The way you got your message out was to carry signs and picket in front of the Church of Scientology?
A That was the one thing that was done.
715
Q And — but at this time when this started in January 5 of 2000, you were in charge of public relations but you were being paid by Mr. Dandar to be a so-called expert in the Lisa McPherson case. Correct?
A That is totally incorrect. There was no public relations. I was not doing public relations, orchestrating public relations, media contact.
Mr. Weinberg, if you have shown anything with the indiscretion I have used, public relations is not anything that I would even pretend to be versed in, so, you know, let’s move on.
THE COURT: I’m going to tolerate about one more of these, then I can’t stand any more for the day. I still do not know why we’re playing all of these, but —
MR. WEINBERG: I can explain.
THE COURT: I’ll let you do that in closing argument, but I can only stand one more today, so play it and —
MR. WEINBERG: I’ll play one more and it will be this one.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: December 2, picket across from the Ft. Harrison.
I want you to look for Mr. Dandar here. All
716
right?
THE WITNESS: Okay. All right.
THE COURT: What is the date again, Counselor?
MR. WEINBERG: December 2, 2000.
THE WITNESS: Was I at this picket?
(WHEREUPON, the video was played. No audio available.)
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q You recognize the person with the sign was Frank Oliver?
A Yes.
Q You recognize Teresa Summers? She testified in this case.
A Yes.
Q You recognize yourself?
A Yes.
Q You recognize Mr. Merrett?
A Yes.
Q You recognize Mr. Minton?
A Yes.
Q You recognize Mr. Dandar. Correct?
A Yes.
Q And that was in front of the Ft. Harrison during a picket, wasn’t it?
THE COURT: I didn’t see any signs except
717
one — I did not see what I would classify as a picket.
A There was no picket. And I remember this incident, if you’ll let me explain it to you.
Bob Minton had come into town and Ken needed to talk to him or see him for something. Mr. Dandar simply stopped by. Mr. Dandar was not a part of any picket or doing anything. He simply knew where Mr. Minton was going to be, he came there, spoke with him and left.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q So what were you-all doing there?
THE COURT: I saw folks across the street, Counsel, that had signs, then somebody said hi, went across the street. That is where Mr. Dandar was.
The sign was down. The only one person that had it, they were talking, then somebody put a sign up and went off like there was something else going on someplace else.
I don’t think it would be fair to classify what Mr. Dandar was in was a picket. I could not tell they were in front of any hotel, either.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Well, you recognize that was across from the Ft. Harrison?
A No, I do not.
718
THE COURT: I don’t know where it was because I couldn’t tell. It looked like a street corner. It might have been. I don’t recognize that.
MR. DANDAR: I can tell you, Judge. It was catty-corner across the street from the Ft. Harrison. These people with signs who were across the street from me, across the street from the Ft. Harrison, were standing in front of the new Super Power building. But I wasn’t part of any picket.
That is right.
BY MR. WEINBERG:
Q Now, was Mr. Merrett part of the picket?
A No, he was not.
Q Were you?
A No, I was not.
Q So you had been — so all these LMT people were sort of off to the side, and there were other LMT people that were holding signs?
A You know, again, Counselor, I’m not trying to be difficult here. You are showing snippets and you are drawing conclusions. The conclusion that I see from this snippet is we are simply standing there having a conversation. No one but no one is picketing.
THE COURT: Looks like there was getting ready to be a picket. There were people with signs, but
719
when they saw Dandar, it looks like somebody waved, walked across the street, the guy that had the sign, whoever that was, the one, put his sign down. When he picked up the sign, he went walking off to where I would presume a picket was going on. But those other folks were across the street that must have been going for a picket, I’m guessing.
MR. WEINBERG: You said that was the last one you wanted to see.
THE COURT: That is absolutely the last one I want to see.
It is 5 o’clock. We’re done for the day.
We’ll see you at 9 o’clock tomorrow.
MR. WEINBERG: Thank you. Have a good night.
(WHEREUPON, Court stands in recess at 5 o’clock.)
_____________________________________720
REPORTER’S CERTIFICATE
STATE OF FLORIDA )
COUNTY OF PINELLAS )I, LYNNE J. IDE, Registered Merit Reporter, certify that I was authorized to and did stenographically report the proceedings herein, and that the transcript is a true and complete record of my stenographic notes.
I further certify that I am not a relative, employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties, nor am I a relative or employee of any of the parties’ attorney or counsel connected with the action, nor am I financially interested in the action.
DATED this 9th day of July, 2002.
______________________________
LYNNE J. IDE, RMR
Notes
Testimony of Jesse Prince (Volume 4) (July 9, 2002)
0467
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO. 00-5682-CI-11DELL LIEBREICH, as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF LISA McPHERSON,
Plaintiff,vs.
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FLAG SERVICE ORGANIZATION, JANIS JOHNSON, ALAIN KARTUZINSKI and DAVID HOUGHTON, D.D.S.,
Defendants.
_______________________________________/PROCEEDINGS: Defendants’ Omnibus Motion for Terminating Sanctions and Other Relief.
Testimony of Jesse Prince.
VOLUME 4
DATE: July 9, 2002.
PLACE: Courtroom B, Judicial Buiding
St. Petersburg, Florida.BEFORE: Hon. Susan F. Schaeffer, Circuit Judge.
REPORTED BY: Donna M. Kanabay RMR, CRR, Notary Public, State of Florida at large.
0468
APPEARANCES:
MR. KENNAN G. DANDAR
DANDAR & DANDAR
5340 West Kennedy Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33602
Attorney for Plaintiff.MR. LUKE CHARLES LIROT
LUKE CHARLES LIROT, PA
112 N East Street, Street, Suite B
Tampa, FL 33602-4108
Attorney for Plaintiff.MR. KENDRICK MOXON
MOXON & KOBRIN
1100 Cleveland Street, Suite 900
Clearwater, FL 33755
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. LEE FUGATE and MR. MORRIS WEINBERG, JR. and ZUCKERMAN, SPAEDER
101 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 1200
Tampa, FL 33602-5147
Attorneys for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. ERIC M. LIEBERMAN
RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD
740 Broadway at Astor Place
New York, NY 10003-9518
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. STEPHEN WEIN
BATTAGLIA ROSS DICUS & WEIN
980 Tyrone Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33743
Attorney for Mr. Minton.0469
INDEX TO PROCEEDINGS AND EXHIBITS
PAGE LINE
Recess 535 10
Recess 580 3
Reporter’s Certificate 581 10470
(The proceedings resumed at 10:05 a.m.)
[… Other court business.]
THE COURT: Okay. I’m ready for Mr. Prince.
MR. DANDAR: All right. Thank you.
THE COURT: He’s still under oath. Same oath he’s taken. You only have to take it once.
You may continue, Mr. Dandar.
MR. DANDAR: Thank you.
THE COURT: Mr. Wein, you’re going to hear some unusual evidentiary rulings here, because we’re dealing with things like, perhaps, state of mind of your client. However, you don’t have — you’re just — your client is nothing but a witness in this hearing. Therefore, as I told Mr. Battaglia yesterday —
MR. WEIN: I understand I can listen but I shouldn’t be standing up and objecting.
THE COURT: That’s correct.
And you might think, “What in the world kind of
0499
rulings is she making? She doesn’t understand anything about the rules of evidence.” This is an unusual hearing with unusual rules, and we’ve got some objections that have been made and will be preserved, that have been made, First Amendment objections, expert objections, stuff like that, that are preserved. So you might hear triple hearsay come in in this hearing. It’s just an unusual hearing. So —
MR. WEINBERG: So it’s both the lawyers that aren’t objecting —
THE COURT: Yeah. When you hear that —
MR. WEINBERG: (Inaudible.)
THE COURT: When the lawyers don’t object —
MR. WEINBERG: (Inaudible, simultaneous speakers.)
THE COURT: — just understand that we’re involved in somewhat of an unusual hearing, and I’ve made some somewhat unusual evidentiary rulings already. So we’re —
MR. WEIN: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: — taking it from there.
Continue.
__________________________________________
25
0500BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, I’m not sure I asked you this question yesterday or not, but are you aware that Mr. Minton received from me any information concerning any of the mediations in this wrongful death case?
A No, I am not.
Q Did Mr. Minton ever talk to you and say, “Oh, Ken Dandar told me this about the mediation and what was said at the mediation”?
A No, he did not.
Q Now, before you left the Church of Scientology, how many years did you know — personally know David Miscavige?
A I’d say about 12 years.
Q And yesterday you said you were a friend of David Miscavige?
A I said we’d been friends; we had been friends, close friends, at a point in time.
Q Okay. When did that friendship end, if at all?
A Well, it’s been quite a while since we’ve talked to each other. Probably — you know, if we talked to each other — I don’t know — maybe we could still find some friendship there. But we haven’t talked for quite a while.
Q Well, give us a year. When did you last talk to him?
0501
A ’92.
Q And is ’92 the year that you were no longer a Sea Org member?
A ’92 is the year that I left.
Q Okay. And prior to leaving, did you still consider him to be your friend?
A Yes, I did.
Q Okay. And did he work with you in RTC when you were deputy inspector general?
A Yes, he did. And as a matter of fact, more often than not I would report to him.
Q Rather than Vicki Aznaran?
A Together with Vicki Aznaran or without Vicki Aznaran.
Q Can you describe to the court his management style?
A Well, same management style that’s pretty much taught throughout the management series of Scientology, wherein an executive is expected to know about or be in control of all areas underneath the executive.
Normally when you have a person that’s high in the organizational chart in Scientology, you’ll have a seven-division org board. The person that is over that activity has to know the details of what’s going on in all of those seven divisions. Each division may be having three
0502
separate departments, as many as three separate departments, and different units within the department. So there could be a lot of people there. There is provisions for inspecting, getting information, and on and on and on, with that. But it’s very much expected to know everything.
But it certainly gets carried to an extreme, or certainly was carried on to an extreme during my tenure there, in that certain sections or areas would be micromanaged to the point where the staff in that area could only act on orders and comply with orders, comply with command intention, comply with programs. There was not a lot of original thought process going on in some areas by staff.
Q How far down the org board did you personally observe Mr. Miscavige micromanaging during your tenure?
A All the way down to the janitor.
Q Really.
A Yeah.
Q Would he manage that way with RTC or would he go outside of RTC?
A Would go outside of RTC. There’s plenty of examples of that.
Q Can you give us a few?
A Well —
MR. WEINBERG: Could we just date this? I was
0503
under the impression that when Mr. Prince was at RTC, Mr. Miscavige wasn’t. So can we put a date when he’s talking about?
THE WITNESS: I certainly will.
THE COURT: And what was that?
THE WITNESS: Well, I haven’t spoken of any instance yet, but the instance that I’m about to talk about right now happened in 1985 — and I do believe I’ve done a declaration about this before — whereby myself, David Miscavige, Vicki Aznaran, Mark Yeager, Mark Ingber, Ray Mithoff, the usual crew, came to the FSO.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Flag?
A Flag Service Organization.
Q In Clearwater?
A In Clearwater, Florida.
Went through the entire organization, started declaring suppressive persons of staff and public on the spot; people that we didn’t want or felt were inappropriate to be in the Flag Service Organization.
I’ve given a declaration about that before.
THE COURT: Have I seen that declaration?
MR. DANDAR: I don’t — I don’t think —
Was it — it wasn’t in this case, was it?
0504
THE WITNESS: No. I believe it was in another case.
I will certainly find it, when —
THE COURT: That’s all right. I just didn’t know — I didn’t remember —
MR. DANDAR: No, it wasn’t.
THE COURT: — reading it.
MR. WEINBERG: Does he know what cases?
Was it the Wollersheim case?
THE WITNESS: I believe it may have been.
A There’s another instance that was produced and written about by KSW News or Scientology News, where again the usual crew — myself, Miscavige, Lyman Spurlock, Ray Mithoff, Mark Ingber, Mark Yeager, several Scientology attorneys — went to San Francisco to have a mission holders’ conference with the current mission holders.
THE COURT: Go to the mission —
THE WITNESS: Mission holders. Mission holders would be like franchise holders, organization — The Scientology organization is one thing.
Then you can have a franchise of that which is called a mission. And the mission holder would be the owner of the mission.
THE COURT: I see.
A Anyway, we went up to San Francisco to have a
0505
mission holders’ conference. And prior to actually having the conference, we stopped in a local Scientology organization, the San Francisco organization, went through the entire organization, spoke to everyone in the
organization, and removed the executive from the organization, removed other people, and left.BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What gave you the power —
MR. WEINBERG: Could you please date that one too, please?
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What year was that?
A That one was 1982 — late ’82 or very early ’83, as I recall.
Q And what gave Mr. Miscavige and your group the power to go into a separate corporation, the San Francisco organization, and remove officers of the corporation?
A This is the subject of something I’ve also given extensive testimony and declaration about, because it goes to alter-ego within Scientology.
But there’s a thing called mission tech, where Sea Org members can get together on orders based on Sea Org programs, and go into any organization and take it over completely and remove its executives, alter, change its policy, change its board of directors, change whatever it
0506
wants to. And once it deems that the activity is performing to the expected standard, then the mission will pull out.
Normally these missions last for two, three weeks.
Q So it has to do —
THE COURT: Mission —
I’m sorry, Mr. Dandar. We must be driving you crazy.
The mission lasts for two or three weeks, meaning the mission church or the mission of these folks that are going in to take a look?
THE WITNESS: The mission of these folks going in to take a look —
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: — your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And the officers of the corporation are removed because they’re doing —
I mean, what’s the reason for that? Let’s talk about the San Francisco organization.
THE COURT: Why is that relevant?
MR. DANDAR: It’s the power of the Sea Org, which is one of the issues raised at this hearing.
MR. WEINBERG: But it’s not an issue at this hearing. It may be an issue he’s trying to raise, but the issue at this hearing is whether or not, A,
0507
there was misconduct by Mr. Dandar and others; and B, whether or not there was a basis to allege that David Miscavige had ordered the killing, death of Lisa McPherson. Not Sea Org, none of that.
THE COURT: Well, part of the allegation was he was the head of the Sea Org, which was by — That is an issue.
MR. WEINBERG: But it’s — it — Mr. Miscavige, as we know, is not a party, because he didn’t pursue — that was the way they got him to be a party, by saying he was outside of the contract —
THE COURT: I —
MR. WEINBERG: — and —
THE COURT: — understand that, Counsel. But the allegation in the complaint that you are trying to get a summary judgment on and — and have dismissed as false is that David Miscavige did these certain things. And that still is part of the complaint, whether he’s a party or not.
MR. WEINBERG: There’s a lot of accusations in the complaint that I guess Mr. Dandar could have this hearing go for the next three months about, but that isn’t a central — I’ve said my piece.
THE COURT: Thank you.
0508
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So Mr. Prince, you and your party, which included Mr. Miscavige, ousting the corporate officers of the San Francisco corporation, what — what gave them the power to do that?
A Again, it was just Sea Org — it’s called Sea Org mission tech, where a person in the Sea Org, called a mission op, or operator — mission ops, it’s called — will put together a set of, like, project order to get done in the organization.
They may call for removing the executives; it may call for investigating and then removing upon determination; it may call for training; it may call for correction.
Q And back in late ’82, early ’83, when you and Miscavige and the others went to San Francisco, who was the head of the Sea Org?
A David Miscavige.
Q And when you left in ’92 —
THE COURT: Mr. Hubbard was still alive then?
THE WITNESS: In 1992, yes.
MR. DANDAR: No, ’82.
THE COURT: ’82.
THE WITNESS: Oh. ’82. Yes. I’m sorry.
THE COURT: And he was not the head of the Sea Org?
0509
THE WITNESS: Yes, he was. He was the commodore.
But you know, we were going through this whole song and dance to try to get tax-exempt status for the various organizations of Scientology, and the problem came up where I guess it was determined that L. Ron Hubbard — it was found that L. Ron Hubbard was the managing agent of Scientology and the Sea Org. And so Mr. Hubbard, by that time, had really separated himself for the purposes of allowing this church entity — these Scientology entities to get tax-exempt status. He had kind of separated himself totally from Scientology activity.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So when he separated himself, who took over as the head of the Sea Org?
A Miscavige. David Miscavige.
Q And when you left in ’92, who was the head of the Sea Org?
A David Miscavige.
Q Was there anyone in the Sea Org that had equal or greater rank than David Miscavige from ’82 to ’92 when you left?
A At the time before I left, David Miscavige — this
0510
whole thing with brevet rank and being a captain and stuff — this is something that happened, I believe, later, after I was done there.
Mr. Miscavige derives his authority from being the chairman of the board of nearly every — all of the major corporations. He’s on the board of directors somehow, where he derives —
And then also, as far as Sea Org is concerned, Miscavige — I mean, basically, L. Ron Hubbard passed the torch to Miscavige. He didn’t pass it to Miscavige; he passed it on to Pat and Annie Broeker. Miscavige got rid of Pat and Annie Broeker, so effectively took control of Scientology.
Q And did he take control of Scientology as the chairman of the board of some corporation or through the Sea Org?
A He took control of Scientology through — by corporate means. And he was able to — You see — you see, this may be a little confusing, so I think this is worth — takes a moment to explain.
The Sea Org operates on not only these green policy letters and these red bulletins that we’ve seen, but the Sea Org has its own issues and issue types that it operates on. And they’re called Flag orders. Flag
0511
orders — you know, they supersede corporate boundaries; supersede posts or positions or whatever.
A So Flag orders — L. Ron — the last Flag order that he wrote, he turned over Scientology to Pat and Annie Broeker. He called them loyal officers. Loyal officers is a term that comes up from reading Scientology’s, quote/unquote, advance materials. That was — loyal officers were supposed to be the highest rank in Scientology.
Miscavige — after L. Ron Hubbard passed, Miscavige cancelled that issue, did not let Pat and Annie —
THE COURT: We don’t really need to go there, do we?
MR. DANDAR: Well, I’m leading up to one question.
THE COURT: Okay.
A Anyway, he effectively took it over.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right. Now, why is it that paragraph 34 — based on your affidavit, why is it that it alleges that David Miscavige, outside of anyone else, would be the person who would have given this order to end cycle?
A Well, I think what my affidavit actually says is — is David Miscavige would have sat there with Ray Mithoff, with Marty Rathbun, the people that meet, to — to
0512
make sure that the flaps within Scientology that are a threat are dealt with. I think what I said there was that those three people would have gotten together and decided —
THE COURT: Ray Mithoff and who else?
THE WITNESS: Marty Rathbun.
MR. DANDAR: R-a-t-h-b-u-n.
THE WITNESS: Would have sat there with full knowledge and information of what was going on with Lisa McPherson. And instead of letting her be taken to a hospital, would have told these people to just let her stay there, and let’s see what happens here.
Let’s continue. See if we can, you know, finish the introspection rundown. Don’t put her on any line where she can tell a story about what’s happening to her.
In other words, let her die. If she dies, that’s what happens.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, what if the — based upon your tenure and your experience of working with Mr. Miscavige, Mr. Rathbun, Mr. — I’ve forgotten the third name.
A Mithoff.
Q Mithoff.
If Mr. Mithoff and Mr. Rathbun said, “No, no, no. We have these reports, that she needs to — she’s not
0513
doing — she’s getting worse. She needs to go to the hospital. Send her to the hospital,” and Mr. Miscavige says, “No. We’re not going to do that,” out of those three, who prevails?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. This is just rank speculation.
THE COURT: It would appear to be so, except I believe he indicated, back when he was at RTC, these same people were there?
MR. WEINBERG: No. Mr. Mithoff was in CSI.
Mr. Rathbun was not in RTC.
I — I mean, he —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince —
MR. WEINBERG: — at the time —
THE COURT: I’m going to allow it, because I know what the answer is. I mean —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, who was in RTC when you were in RTC, at these meetings?
MR. WEINBERG: No —
A The only people that were in RTC were myself and Vicki Aznaran. David Miscavige was the chairman of the board of Author Services, a for-profit corporation that was L. Ron Hubbard’s publishing company. However, that meant
0514
nothing in relationship to who were the principals of Scientology, who were directing — directing the actions of Scientology as a whole. And the people that were doing that were David Miscavige, myself, Vicki Aznaran, Mark Yeager, Mark Ingber, Lyman Spurlock.
THE COURT: Was there a majority vote taken?
THE WITNESS: There’s no such thing as a vote in the Sea Org, unless you’re deciding on a quality of food, in Scientology.
THE COURT: If you disagree on a decision, who made the final call?
THE WITNESS: If you disagreed on a decision — if you disagreed with someone that was above you, you would be sent for correction to straighten out your —
THE COURT: Look, if you folks are sitting around trying to decide something — you and all these people, you said, were kind of a — there — and you disagreed; you know, you said, “I think this should happen,” Ms. Aznaran said, “I think this should happen,” David Miscavige said, “I think this should happen,” who made the call?
THE WITNESS: Ultimately the person who would have the authority and everyone would have to follow would be Mr. Miscavige.
0515
THE COURT: So he — he made the final call.
THE WITNESS: Yes, he would say, “Okay. Yeah.
This is how you do it.”
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Would he get input from the others for —
A Yes. I mean, that happened. But the purpose — I mean, you know — and I just want to clear this picture — make this picture a little bit more clearer as to how it actually works.
Mr. — Mr. Mithoff, based on how it worked when I was there — I’m just going to explain this. Mr. Mithoff would have brought this situation to the attention of Mr. Rathbun. Mr. Rathbun would have looked over this — okay. And again, in my mind, I’m not going with the theory that she was crazy when they took her to the hospital; I’m not going with the theory that she just lay there and wanted to be there; I’m going with the theory that, just like she said, she wanted to leave. She was trying to leave. They incarcerated her, falsely incarcerated her, wouldn’t let her leave.
So Mr. Mithoff would have brought it to Mr. Rathbun’s attention. Because you have a threat. You have a person that is now escalated. They want to get out. And now they’re sick. It’s going bad — worse to bad. Mr. Mithoff would have taken and put an exact
0516
instructions in her folder, went over it with Mr. Rathbun.
And at the meeting they would have sat down with Mr. Miscavige and said, “This is the situation. This is the flap. This is the handling.” If their handling included not taking her to the hospital and keeping her there and doing Scientology on her, Mr. Miscavige would have said, “Fine.” If their handling would have been, “Look, I think we better take this risk even though she is antagonistic, and we got to send her to the hospital,” it is my opinion that his answer would have been, “No. You leave her right there.”
Q And why is that? What do you base that opinion on?
A I base that opinion on the fact that protecting Scientology is the ultimate goal of any Scientologist, irrespective of friend, family, business. Scientology comes first. Because the idea in Scientology is that Scientology’s going to save the world. And if you lose Scientology, you lose the world. So it’s the greatest good to protect Scientology than it would be to be concerned about an individual, or a group, for that matter.
Q Now, are you familiar with the term and policy letter called “bypass”?
A Yes, I am.
Q All right. Can you tell the court what that is?
0517
A Bypass is a situation — I guess I can just do a real example here using the court reporter. If this court reporter here were typing transcripts and she were making too many errors, someone else would have to come in here and take over her job and — while she goes and gets fixed or gets corrected, and takes over her actual job, and does the job until she’s able to perform it again.
Q Do you have an opinion whether or not, in Lisa McPherson’s case, bypass would have come into play?
THE COURT: I don’t understand that. I’m sorry. Maybe I just didn’t understand the example.
Maybe —
THE WITNESS: Okay. I’ll try to do another example, your Honor.
THE COURT: Bypass, to me, means you jump over somebody or you go around someone.
THE WITNESS: Well, you actually displace that person and assume their position.
THE COURT: Oh, I see. Okay.
THE WITNESS: Until they can do the job correctly.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Let me show you —
THE COURT: I don’t think he answered your
0518
question. I interrupted him. So if you want an answer, do you —
MR. DANDAR: Well, I’m going —
THE COURT: In the Lisa McPherson case —
MR. DANDAR: No —
THE COURT: — did bypass occur?
MR. DANDAR: I’m going to ask a question first.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: I’m going to interrupt myself.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Let me show you what I have marked as Plaintiff’s Exhibit 127, see if you can identify this.
A Okay.
Q Can you identify this?
A Yes, I can. This is what’s commonly referred to as a CBO, central bureau order. It’s another issue type that Scientology puts out, you know, like a bulletin or a policy letter. And this particular issue talks about senior management bypassing into lower areas or lower units within the Scientology infrastructure.
Q Under what circumstances would that happen?
A This would happen at any point where the senior officer or senior body felt that there was a situation going on in a lower area that wasn’t being dealt with to par.
0519
Q Now, do you have an opinion, based upon your experience in Scientology, whether or not, after your review of the Lisa McPherson matter, the policy bypass would have come into play?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection to competence. I don’t even know what this is. I mean, this is not written by L. Ron Hubbard, apparently. It’s not in the green volumes or the red volumes. There’s been no — there’s been no —
And Mr. Prince said he knew what bypass was. Well — but — and now he’s going to apply it to some hypothetical situation that he doesn’t have any personal knowledge of?
THE WITNESS: I think the issue speaks for —
THE COURT: I —
THE WITNESS: — itself.
THE COURT: I think for this purpose of this hearing, I just want to hear everything he has to say.
MR. WEINBERG: I understand. I just —
THE COURT: So I’m going to allow it.
MR. WEINBERG: Every now and then, I just need to get up to renew —
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: — my —
0520
Just so Mr. Wein —
Is it Wein —
MR. WEIN: Yeah.
MR. WEINBERG: Mr. — I’m “wine,” and he’s “ween.”
THE COURT: I want to hear everything —
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
THE COURT: — because I want to find out all the things that Mr. Prince may have, as Mr. Dandar’s consultant —
MR. WEINBERG: I understand.
THE COURT: — told him about, so that I can have some understanding of the complaint and the allegations you’ve made. And so I’m going to allow it.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Have you seen this document before today, Mr. Prince?
A Yes, I have.
Q And under what circumstances have you seen that?
A I have seen this during messenger training.
I had to, myself — when I went to Gilman Hot Springs in 1982, I became what’s called a commodore messenger. And I’ve explained that endlessly too. It’s a person — it’s an emissary of L. Ron Hubbard who has the
0521
same authority as L. Ron Hubbard. When they come with an order to an area, it’s like L. Ron Hubbard giving an order to an area. So you know, this has the highest level of priority, as far as compliance’s concerned.
I became a commodore’s messenger. And as part of being a commodore’s messenger, this was the first time in my study pack on the duties of commodore’s messenger that I read this particular issue.
Q Okay. And do you have an opinion whether or not this bypass would come into play in any part of the matter concerning Lisa McPherson?
A I think it would have certainly come into play, given the fact that Mrs. McPherson was not being cooperative or — and actually intended to leave Scientology. And this was consistent in what she was saying. So that’s like a breach of technology. There’s no such thing as Scientology not working, as far as the written materials are concerned. If Scientology doesn’t work, then something is wrong with the individual. Somebody has done something wrong or somebody has misapplied it.
So if you have a person in the extreme situation like Lisa was, that continued, that would be reason for bypass; to come in and, you know, deal with it specifically.
Q Who gets involved when bypass happens?
A For the FSO?
0522
Q Yes.
A Normally Ray Mithoff.
Q In what position?
A He’s the senior technical person internationally for Scientology. The Flag Service Organization is the senior mecca of technical perfection as far as Scientology is concerned, so the — the Flag Service organization is certainly one of the major providences of the senior CS international.
Q Now, a while back, you know, in my office, you pulled out an OW of Lisa McPherson —
THE COURT: OW?
MR. DANDAR: Overt withhold, abbreviated OW.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q — that she wrote in the fall of ’95, concerning February of ’95, where she mentioned management had to get involved? Do you recall that?
A Yes. This was a — right around the first time I believe that Lisa started experiencing severe difficulty with Scientology, as far as her relationship to it. And she mentioned that whatever was going on with her was — you know, technically it resulted in a bypass by senior management; a bypass of the Flag Service Organization, to specifically help her and deal with her situation.
Q Now, we already have in evidence and marked as
0523
Exhibit 96 —
And this is an extra copy.
MR. DANDAR: And Judge, I’ll show it to you if you need to see it again.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q But it’s the Heide Negro (sic) isolation watch report. Did you see that before?
A Yes, I did.
Q And on the second page it talks about —
THE COURT: That’s in evidence?
MR. DANDAR: Yes. 96.
THE COURT: Oh, okay. It’s been a long time.
THE WITNESS: I think she needs —
MR. DANDAR: It is a long time.
THE COURT: Thank you.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q On the second page, first paragraph of the last sentence —
MR. WEINBERG: Well, hold on. Mr. — I object to his competence — he has no personal knowledge of any of this.
THE COURT: I don’t even know what the question is going to be, so —
MR. WEINBERG: He’s now going into
0524
somebody’s —
THE COURT: Well, you don’t know what he’s going to go into because you haven’t heard the question. So let’s hear it and I’ll —
MR. WEINBERG: If I could —
THE COURT: Go on ahead with your question.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay. The first paragraph, it says that this data came originally from FSO CS, Alain Kartuzinski, who was in charge of John Taylor’s correction. Who —
THE COURT: See, I don’t even know where you’re reading from.
MR. DANDAR: I’m sorry. First paragraph on page 2.
THE COURT: Oh. Page 2.
MR. DANDAR: Yes. I’m sorry.
THE COURT: Okay. Go ahead.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q “This was later corrected by a telex from Mr. Ray Mithoff, who indicated that the RD –” I guess that’s rundown —
A Right.
Q “– in fact could be delivered, at which point delivery commenced.”
0525
Now, what does that mean in plain English?
A There was a question of whether or not this person could be given the introspection rundown. Alain Kartuzinski apparently thought that no one was qualified at this particular location, which is their advanced organization in the United Kingdom. This person was — apparently had similar symptoms to what Lisa and other people were having that have that problem. And Mr. Mithoff — this, again — at management, was alerted.
And Mr. Mithoff indicated that the rundown could be given, because Mr. Mithoff is the senior-most technical person within the Scientology infrastructure. Senior FSO CS Alain Kartuzinski — any auditor or case supervisor located here in Clearwater, Florida, operating in the Ft. Harrison Hotel and the Sandcastle, are considered to be the cream of the crop as far as auditors and technically trained people are concerned.
Q Okay. Well, are you aware of evidence that you’ve seen where David Miscavige has become personally involved in the matters concerning Lisa McPherson?
A One thing that I saw where he actually comes out himself was a letter that was written to Mr. Bernie McCabe concerning dismissing the criminal case that was brought against Scientology for Lisa McPherson’s death.
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, Mr. Dandar’s not
0526
taking the position that this justifies his accusation that David Miscavige murdered Lisa McPherson, whatever he’s got to show you, that happened in the criminal investigation.
THE COURT: No. I think what he’s about to show me, based on his question, is something that indicates that David Miscavige knew about the Lisa McPherson case. I don’t think —
MR. WEINBERG: Well, I think —
THE COURT: — that that —
MR. WEINBERG: — the whole world knew about the Lisa McPherson case once there were people — once the church was indicted and people were walking around with picket signs.
THE COURT: We have to read it, ’cause I don’t know what it is.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Plaintiff’s 128. Is that the letter you’re referring to, Mr. Prince?
A Yes, it is.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, could I have a copy, please?
MR. DANDAR: Oh.
A Yeah.
0527
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Based upon your experience as a Scientology executive in RTC, why would RTC have anything to do or be involved with the Lisa McPherson matter?
A I think if you just look at the second paragraph on page 7 of this letter, the last sentence, I think that pretty much says it all. It says, “Therefore, if rapid, responsible and meaningful resolution of this case is to be achieved –”
THE COURT: Just a second. I can’t find out where you are. Page 7, what?
THE WITNESS: Second paragraph. Last sentence in the second paragraph.
THE COURT: All right.
THE WITNESS: Where it says, “Therefore, if rapid, responsible and meaningful resolution of this case is to be achieved, you and I are the persons to do it.”
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q You, meaning Mr. McCabe, and I, meaning Mr. —
A Miscavige.
Q — Miscavige?
A Correct.
Q Why would — again, why would Mr. Miscavige then be personally involved in the Lisa McPherson matter?
0528
MR. WEINBERG: Again —
A Again, bypass —
MR. WEINBERG: — isn’t this pure speculation on his part?
THE COURT: Well, I think that — that — I would read this that this was after the charge was brought.
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: And that Mr. Miscavige, as the ecclesiastical head of the church against whom a charge was brought, was saying, “If this is going to be resolved, Mr. McCabe, as the state attorney, and I, as the head of this church, need to sit down and try to resolve it.”
MR. WEINBERG: And of course, he was not successful at that point, because the case continued for another year. And we all know how it —
THE COURT: However, we perhaps need to hear from Mr. Prince how he believes that statement shows that Mr. Miscavige was involved before Lisa McPherson died. Which is what your point of the question —
MR. DANDAR: That’s where I’m heading, yes.
THE COURT: Okay.
0529
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q How does that — how can you explain that as reference to, as the judge just said —
A I think the letter, you know, indicates Mr. Miscavige’s broad knowledge of every step of the criminal case, you know. And there’s no obvious evidence that he’s had involvement in this case, but it would certainly be my opinion that he has. Because again, this is a flap. It’s a bypass.
THE COURT: Well, Mr. Prince, let me just ask you what would seemingly be a logical question to me:
You could certainly have a situation — I’m not saying this is true or not true. But you could have — certainly have a situation where somebody didn’t know about somebody being ill, but when criminal charges were filed, because that person died, if they’re the head, they’d become involved and take over from that point.
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor. That is a rational line of thinking for, you know, regular world activities. But in Scientology, these — you know, Scientology —
THE COURT: I’m not saying that —
THE WITNESS: — is extremely —
0530
THE COURT: — Mr. Miscavige didn’t know.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: I am saying that another explanation — I mean, this is about a criminal charge —
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: — right?
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: And so you could certainly have —
THE WITNESS: Against the Flag Service Organization.
THE COURT: Yeah. You could have a situation where the ecclesiastical head, after criminal charges are filed, says, “Let’s you and I sit down and see if we can resolve this criminal case.”
THE WITNESS: Right.
Well, you know, where are the letters from the corporate heads of the Flag Service Organization, doing the same thing with Mr. McCabe?
THE COURT: I’m sorry. Where are the what?
THE WITNESS: The corporate officers of the Flag Service Organization. Where’s Mr. Ben Shaw’s letter to Mr. McCabe to sort this out? Why does this necessitate Mr. Miscavige? This is against the
0531
Flag Service Organization.
THE COURT: Well, because as I understand it, Mr. Miscavige is the ecclesiastical head of the Church of Scientology.
THE WITNESS: Every one of them.
THE COURT: Every one of them.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: Yeah. There’s no disagreement.
So as I said, I can — I’m not saying that Mr. Miscavige did or did not know about Lisa McPherson’s situation when she was at the Ft. Harrison Hotel. Because quite frankly, that’s one of the issues.
But this letter just simply says that, “I as the head of this church, all of them, want to sit down with you and resolve this case.”
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: So how do you jump from that —
THE WITNESS: Well —
THE COURT: In other words, there’s lots of people who have testified that David Miscavige, as chairman of the board of RTC, knew about Lisa McPherson. There’s just no question in their mind.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: He would have known. He would have
0532
known because that’s the way business is done.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Sort of.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Okay. I’ve heard all that testimony. I presume you would testify the same.
But what does this letter add to this?
THE WITNESS: I — you know, your Honor, I think the only purpose of this letter is — is just to show what we were talking about earlier, when we were talking about the bypass and — and how, you know, it’s a pattern of conduct; how the organization does business. I think that’s the purpose of why this is in here.
THE COURT: Well, if this letter has relevance — if this letter has relevance, it has relevance to the, I suspect, agreed-to evidence in this case, which is that David Miscavige is the ecclesiastical head of the Church of Scientology, including — including Flag.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
THE COURT: Including all of the organizations.
MR. WEINBERG: The letter isn’t relevant to this proceeding.
THE COURT: No. It is not relevant to this
0533
proceeding, as I said, except that it might be relevant to that issue, which I assume is an agreed-upon issue.
MR. WEINBERG: The first church in the United States within 200 years is indicted, it’s not surprising that Mr. Miscavige —
THE COURT: No, it’s not.
MR. WEINBERG: — would want to try to find a resolution to it.
THE COURT: That is true, and that’s what I said. I don’t think it has any relevance to this proceeding unless it is to establish that indeed Mr. Miscavige is the ecclesiastical head of the church, including — including Flag.
MR. WEINBERG: He’s the ecclesiastical — he’s the ecclesiastical leader of the churches of Scientology.
THE COURT: Right.
MR. WEINBERG: The religious leader of the Church of Scientology.
THE COURT: Well, ecclesiastical leader and religious leader are the same thing.
MR. WEINBERG: Right. Same thing. He happens to be the chairman of the board of an organization called RTC, but he’s the ecclesiastical or religious
0534
leader of Scientology.
THE COURT: Right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, is Mr. Miscavige the leader of all of the Scientology churches as — because he’s the COB of RTC or because he’s the captain of the Sea Org?
A Because he’s the captain of the Sea Org.
Q When Mr. Miscavige was the captain of the Sea Org and the COB, of the for-profit corporation Office Services, Inc., ASI, was he the head of all of the churches of Scientology as well?
A Well, again, as your Honor correctly pointed out, Mr. Hubbard was alive at that time.
Q Oh, okay.
A Shortly after Mr. Hubbard passed, that was certainly the situation for a moment.
But immediately upon the death of Mr. Hubbard and the ousting of Pat and Annie Broeker, Mr. Miscavige assumed control of Religious Technology Center.
Q All right. And did he do that because he was the chairman of the board of ASI or the captain of the Sea Org?
A Because he was the captain of the Sea Org. You know, everything is done in the Sea Org with missions.
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, could he just answer —
0535
THE COURT: Yes. He’s answered the question.
MR. DANDAR: Judge, I have a document — actually, it’s a notice of filing. I’m going to have to have the clerk mark this notebook. And —
(A discussion was held off the record.)
THE COURT: All right. We’ll go ahead and take our morning break since it’s very close to that time. We’ll be in recess till 11:30.
(A recess was taken at 11:17 a.m.)
(The proceedings resumed at 11:37 a.m.)
THE COURT: You may continue.
MR. DANDAR: What I had marked and what I was about to hand the witness and the court, and not have to make an extra copy for Mr. Weinberg — which I didn’t because, quite frankly, he has all this, but I understand what he’s saying. He should have the same thing I’m handing — and that’s fine.
We’ll get that done over the lunch break — is Exhibit 130. It’s a compilation of documents, statements and depositions of staff.
But I’m only going to ask this witness about J, which is the narrative investigation of Detective Carrasquillo, April 15th, 1997.
MR. WEINBERG: I object to the use of this
0536
document. It’s just — it’s a — it’s not a sworn statement; it’s not a sworn statement of a witness. It’s just her — it’s a hearsay account of what she claims — I guess summarizes what somebody would have told her. That’s not evidence.
THE COURT: Well —
MR. WEINBERG: It’s not — certainly not for — I think where he’s going is that he’s offering it for the truth of the matter asserted. And it’s pure hearsay.
THE COURT: Well, it would be true hearsay if he’s offering it for the truth of the matter asserted, but I don’t know what he’s going to ask this witness. So let’s hear it.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince — of course, we obtained this document, you know, a year after your affidavit of August of ’99 —
A Mm-hmm.
Q — when this was made a public record —
But in paragraph 3, the interview summary of Mr. and Mrs. Ortner, O-r-t-n-e-r, indicates that Mr. Miscavige was staying at the Ft. Harrison Hotel —
MR. WEINBERG: That’s what I’m talking about,
0537
your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q — while they were there, around November 20th of 1995.
Do you — here’s my question: Do you know of circumstances or other occasions when Mr. Miscavige would stay at the Ft. Harrison Hotel?
A Yes, I do. Again, I’ll refer to the — to the video that was played the first day of my testimony where we were having a New Year’s Eve event. He would be there for that. He would be there for March 13th, which is L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday. They normally have an event at the —
MR. WEINBERG: Are you talking about a specific year?
A — and —
THE WITNESS: Excuse me?
MR. WEINBERG: About a specific year?
THE WITNESS: No. I’m talking — he asked me a question of when normally he would be there. I’m talking about —
MR. WEINBERG: All right. My objection is the question was whether he stayed there, not whether he was there. Big difference. And in this case there is no — I mean, if this is being offered that Mr. Miscavige was in Clearwater in November or
0538
December of 1995, it’s pure hearsay. And he wasn’t. And if he was —
THE COURT: I didn’t hear —
MR. WEINBERG: — he would have obviously — the state attorney would have done some investigation on it if that were the case. And it’s not the case.
But the question was whether he — whether Mr. Miscavige ever stayed at the Ft. Harrison Hotel, and Mr. Prince is talking about whether Mr. Miscavige was ever at the Ft. Harrison Hotel, which is completely different.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q How did you understand the question, Mr. Prince?
A I understood the question as to at what times would Mr. Miscavige likely be at the Ft. Harrison.
Q Okay. All right. Well, let’s —
THE COURT: I think that has some relevance, if it was anytime around — in and around the time of Lisa McPherson’s stay at the Ft. Harrison.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So what events would he normally routinely come to in the Ft. Harrison?
A There would be auditor’s date —
Q Which is —
0539
A — which is sometime in September; there would be IAS —
Q What’s IAS?
A Excuse me. International Association of Scientologists. They have an event in the summertime, I think, that’s around June or something like that, they have an IAS event. The New Year’s event. L. Ron Hubbard birthday event.
Q Which is March?
A March 13th.
Some of the more common times that I can think of that he would be there.
Q What about non-Scientology holidays such as Thanksgiving?
A Not likely —
Q Okay.
A — in my experience.
Q Okay.
THE COURT: And the reason he would be at the Ft. Harrison Hotel as opposed to someplace else is because it’s the mecca of all —
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
The Ft. Harrison is a very beautiful hotel.
THE COURT: Is that — mecca of all technology — mecca of all technology?
0540
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Was —
THE COURT: Now, on a New Year’s event, I thought he was out in California on the tape that I saw.
THE WITNESS: No, your Honor. That was right in the Ft. Harrison.
THE COURT: Oh, it was?
MR. WEINBERG: You’re talking about two different tapes. The tape that you saw was California. The tape that Mr. Prince was in, was —
THE COURT: In Clearwater.
MR. WEINBERG: — in the Ft. Harrison.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: That was — Mr. Prince was 20 years ago; your — I don’t know when it was. 2000.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: It was less than 20 years ago.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q But anyway, do you — do you have any recollection of Mr. Miscavige staying at the Ft. Harrison Hotel rather than just showing up for an event?
A Well, when I testified earlier about Mr. Miscavige and myself, Vicki Aznaran, you know, the regular crew coming
0541
into the Flag Service Organization and rearranging and declaring some people, we stayed there at that time.
I mean, you know, whenever Mr. Miscavige would come to the Clearwater area, as well as myself, we always stayed at the Ft. Harrison Hotel.
THE COURT: What were the dates that Lisa McPherson was at the Ft. Harrison?
MR. DANDAR: November the 18th of ’95 through December the 5th of ’95.
THE COURT: Do you have any information that would say that David Miscavige was or was not at the Ft. Harrison Hotel on those dates?
THE WITNESS: Your Honor, beyond what Mr. Dandar is presenting here today, I do not.
THE COURT: So regardless, if it weren’t for that hearsay document, you have no firsthand knowledge or other way of knowing whether he was there or not.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, one thing I wanted to ask you about that’s out of sequence, and that is after you left the Church of Scientology in 1992, did you have occasion after that time to consult with Scientology attorneys?
0542
A Yes, I did. I was contacted by Mr. Mike Sutter, who worked in the Scientology — worked in the Religious Technology Center. He told me that he wanted me to meet with Mr. Earle Cooley concerning ongoing church litigation.
Q And who is Mr. Cooley?
A Mr. Earle Cooley was lead counsel for Scientology during the early ’80s.
Q And what date or what month and year was this that Mr. Sutter asked you to meet with Mr. Cooley?
A You know, to the best of my knowledge, I do believe it was 1994.
We met in Boston.
Q What was the purpose of that meeting?
A Well, I thought I was going to go there to speak about current legal cases, because that’s what they told me they wanted me to speak about. But in fact, when I got there, it became quite a different show. They wanted me to reaffirm for them the fact that — you know, the — under the — reaffirm the conditions under which I left Scientology, the documents and things that I was — felt obligated to sign to leave. They wanted to update all of that again.
So they recorded me and — And I — and I guess I also found out that they were having trouble in the Wollersheim 4 case, in that —
0543
and they wanted to know if persons such as Vicki Aznaran, Lawrence Wollersheim, any attorneys, had contacted me to give testimony concerning Scientology.
Q And as of that time, had anyone contacted you?
A No.
Q And did they pay you for your time?
A Yes.
Q How much?
A I think it was 28- — 27-, $2,800.
Q Was that the last time you were consulted by any representative of the Church of Scientology on matters such as that?
A I believe so.
Q Okay. Now, Mr. Prince, you —
MR. DANDAR: And I am going to be jumping around here.
THE COURT: You said this was 1994?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right. Let me show you Plaintiff’s Exhibit 131. And I have highlighted certain portions of it. I’m going to direct your attention to certain areas. First of all, can you identify this document?
A Yes. This is another Scientology issue type.
It’s called an executive directive. And this is an
0544
executive directive concerning senior HCO Int. And it concerns security situations and threat handlings.
Q Now at the top it has references, and it has a bunch of HCO policy documents. Is that what — am I reading that correctly?
A Yes. There’s four HCO policy letters. The FO — there’s one Flag order; there’s one SPD, which is a Scientology policy directives; two more HCO PLs, another SOED, that’s a Sea Org executive directive; and a couple of more policy letters.
Q Okay. And the references for like the Sea Org executive director 4234 international, it says, “Coordination on security and investigation matters, suppressive acts.” Do you see that?
A Yes, I do.
Q Did I read — maybe I didn’t read that right.
A Well, suppressive acts is the HCO PO, 23 December, ’65.
THE COURT: What does HCO stand for?
THE WITNESS: Hubbard Communications Office.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And the last HCO policy of October 27th, 1964 talks — or concerns physical healing, insanity and sources of trouble. Do you see that?
A Yes, I do.
0545
Q All right. What does this document, mentioning insanity and healing and sources of trouble, have to do with security?
A Well, when you have a — an insane person or a source of trouble, potential trouble source within a Scientology organization, according to its policies, this is a source of great potential trouble for an organization, be it a Sea Organization or regular Scientology organization, and these gives — it gives the steps of prevention and handling.
Q Is “handling” a word that is used in the policies?
A Yes.
Q And in this particular checklist, it talks about — the second paragraph, where I’ve highlighted, uses, “Make sure the situations are actually handled.”
A Right.
Q Now, turn to page 2, letter G.
A Okay.
Q First of all, this list is below a paragraph that says the types of security situations, am I reading this correctly, where it says, G,”Attempted suicide cases or PTS Type IIIs and any external or antagonistic connections to these –” are these security issues?
A Absolutely.
Q Do you have an opinion whether or not this
0546
particular checklist would come into play in reference to the Lisa McPherson matter, in November and December of ’95?
A This — the date of this issue is the 11th of May, 1991, and it’s basically instructing the divisions within Scientology organizations to coordinate with OSA — Office of Special Affairs — to deal with the situations listed A through O, Type III — PTS Type IIIs being one of them, PTS Type III being the Scientology term for a psychotic.
Q Mr. Prince, this is, as you said, dated May, 1991.
Does it surprise you that it references policy letters that are written in 1959 and 1964 and 1968, et cetera?
A No. The words of L. Ron Hubbard are eternal to Scientology.
MR. DANDAR: I’d like to move Exhibit 131 in evidence.
THE COURT: Any objection?
MR. WEINBERG: No objection. I don’t know what the relevance is, in light of the fact that there isn’t anything about RTC in this document.
THE COURT: It’ll be received.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right. And Mr. Prince, let me show you Exhibit 129. I don’t have an extra copy here, for some reason. Oh, I do. Okay.
0547
Remember yesterday we talked about in order to get the injectable Valium prescriptions and the chloral hydrate prescriptions from drugstores, you talk about staff — somebody filling out what’s called a CSW, completed staff work?
A Yes.
Q All right. This document, Plaintiff’s Exhibit 129, do you know where this comes from?
A Yes. This comes from the Hubbard Administrative Dictionary, which is a dictionary that defines administrative terms used in Scientology organization.
Q Okay. And the definition of completed staff work, does that fit within your understanding of what you testified to yesterday?
A Yes, it does.
MR. DANDAR: Like to move 129 into evidence.
THE COURT: It’ll be received.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Also Mr. Prince, you mentioned several times today that — when I was asking you about bypass and Mr. Miscavige’s role, you mentioned you had prior declarations. Let me show you Plaintiff’s Exhibit 132.
First of all, what is 132?
A This is a supplemental declaration that was submitted in the Los Angeles courtrooms on behalf of
0548
plaintiff Lawrence Wollersheim.
Q And this is your declaration?
A Yes, it is.
Q It’s dated December 22nd, 1999?
A Yes.
Q Is this one of the declarations you were referring to when you said you — in your testimony today, that you had previously filed declarations on the matters that we talked about?
A No.
Let me just scan it here real quick.
Q All right.
A Well, yeah. I think right — starting on page 2, under the subtitle Sea Organization, I talk about Scientology missions, meaning, you know, a group of people going into an organization, taking it over. I talk about that.
Q And on page number 40, you talk about —
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, I object to this. Why are we doing this? Mr. Dandar can ask him questions, but this is just a hearsay — I mean, this is an affidavit. He’s on the stand. I mean, if there’s something he wants
to ask him about, he can ask him, instead of saying, “On paragraph such and such it says such and such.”
0549
THE COURT: Well, I would normally tend to agree with you, except we have affidavits, prior declarations of so many people in this case, I don’t know why I would keep the prior declaration of Mr. Prince’s out.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q But Mr. Prince, the command channels and structure of the hierarchy of the Church of Scientology in this declaration, Plaintiff’s Exhibit Number 132, is it any different than your testimony than you’ve given in
this case today?
A No, it is not.
Q Is it any different than your — and the reason why you reached the opinions you reached in August of 1999 concerning David Miscavige’s role in Lisa McPherson’s death?
A No, it is not.
MR. DANDAR: I’d like to move 132 into evidence as Plaintiff’s Exhibit 132.
THE COURT: I’m going to receive it over objection, just as a prior affidavit that —
MR. WEINBERG: Right. I mean, I — the objection would be, normally, just buttressing his testimony.
THE COURT: That is true. In other words, that would be exactly right. And that would be proper
0550
objection, not hearsay or —
However, I’m going to let it in.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right. Now, Mr. Prince, have you worked with Mr. Michael Rinder in your tenure in Scientology?
A Yes, I have.
Q And what did — how did — under what circumstances?
A Mr. Rinder was a member of the watchdog committee during my tenure at RTC. He was a member of the watchdog committee, a commodore’s messenger, and he worked for the corporation the Church of Scientology International.
Q What is the watchdog committee?
A The watchdog committee are the principals of the Church of Scientology International. The principals of each sector and section of Scientology — if you look at a Scientology org board, you will — you will see it’s broken down into certain sections and sectors. One — one sector of Scientology is Scientology International. That means all of the organizations that are not Sea Org organizations and are not missions.
So you would have a WDC member, a watchdog committee member, for the Scientology organizations. Then you’d have a WDC member or a watchdog committee member for the Sea Organization. You would have a watchdog committee
0551
member for SMI, S-M-I, Scientology Missions International, et cetera, et cetera.
Q And who is the head of that watchdog committee?
A The chairman of the watchdog committee, during the time — my tenure in Religious Technology Center, was Mark Yeager.
Q And did Mr. Miscavige serve on that board as well?
A No, he did not.
Q Okay.
A That board reported to Mr. Miscavige.
Q So Mr. Miscavige was above that board?
A Correct.
Q Now, Mr. Prince, based upon your experience and expertise in Scientology, do you have an opinion as to why Michael Rinder was meeting with Bob Minton to try to get the McPherson case dismissed, as early as 1998?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection to the — I mean, this is pure speculation. It is — it’s — I think it’s improper opinion testimony. He says that he has some expertise — which we have challenged, you know, for a number of
reasons — with regard to the religious technology.Now he’s going to be speculating as to why someone would have been meeting with Mr. Minton? Mr. Minton’s testified regarding that; Ms. Brooks
0552
has testified in regard to that meeting at length.
THE COURT: I — I understand. We’ve had some opinions in — I don’t know why we wouldn’t listen to his, too. I mean —
MR. WEINBERG: I — it’s more frustration than anything.
That’s my objection. I understand that you’re overruling it, and I just wanted to —
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: Thank you.
A Sorry. I don’t remember the question.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Why would Mr. Rinder —
First of all, is Mr. Rinder part of the Flag Service Organization?
A To my knowledge, he is not.
Q Do you have an opinion as to why Mr. Rinder would be meeting with Mr. Minton, as early as 1988, and of course in 2002, to get the Lisa McPherson case dismissed?
A Certainly I have an opinion, based on experience. Because like the Wollersheim case that happened here, and the Mayo case, any major case that’s being litigated in the United States, irrespective of the corporation, the decisions, the planning and the execution of legal is done with OSA — Office of Special Affairs, David Miscavige,
0553
Marty Rathbun.
Q All right.
A Lyman Spurlock if it — if it involves corporate. Lyman Spurlock was an expert on corporate entities.
THE COURT: Who is Mr. Rathbun? What is his capacity?
THE WITNESS: Mr. Rathbun has had many capacities. Prior to coming into the Religious Technology Center, he was what was called a client affairs; legal client affairs. And he handled the legal affairs for the publishing aspect for Mr. Hubbard in Author Services. When he moved to Religious Technology Center, he became the inspector general for ethics. Ethics —
THE COURT: Is that what he is now?
THE WITNESS: I’m not sure what he is now —
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: — your Honor.
But that position handles all legal PR and intelligence as part of its duties for Scientology organizations.
THE COURT: And do I recall correctly — I know we’ve had a vacation, and frankly some of this has escaped me —
Is Mr. Rinder the head of OSA?
0554
MR. DANDAR: Well, Mr. — at one time, Mr. Shaw, who is the head of OSA here, was — testified that he reported — his senior was Mr. Rinder. What his title was to be Mr. Shaw’s senior, I don’t know.
THE COURT: Well, OSA would have a —
Okay. I believe there’s testimony about that in this hearing that he is the head of the Office of Special Affairs. I think. Maybe not.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: Which includes legal.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, let me show you what’s already in evidence as Plaintiff’s Exhibit 110, known as KSW News. And if you could, I’m going to —
THE COURT: I don’t know — I allowed the answer, but I don’t know what the answer was. I mean, the answer —
MR. WEINBERG: Mr. Shaw can explain it to you.
THE COURT: No. What — what I think — he went off to tell us about Mr. Rathbun. I think the question was why would it have been — why would Mr. Rinder have been called to this meeting. And
0555
is — what is your answer?
THE WITNESS: Right. Because Mr. Rinder would have been in that position, the senior person within the OSA network. And OSA operates on a statistic, just like other departments and sections within the Scientology organization operate on. And a statistic for the OSA would be a threat handled; a threat being a lawsuit or a person that was perceived to be an adversary against Scientology or taken an adversarial position against Scientology.
So getting rid of a lawsuit would be something that would improve conditions, you know, a statistic going up. That would be a good thing for them.
So — and that’s what they focus and concentrate on, handling legal situations.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q OSA.
A Yes.
Q All right. The KSW News, if you open up to the little — I believe it should be in the middle — there is a list of matters that need to be reported up lines to RTC.
A Yes.
Q Do you see that?
A Yes, I do.
Q And there’s an arrow that I drew —
0556
THE COURT: You all are too loud back there. Go ahead.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q — next to PTS Type III?
A “Any person who acts PTS Type III, potential trouble source.”
Q Okay.
A And that is of concern.
Q Does PTS Type III include people who are psychotic as well as people who want to leave? A Correct.
Q Now, this publication, when was it published?
A 1994 —
Q And —
— is when the copyright notice is on it, RTC copyright notice.
Q All right. So it certainly wasn’t published after Lisa McPherson died in ’95.
A No, it was not.
Q Now, this reporting up lines of PTS Type III to RTC, was that in effect when you were an active Scientologist?
A Yes, it was.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, excuse me. What does that mean, an active Scientologist? When he was —
0557
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Prior to ’92. Prior to you actually leaving —
MR. WEINBERG: When you were at the RTC?
THE WITNESS: Yes. Yes, it was.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, these meetings that you had with David Miscavige and Rathbun and Mithoff, Aznaran and others, you said there was a certain agenda?
A Correct.
Q And that the top of that agenda for each of these meetings was what?
A Flaps.
Q All right. What was —
A And what the handlings were.
Q — the next —
How they were handling the flaps?
A Yes.
Q What was the — give us a list of — in priority of each meeting.
A Flaps and handlings. Then statistics, go over the statistics of the departments, the divisions. Then you talk about — the next thing is talk about wins.
Q Wins.
A Wins. You know, successes. Scientology successes. Successes on the job, successes within the
0558
organization.
Q And how often would these meetings occur?
A Once a week.
Q And this is just a meeting of people who were at RTC?
A No. This is a pattern that is continued throughout the majority — all of Sea Org organizations.
Q That includes Flag?
A Yes.
Q And back in —
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, could I — the question was about Mr. Miscavige, and the answer obviously was way broader. You’re not — I don’t think Mr. Prince was saying Mr. Miscavige was having meetings on a weekly basis at all the Scientology organizations.
THE WITNESS: No, no. That’s not —
THE COURT: He’s saying, when he was a member and he would meet with these people, what was their agenda? That’s all —
MR. WEINBERG: Right. No — but then the next question was — then what he said was, “And this is done in all Scientology organizations,” which means — I think what he meant was there’s meetings every week in Scientology organizations with people
0559
in the org. That’s what —
THE WITNESS: The pattern of flaps and handlings, statistics and wins, is a pattern that every Sea Org organization has in their meetings, their weekly meetings. Miscavige isn’t at those meetings. I —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q But at the meetings that you had and you participated in with Mr. Miscavige, were these meetings — when you say flaps, were they just — my question was, did they just concern RTC or was it flaps —
A No.
Q — of what —
A When RTC has a meeting about flaps and handlings, it could include any aspect of the Scientology empire. It could include the FSO; it could include the organization in Australia if there was a threat in Australia of some org getting ready to be closed down, or if one of the Scientology organizations were raided in Greece or whatever.
You know, it could be anyplace.
Q All right.
A Because the problems were existing — in the lower organizations, their flaps —
THE COURT: You need to get to the point.
In your opinion, as somebody who was with — in
0560
RTC, at the time you were there, would the Lisa McPherson situation have been discussed at one of those meetings.
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Is there any doubt about that?
A No. And as I was getting ready to say is, the reason being is the lower organizations have to report to the higher organizations. The higher organizations have to approve the handlings for the flaps; have to verify the statistics. Then it goes to the next organization, who’ll do the same thing. And by the time it gets to RTC, it’s pretty much confirmed what the lower organization is saying.
And maybe the handlings may be modified, but you know, they’re pretty much all on the same page.
Q Is there any doubt in your mind — as you sit here today, do you question your opinions that you reached in your August, ’99 declaration concerning the involvement of Mr. Miscavige in the Lisa McPherson as a PR flap?
A No. I haven’t changed my opinion one bit.
Q And is that opinion solely your opinion or are you being influenced by anyone to make that opinion?
A I base my opinions on my personal experience, what I’ve observed, the written word of L. Ron Hubbard.
0561
Q All right. Now, let’s jump now to 2002. The — we left off with your meeting — I believe you said you had this rather un- — not unpleasant, but bad — heated words were exchanged at that hotel, the Radisson on Clearwater Beach, when you met with Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks. Do you recall that?
A Yes, I do.
Q And Ms. Brooks walked out to the parking lot with you?
A Yes.
Q All right. I want to pick up from there.
When is the next time you recall having further conversation with Ms. Brooks or Mr. Minton?
THE COURT: What — do we have the date on that?
MR. DANDAR: April the 14th.
THE COURT: Okay.
A The last —
MR. WEINBERG: I don’t think he said that —
MR. DANDAR: Yeah. April the 14th.
THE COURT: Well, he said the dates were as they were in his affidavit, ’cause he sat down with a calendar.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
A The next time that I talked to them, I think, was
0562
maybe a week or some days later, when they were staying at another hotel — oh, wow. Windham, the Hyatt Windham Hotel. I called and spoke to Bob and asked if he wanted to come by to the — ’cause I was having a barbecue.
MR. DANDAR: All right. And Judge, just for the record, I am looking at his April, 2002 Jesse Prince affidavit.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. DANDAR: His handwritten note is April 14th, that’s attached, 2002.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, the handwritten note, did you write that when you met with me and Mr. Lirot?
A Yes, I did.
Q Okay. And after that is when —
Maybe I’m confused. Let’s hold on.
After that is when you had the dinner with Mr. Minton?
A After I wrote this handwritten note is the Sunday that I met with them at the Radisson.
Q Is that when you had that heated conversation —
A Yes.
Q — at dinner?
A Yes.
Q Was that — were you supposed to meet Mr. Rinder
0563
that day?
A Correct.
Q And who told you that?
A Mr. Minton, Mrs. Brooks.
Q And did you meet with Mr. Rinder on April 14th, 2002?
A No, I did not.
Q Why not?
A Because it was deemed by Mr. Minton that I was not ready, because I was not willing to perjure myself.
Q And who told you that?
A Mr. Minton.
Q How did he want you to perjure yourself?
A He wanted — he wanted me to come in and say that you influenced me to write the August, ’99 declaration that I did; that you put words in my mouth. And he wanted me to say that some meeting occurred where Mr. Minton was at, where you talked about adding David Miscavige on as a party.
And he kept using this term of, like, “You have to walk with us on this because we’re going to show you what to do. You know, we’re the A team. We got to be together on this. There can’t be any breaks. This is what we’re doing. This is what I’m saying. This is what you need to do to back it up.”
Q How did you respond?
0564
A “I absolutely will not do it.”
Q Did Mr. Minton ever indicate to you that he knew that he was lying?
THE COURT: Could I ask —
Just one more minute.
What you’re saying — which affidavit is it that they — they, meaning Mr. Minton — wanted you to say Mr. Dandar influenced you to write?
THE WITNESS: The one where I wrote that Miscavige had knowledge and culpability in Lisa McPherson’s death.
THE COURT: The one that dealt with the change — or the amendment of the complaint. Is that the one he’s talking about?
MR. DANDAR: Yes. That’s the one he’s talking about.
THE COURT: That would have been the first affidavit he filed maybe in this case? Well, it doesn’t matter.
MR. DANDAR: No. The first one, I think, was the PC folders.
THE COURT: I know which one you’re talking about.
THE WITNESS: It was the second one.
MR. DANDAR: It’s the August, 1999 affidavit.
0565
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: And he also wanted you to state —
THE WITNESS: That Mr. Dandar had had a meeting with myself, Mrs. Brooks, Dr. Garko, Mr. Minton, to discuss adding Mr. Miscavige on as a party.
THE COURT: Right.
THE WITNESS: And apparently Bob was saying, you know, and we have to say that Mr. Dandar said that the meeting never happened, and you know, we were adding on Miscavige basically to try to force Scientology into a settlement position.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Was any of that true?
A No.
THE COURT: Could we find out, since that does seem to be an issue here, what he remembers about whatever meeting there was to discuss adding Mr. Miscavige as a party? Or are you not ready for that, or are you not going to go there, or —
MR. DANDAR: Well, I’m trying to not invade my work product as much as possible. But it is an issue, and so I didn’t — We can ask him that question.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. DANDAR: I just don’t know how far I want
0566
to invade my work product.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q But Mr. Prince, do you recall having any meeting with me, Dr. Garko and Stacy Brooks about adding on David Miscavige —
THE COURT: I’m not going to let them get into the extent of the discussion necessarily, other than what we’ve done thus far in this hearing, which is who was there —
MR. DANDAR: Okay.
THE COURT: — and was there a discussion about adding Mr. Miscavige, and who was in favor of it and who wasn’t? That’s pretty much all that’s been discussed.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: And it’s been discussed by a lot of witnesses —
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: — Stacy Brooks, Mr. Minton, Mr. Garko, you.
MR. DANDAR: All right. So — That’s fine.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So was there such a meeting?
A There was a meeting between you, myself,
0567
Mrs. Brooks, Dr. Garko, where we discussed — and I mean, my recollection is there’s been more than one time that we discussed this — about adding Mr. Miscavige on as a party.
Q Was Mr. Minton ever at any of those meetings?
A No, he was not.
Q Do you have any idea why Mr. Minton would tell you, when you met with him in April, why he wanted to say he was at a meeting to add on David Miscavige?
A Because the idea was —
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. If it’s something Mr. Minton told him, fine. But otherwise it would just be pure conjecture.
THE COURT: That’s true. If it’s something Mr. Minton told him, then he can discuss it.
Go ahead.
A Okay. The idea that Mr. Minton told me is Scientology had several things that they wanted Mr. Minton to do. These were in conjunction and coordination with things that could be done to get the case dismissed. Specifically, going after you. Specifically, you were to be made the target of whatever stack of papers that Scientology provided to Mr. Minton. There was five or six things that they wanted him to do in relationship to you only. And you were the obvious target —
0568
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Why?
A — to —
Because they wanted to get you kicked off the case. Because they figured if they got you kicked off the case, then no other attorney would pick it up and the suit would simply go away.
Q And Mr. Minton told you this.
A Yes.
Q And how many times did he tell you that?
A Several.
Q Did Mr. Minton ever indicate to you that he knew that what he was saying about me was not true?
A Mr. Minton was in — in the — in the very beginning, Mr. Minton was in anguish over the — the prospect of — of lying on behalf of Scientology for — against you. Mrs. Brooks was in a panic and desperate frame of mind to do whatever it took to extricate Mr. Minton from just the assault that Scientology was enacting upon Mr. Minton. And she thought that it would be a good idea for Mr. Minton to cooperate with Mr. Rinder, with Mr. Rosen, whatever they wanted, to get him extricated from the Scientology assault.
Q Did Mr. Minton or Ms. Brooks tell you that —
Well, you said they — let me go back.
0569
You said something about Scientology gave Mr. Minton a stack of papers about what he needed to say against me?
A Yes.
Q What —
A Or possible things to go into. And that’s the stuff that came from the Adams Mark Hotel, after we had the meeting, after I went to see him again, after he lied the first time on the stand.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, objection.
A And —
MR. WEINBERG: If this is —
THE COURT: Wait a minute.
MR. WEINBERG: If this is the same stack that Mr. Prince testified yesterday that he never looked at —
THE COURT: Right.
MR. WEINBERG: — so how’s he going to answer questions about what was in the stack?
THE COURT: He’s not answering questions about what was in the stack. He’s talking about what Mr. Minton told him. That’s all he’s supposed to testify about.
MR. DANDAR: That’s what he’s doing.
MR. WEINBERG: Well —
0570
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q You didn’t look at the stack of papers, right?
A No, I did not.
Q So how do you know what was in the stack of papers?
A ‘Cause he told me. There were five to six things in there that Scientology wanted him to do against you, and you specifically, and you only.
Q Okay.
A And two of them were the check. You know, somehow saying that you caused him to perjure himself concerning the check. And then the meeting. These were two very important issues to —
You know, I can’t say that I fully understood it because I’m not a lawyer, but this was very important that they executed in that way.
Q Okay. And let’s talk about the check, all right?
A Okay.
Q Did Mr. Minton ever tell you that — after he met with Scientology, did he ever tell you that the check was from him; that May, $2,000 (sic) check for $500,000?
A At that time he did.
Q All right. Did you have any conversation with him as to why he told you something different on the roof of the parking lot across from the Lisa McPherson Trust office?
0571
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. Asked and answered. He talked about that yesterday.
THE COURT: I think he did.
MR. DANDAR: Did he?
THE COURT: Yeah, I believe he did.
MR. DANDAR: All right. Okay.
THE COURT: Do you remember — sometimes one day bleeds into the next. I do know he talked about being on the roof of the parking lot, and I do know he talked about Mr. Minton telling him something different. Did he — Did you discuss yesterday with us why Mr. Minton said he was telling a different story now? I don’t remember.
THE WITNESS: Well, yes, your Honor. Your recall is actually quite correct. Because you yourself asked me, “Well, what did they say,” when I brought up the fact that we had been on the roof. And he had told us this whole different story. And you asked me, “Well, what did they say,” and I said that, “They just looked at me stupidly.” But of course —
THE COURT: So is the answer then he really didn’t say anything about this difference —
THE WITNESS: Right.
0572
THE COURT: — that you’re telling that —
MR. WEINBERG: Changed the subject.
THE COURT: Changed the subject.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did you ever talk to him again about the check, or was that the last time?
A I think that is the last time I spoke to him about the check.
Q Okay. Did you have any other conversations with Mr. Minton or Ms. Brooks about trying to get you to lie and go down the road with him, as you say?
A Well, I had continuing conversations with them after negotiate — after they had the negotiations in New York and then began the negotiations — continued the negotiations in Clearwater.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, my objection, your Honor, is he went over all this yesterday.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
MR. WEINBERG: I mean, now we’re going back and we’re going to go repeat what happened yesterday.
THE COURT: That’s true. I think we really were, yesterday, up to the point of this forward meeting.
0573
MR. DANDAR: That’s right.
THE COURT: Although frankly, you never did discuss the meeting where there was a discussion to have Mr. Miscavige added. And I think he’s done that now.
MR. DANDAR: Yes, he has.
THE COURT: Right. And — and that was the second thing. And I — I think now you’ve explained that. So you can go — I shouldn’t say you — Mr. Prince can explain what.
THE WITNESS: There was something I left off about Mr. Miscavige — adding Miscavige as well, in the discussions that I had with Mrs. Brooks and Mr. —
THE COURT: Oh, yeah. I don’t believe he’s ever discussed with us what his discussions with Mr. Minton were about that.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: So you might want to.
MR. DANDAR: Oh.
THE WITNESS: Right.
MR. DANDAR: Okay. Go ahead.
THE WITNESS: As you well know, and certainly Mr. Weinberg well knows, we all sat before Judge Moody forever on this issue of adding David
0574
Miscavige as a party. We discussed this back and forth.
MR. WEINBERG: “We” being —
THE WITNESS: The judge said a key question to be asked was, is was that anything I wanted to have happen? The answer is no. I was not in favor of adding David Miscavige. I thought it would drag down the lawsuit and just be cumbersome.
THE COURT: That’s you. You were not in favor of adding him.
THE WITNESS: Right.
But in discussions about this, it was decided to do it anyway, and it was decided because this is what Ms. Liebreich wanted to do. But we discussed this. And my — my thing with Mr. Minton as we were talking about this when they were trying to get me to do this, is when the record is so obvious why and how that happened, why are you now trying to say it’s just all Ken’s fault, when Mrs. Brooks was the one that was really wanting this to happen; wanting to add Miscavige? So we talked about that.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay.
0575
THE COURT: And what did he say?
MR. WEINBERG: Excuse me. Talked about it when, then?
So now it’s Ms. Brooks or Ms. Liebreich that wanted this to happen. I mean, I —
THE COURT: No. No. I understand this. Wait till you get the transcript.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m sorry.
THE COURT: It’ll be very clear to you. Don’t get all flustered.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m not flustered.
THE COURT: Yes, you are.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m hungry.
THE COURT: I’m hungry too. We’re going to stop at 12:30. Did you say you were hungry?
MR. DANDAR: That’s what he said.
MR. WEINBERG: That’s what I said.
MR. DANDAR: That’s a new objection.
THE COURT: Just so we see if the testimony’s consistent —
At this meeting, Jesse Prince was not in favor of adding Mr. Miscavige; Stacy Brooks really wanted to add David Miscavige. What about Dr. Garko?
THE WITNESS: Dr. Garko was hesitant about it.
And —
0576
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: And Mr. Minton didn’t care one way or the other. I mean —
THE COURT: I thought Mr. Minton wasn’t there.
THE WITNESS: You know, later, when we discussed it, when, you know, Stacy — we went to the office. And Stacy says, “Well, I think, we’re going to do this,” and he’s, like, “Yeah, okay. So what?” Because Mr. Minton always — you know, he was concerned about what he was doing. Mr. Minton wasn’t concerned with what Mr. Dandar was doing or — or what Mr. Prince was doing or Mr. Brooks (sic). He had his own agenda. When he came down to — here in Florida, he would be more concerned about what he was doing.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well, was there a meeting with Mr. Minton?
A No.
Q Well, what are you talking about when you said Minton — Mr. Minton didn’t care?
A I recall Stacy Brooks and myself having a conversation with Mr. Minton, mentioning the fact that we were doing this.
Q Oh, okay. Was I there, or Dr. Garko?
A No.
0577
Q All right.
A No. And he’s like, “Okay. Where do you guys want to eat,” type of thing. You know, he just didn’t care.
“Okay.” You know, that’s — “Ken –” “Whatever.”
Q Did Mr. Minton ever tell you he had an agenda?
MR. WEINBERG: Excuse me, your Honor, could we date that meeting?
MR. DANDAR: Yeah. Let’s date the meeting.
MR. WEINBERG: And where it was?
MR. DANDAR: Yeah.
THE WITNESS: When Stacy and I discussed it, I think it was probably — some — maybe a week or sometime prior to the fifth amended complaint actually being filed —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well —
A — we discussed it.
Q — there were several times that the fifth amended complaint —
MR. WEINBERG: Well, your Honor —
A Well, okay. To answer the question, no, I don’t know when it was. I just know —
THE COURT: No. I think —
MR. WEINBERG: My objection was Mr. Dandar prompting him.
0578
THE COURT: No, he wasn’t prompting him.
There were several fifth amended complaints. I would like to know.
Was it the fifth amended complaint where Mashburn (sic) and — Rathbun — all those other people were added or was it the fifth amended complaint that’s now the complaint?
THE WITNESS: Your Honor — I don’t —
THE COURT: Or do you know?
THE WITNESS: I don’t have a clear recollection of which —
THE COURT: Was this a discussion where it was decided to add Mr. Miscavige as, I guess, chairman of the board of RTC — I don’t know how — I’ve never seen that complaint — or was it before the discussion to add Mr.
Miscavige as head of the Sea Org?
THE WITNESS: I think it was after the discussion to add — after it had been resolved that Mr. Miscavige could be added as head of the Sea Org.
You know —
THE COURT: After it was resolved by whom? By Judge Moody?
THE WITNESS: Yes. By Judge Moody.
THE COURT: Then you had a discussion with
0579
Mr. Minton about this?
THE WITNESS: Yeah. I believe he, Stacy and I were in the car, traveling, and we talked about it.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So it was after the hearing we had, you said took forever, with Judge Moody?
A I know that it became a serious possibility after we exhausted, in front of Judge Moody, every way of whether or not it would be correct or appropriate or even allowed to do it; coming in as head of the Sea Org, when Judge Moody said that it could — that he could be added as head of the Sea Org, not as COB because of that agreement.
Q Right.
A Which, you know, I didn’t even know about until after the fact.
MR. DANDAR: All right. Okay. Probably a good time to break for lunch, unless you have a question, Judge.
THE COURT: I think it’s a good time to break for lunch. We’ll be in recess — you know, an hour just isn’t enough. I need to make some phone calls and sign some things. We’re going to break until quarter till 2.
Court’s in recess.MR. WEINBERG: And the same instructions to
0580
Mr. Prince.
THE COURT: Same instruction.
(A recess was taken at 12:29 p.m.)
0581
REPORTER’S CERTIFICATE
STATE OF FLORIDA )
COUNTY OF PINELLAS )I, Donna M. Kanabay, RMR, CRR, certify that I was authorized to and did stenographically report the proceedings herein, and that the transcript is a true and complete record of my stenographic notes.
I further certify that I am not a relative, employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties, nor am I a relative or employee of any of the parties’ attorney or counsel connected with the action, nor am I financially interested in the action.
WITNESS my hand and official seal this 9th day of July, 2002.
______________________________
DONNA M. KANABAY, RMR, CRR
Notes
Testimony of Jesse Prince (Volume 3) (July 8, 2002)
329
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO. 00-5682-CI-11DELL LIEBREICH, as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF LISA McPHERSON,
Plaintiff,vs.
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FLAG SERVICE ORGANIZATION, JANIS JOHNSON, ALAIN KARTUZINSKI and DAVID HOUGHTON, D.D.S.,
Defendants._______________________________________/
PROCEEDINGS: Defendants’ Omnibus Motion for Terminating Sanctions and Other Relief.
CONTENTS: Testimony of Jesse Prince.1
VOLUME 3
DATE: July 8, 2002. Afternoon Session.
PLACE: Courtroom B, Judicial Building
St. Petersburg, Florida.BEFORE: Honorable Susan F. Schaeffer, Circuit Judge.
REPORTED BY: Lynne J. Ide, RMR.
Deputy Official Court Reporter, Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida.Kanabay Court Reporters; Serving West Central Florida
Pinellas (727)821-3320 Hillsborough (813)224-9500
Tampa Airport Marriott Deposition Suite (813)224-9500330
APPEARANCES:
MR. KENNAN G. DANDAR
DANDAR & DANDAR
5340 West Kennedy Boulevard
Suite 201
Tampa, Florida 33602
Attorney for Plaintiff.MR. LUKE CHARLES LIROT
LUKE CHARLES LIROT, PA
112 N. East Street
Suite B
Tampa, Florida 33602-4108
Attorney for PlaintiffMR. KENDRICK MOXON
MOXON & KOBRIN
1100 Cleveland Street
Suite 900
Clearwater, Florida 33755
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. LEE FUGATE
MR. MORRIS WEINBERG, JR.
ZUCKERMAN, SPAEDER
101 E. Kennedy Blvd
Suite 1200
Tampa, Florida 33602-5147
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. ERIC M. LIEBERMAN
RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD
740 Broadway at Astor Place
New York, New York 10003-9518
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.331
APPEARANCES: (Continued)
MR. ANTHONY S. BATTAGLIA
Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & Wein, P.A.
980 Tyrone Boulevard
St. Petersburg, Florida 33710
Counsel for Robert Minton.332
THE COURT: Mr. Prince, you all may be seated.
MR. DANDAR: Judge, I just was advised by my office that Judge Baird wants us to be at a hearing tomorrow by telephone. And I’m going to be here and my brother is covering another hearing for me in Tampa. But Judge Baird wants to go forward with the hearing by telephone.
So I would ask that you let me attend that hearing by phone.
THE COURT: What time?
MR. DANDAR: Nine o’clock.
THE COURT: Okay. How long is the hearing expected —
MR. DANDAR: I have no idea.
THE COURT: Well, that is no good. What kind of motion is it?
MR. DANDAR: It was the Flag’s — or RTC’s — actually, Mr. Rosen and Mr. Pope’s motion to strike our pleading challenging the domestication of the Texas judgment against the estate.
THE COURT: So it’s legal —
MR. DANDAR: Right. We had a hearing on that Tuesday at about 5 o’clock before July 4 and we filed a supplemental memorandum of law and they filed a response over the holiday, so I guess we’ll discuss that.
333
THE COURT: You think an hour?
MR. DANDAR: I hope not. I don’t think so. But —
MR. WEINBERG: I’m told not that long. About thirty minutes.
THE COURT: Okay. Well, let’s plan on starting at ten o’clock anyway.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE COURT: All right, go ahead, Mr. Dandar.
Mr. Prince indicated he didn’t give us his full explanation, so you can go ahead with that.
MR. DANDAR: Okay, before he does that, could I give him a document that I had the clerk just mark?
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well, Mr. Prince, go ahead, give us the full explanation of why you have the opinion that Lisa McPherson was dead because of an end cycle order?
A Okay. Lisa McPherson went to the hospital. From — from the records that I can see from the doctor, they didn’t indicate that she was psychotic and needed to be Baker Acted.
Now, we’re talking about terms here that mean different things to different people. In the hospital they define psychosis the way they define it and, thus, Baker Act people. In Scientology, they have a different definition
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for a person, a psychotic or suffering from psychosis. One of the definitions, reasoning of what psychosis is in Scientology, is in their Case Supervisor Series 22, which has been entered in on the record, I’m sure, many times. And this is concerning psychosis.
Now, it says here —
THE COURT: I don’t know if it has been or not.
I think you’re looking in that one book?
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: I’m not sure if that whole book was introduced.
THE WITNESS: No. No. Not the whole book. But this issue here, psychosis, has been an exhibit.
We can put it in again.
THE COURT: I don’t know if it has or not.
MR. WEINBERG: I don’t think it has.
THE WITNESS: Okay. Well, when I finish explaining it, I’ll hand it over.
MR. DANDAR: We’ll mark it.
THE COURT: All right.
A It says — down here at the beginning of this issue here on psychosis, it says, “All characteristics classified as those of a suppressive person are, in fact, those of an insane person.”
So, in other words, it is the belief of
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Scientology that a person who they consider to be suppressive and has those characteristics are also insane people, you see. So we’re working with two different definitions here.
Now, if this person — if Lisa was taken to the hospital and they said okay, she’s not insane, she’s just having problems, she can work it out, she gets to Scientology, she’s insane. They are the ones that classify her as being insane.
Why do they classify her as — well, one of the reasons they classify her as being insane is because she wants to leave. And again that is mentioned here in this book here of people wanting to leave as also being psychotic.
So my thing is this. Lisa McPherson was taken to the Ft. Harrison. Prior to being — to this whole incident with going to the hospital and everything, she made her intentions to the Church known, to her friends, to her family, she wants to leave. In their minds, she’s psychotic. Medically, not necessarily so, she simply doesn’t want to do it anymore.
It has become a matter of PR concern because she had the accident with the boat, you know. She’s left, she’s —
THE COURT: I’m sorry, she had the what?
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THE WITNESS: The accident with the boat, where she ran into the back of the boat and took off her clothes.
THE COURT: Oh, okay.
A Okay? This is something a person now who again, two months earlier, just testified to being more than human, more than a homo sapiens, this person is a homo novis. This person is almost like a demigod. Now, this person is brought to the Ft. Harrison.
In my mind, my opinion, she came in there, she said, “I want to leave.” She didn’t change her mind. She’s delegated to be psychotic. They want to put her on introspection rundown. She’s incarcerated.
In that book “What Is Scientology,” it gives a definition of introspection rundown and gives a brief summary of introspection rundown that the public people can read.
MR. DANDAR: Let me hand this to the witness, Judge. It is Exhibit 125, just marked by the clerk from “What Is Scientology,” which I believe you have the entire book.
THE COURT: Yes.
A It says “Introspection Rundown. This is a service that helps to preclear, locate and correct things which cause him to have his attention inwardly fixated. He then
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becomes capable of looking outward so he can see his environment, handle and control it.”
Nothing in here, one, if Scientology labels you psychotic, you are going to be incarcerated until a case supervisor tells you you can leave. There is nothing in here that warns anyone of that.
So Lisa was taken to the Ft. Harrison, deemed to be psychotic, put on the introspection rundown.
Well, when did that come up that we even found out that Lisa was on introspection rundown? After Alain Kartuzinski and other people were given use immunity when they were first saying she’s a hotel guest, now the
investigators want to hear the story, “Oh, she was on introspection rundown.” Okay. So she’s on introspection rundown the second day.And to me — again, she told them, “I want to leave.” They wouldn’t let her leave. She gets violent. The next day they order the drugs to put her down.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What drugs?
A I think it is chloral hydrate or Valium. Alain Kartuzinski gave some money for Valium. And if you look and see what Scientology says about drugs, psychiatric drugs, all of these things, these things are expressly prohibited.
Now, so far what we’ve seen, we see Scientology’s
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policy if a person is sick, when you take them to the hospital, make sure — but now we see things happening that — that are outside of that. By their own policy we see things they are not following that. That is a huge no-no.
We are at the place where policy and tech is applied 100 percent correctly standardly in every case, but somehow in this instance we have so many instances where this person — they are not doing it, they are not doing it.
And the reason why, you have to look behind that. And the reason, my contention is, is that she expressly wanted to leave, it escalated to her actually threatening, probably threatening with legal, threatening with law enforcement or whatever. This became a problem.
OSA was there from the very beginning, reporting about this, the very beginning, because this is a legal threat, this is a problem in Scientology.
So maybe they did try an introspection rundown on her. You know, they say they did. Maybe they did. But I think she never agreed to it. I think that she decided she was done with Scientology, no matter what they said to her,
she would no longer agree to it, because by her own word, it was making her sicker.So instead, because of what happened, when they saw Lisa’s deteriorating condition, in their minds Lisa is
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on the process. She’s on introspection rundown. Scientology has further policy, the way out is the way through, get the PC through it. What turns it on or turns it off. In their minds, whatever she’s going through is part of the process.
Plus, you have the added fear that if this person isn’t reconciled with Scientology, it’s going to be a big problem.
So instead of taking this girl to the hospital where she should have belonged, where their own policy says to do, and get her medical treatment, when it was obvious, by the reports that I have seen that she was ill, instead of
doing that, no, we’re going to keep doing Scientology because that is what it means by Keeping Scientology Working and, you know, what happens happens. Some of them don’t make it. Too bad.But the biggest fear for Scientology was to let this girl go, in the state of mind where she was refusing to cooperate with them, caused them more problems than her actual death.
Q How do you get to your conclusion that her death was a result of an end cycle, let her die order from Mr. Miscavige?
A During my tenure in — in RTC, we would have staff meetings that had a pattern to the staff meetings. And the
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patterns were this. What are the flaps? What are the handling for those flaps? Those are the first things that are discussed and chewed around and taken care of.
Q With whom?
A Amongst the executives and the staff in any particular organization. Any particular Sea Org organization, I should say.
Q At RTC, who were the meetings with that you had?
A Flaps and handling? They would entail myself, Vicki Aznaran, Mark Yaeger, David Miscavige, Lymon Sperlock, Norman Starkey (phonetic), in some instances the executive director in the national if it had to do with stats. But
those were the people that ultimately had to know what was going on.Now, why is Flag Service Organization so important? Because the Flag Service Organization, when I left here in 1982, made an income of over 2 million a week. So you have an organization here that makes $8 million in a
month. This is — it is the highest income-producing organization within Scientology.It’s a major concern that everything is perfect at the Flag Service Organization. There is not going to be an instance where no one knows what is going on. So in the staff meetings you talk about flaps and handling.
Well, Lisa is a flap. It’s reported up the lines.
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OSA is there from the very beginning because she is a legal threat because it is a flap. And they are busy reporting, you know, on the legal side of it and what is going on and the repercussions.
They are also coordinating and in liaison with the technical area that has the technical program that they are trying to get her through, which in their minds is going to cure her.
Everyone knows — I believe there is also testimony on the — during the time period that Lisa was going through this trouble, Mr. Miscavige was there. We would often go to the Flag Service Organization, to inspect it, to make sure it is running properly, to make sure this technology is being applied 100 percent standard.
Q What are you relying on when you say Mr. Miscavige was at the Ft. Harrison Hotel in this time period?
A I believe some — a public person who — I don’t recall the name right now — something that I read mentioned the fact that he was there. And — he was at post.
Q This public Scientologist saw Mr. Miscavige?
A Yes.
Q Was that in the police files of the Clearwater Police files?
A Yes.
Q Okay.
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A So your largest income-making —
THE COURT: Where is that?
MR. DANDAR: I have it. I’ll introduce it, Judge. In fact, I have it on my computer. I’ll print it out on my next break.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: It is Detective Carrasquillo of the Clearwater Police Department interviewed four, I believe, public Scientologists staying in the cabanas who heard nothing during this time period, who saw Mr. Miscavige —
MR. WEINBERG: Excuse me, your Honor, is Mr. Dandar testifying? Or is he asking questions?
THE COURT: I just asked him a question. He’s responding to me. I was saying —
MR. DANDAR: It is a four-page document. It’s on my computer. I can print it out.
THE COURT: Okay.
A So, you know, from the limited time that I was there in the Religious Technology Center myself, I know that, you know, there wasn’t much about the Flag Service Organization that I didn’t know about and also had responsibilities for to make sure that the whole thing ran smoothly. And the person that I reported to was certainly the — ultimately was Mr. Miscavige.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay.
A And I am saying here today — and the reason I came to that conclusion — is by their own written policies that they have written here, you start to see violations.
And the reason why is because there was a problem. There was a legal threat. Lisa was not cooperating with them. When I did the introspection rundown on the other girl, she was cooperating. She wasn’t trying to leave. She
was going along with it. She never mentioned that she wanted to leave at any other time. There is a big difference.So now you have a person that wants to leave, has publicly stated they want to leave to their friends, to their family, to the auditor. That is a no-no.
Q How did you —
A Again, there is reference where a person wants to leave is psychotic. So now they have put this label on her. She’s locked in a room. She’s terrified. Instead of taking her to the hospital when she was sick and letting her get
treatment because of her state of mind and because of the way she felt about Scientology, they opted to just continue the process, and either it works or it doesn’t.Q Well, Heather Hof, who was a 17-year-old ethics officer, or studying to be an ethics officer, inspection
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reports, all her records, are missing. She testified in deposition that she hand-delivered her reports to Mr. Kartuzinski, saying as early as December 2, I believe, Lisa McPherson wasn’t eating or drinking enough to survive,
something had to change, Heather was frantic. The —MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, objection. He’s just testifying. This isn’t a question. This is just Mr. Dandar summarizing — and I would say missummarizing — what he thinks the testimony has been. It’s not a question. It’s a statement.
THE COURT: Well, I suspect that he’s saying, “Mr. Prince, if this is her testimony.” That is what you do with an expert sometimes. So if that is what he’s doing, I’ll allow it, I guess, with the question.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So I’m assuming I’m accurate in my recollection of what Heather Hof testified to the police, as well as her deposition in this case, and the pathologist retained by the estate, that Lisa was in a coma that she could be shaken out of but she would go back into, five days — the last five days of her life. And in reading — in what you know and reading what you just told us you read, why is it your opinion that they would just simply let her die rather than take her to the hospital?
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A Because she was not settled with her relationship with Scientology. And this would have caused tremendous problems for them. If they would have taken her — you know, even during the period of time when she was going in and out of the coma and say she goes to the hospital now, she starts getting treatment, she’s getting better, you know, Scientologists come around, she now tells the doctors, “No, I don’t want to see them anymore, I have to get away from this.”
Q Mr. Prince, I guess the crux of the matter is you — you put together an affidavit that is dated August of 1999. Do you recall that?
A Yes, I do.
Q Where you talk about the role of David Miscavige and Mr. Mithoff and Marty Rathbun and your prior history in RTC. Do you remember that?
A Yes. I do.
Q And in that affidavit you have come to the conclusion that the three of them just decided to sit around and not do anything about it and end cycle Lisa McPherson?
A Yes. If she dies, she dies. If she gets better, she gets better.
Q Now, did I help you write that affidavit?
A Not at all. This affidavit came about because — from studying all of the evidence. And I spent months
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studying this to come to this conclusion. This conclusion I came to was my personal opinion, I stated it as such, based on the experience I have within that organization.
And the thing that — that became alarming to me to even point me in this direction is the amount of information that is missing, the amount of things that — that isn’t there that would clearly show like what her state of mind was based on what she was saying. All of that is missing. Which means cover-up. Which means something is hidden. Why is something hidden?
In my mind, similar to what happened in Wollersheim. This is information, if gotten out, could be harmful or damaging to Scientology. And Scientology, the survival of Scientology, is first and foremost in the mind of any Scientologist, even beyond their own lives.
Q Did Stacy Brooks put you in the mood to write this affidavit? Did she kind of persuade you to write this affidavit?
A No. Put me in the mood? I guess I didn’t understand.
Q Okay. Did she influence you in any way whatsoever to get you to write this affidavit where you conclude that Mr. Miscavige and others had decided to issue the end cycle order?
A No. Matter of fact, Stacy disagreed with my
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opinion about that. She disagreed with it. But — and we’ve had discussions about this.
I mean, you know, I did it outside of her. Stacy was nowhere around when I did my affidavit. And she asked me why I came to that conclusion. I mean, we’ve had in-depth conversations about that, because Stacy was not in the position I was in to be able to make that determination.
Q Did anybody — let’s even go to Bob Minton. Did Bob Minton suggest to you, order you, tell you in any way, shape or form what to put in that affidavit?
A No. Bob Minton was so disrelated from anything that I was doing in this case.
Q Really? How so? I mean, wasn’t involved at all?
A Bob Minton never cared about the particulars that was going on in this Lisa McPherson case. He never concerned himself with that.
His words to me were, “I have hired Ken. He’s got the money. He’s the best one that — the best lawyer I could think of to do it. It’s his job. It’s his responsibility.”
Q Did Bob Minton say he hired me, Ken Dandar?
A No. No. He just said you were the attorney of record. He trusted you. You could —
Q Did you ever hear Bob Minton say to you, or to me in your presence, that — ordering me to charge David
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Miscavige with — in the civil case with murder?
A Absolutely not.
Q Did anyone — maybe I haven’t mentioned the right name, I don’t know. Let’s just cover the whole waterfront.
Is there anyone that gave you direction or influenced you in any way on how to write that affidavit and what conclusions you reached in that affidavit?
A None at all. No one.
Q Now, the only other end cycle orders you have seen when you were in RTC, did they only have to do with people who had a terminal illness?
A That is correct.
Q Did you ever come across another circumstance like Lisa McPherson where an end cycle order was given and the person did not have a known, medically diagnosed by a licensed medical doctor, terminal illness?
A No. With the exception of what I told you about John Nelson, of course.
MR. DANDAR: All right. Judge, just in case it is not present, I just want to go ahead and I marked this affidavit that we’ve been talking about as Plaintiff’s Exhibit Number 126. And I’m sure you have so many copies of this already.
THE COURT: Is this the one that is 108?
MR. DANDAR: No. That is the PC folder one,
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THE COURT: Oh, okay.
MR. DANDAR: This is the one that talks about end cycle.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. DANDAR: This is what Paragraph 34 of the fifth amended complaint is dependent upon. I would like to move 126 into evidence.
MR. WEINBERG: It is already in evidence, but —
THE COURT: Yes, it is in, but we’ll let it in again.
MR. DANDAR: Somewhere. I’m not sure where.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, do you recall seeing, in the deposition testimony of Judy Goldsberry-Webber and Dr. Houghton and Kartuzinski, that liquid injectable Valium was picked up twice, two separate times, at two different places for Lisa McPherson?
A Yes.
MR. WEINBERG: I object. This just isn’t proper. Do you recall seeing somebody else’s testimony? I mean, we should be asking Mr. Prince about his testimony, whatever it is, not what he recalls somebody else’s has testified to.
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THE COURT: Well, if he read — just remember, Mr. Prince was his consultant. If he read some of these depositions in some fashion to assist him with his testimony, I mean, I already heard him talking about Valium which he thought —
MR. WEINBERG: Which was never given to Ms. Lisa McPherson.
THE COURT: Well, I know that. But we want to listen to what it is he says.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
THE COURT: I know that. And I know Kartuzinski was the one who said, “No, we don’t use Valium.” So, I mean, I know this case a little differently from what Mr. Prince does. But I haven’t been to all of the depositions and I haven’t read all of the depositions. But I know what I know from this hearing.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE COURT: And that is that Dr. whatever his name is prescribed the Valium.
MR. DANDAR: Minkoff.
THE COURT: And Kartuzinski said no. That is all I know.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, can you tell us how it is that the
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organization works where if Dr. Minkoff, as he testified, ordered injectable Valium twice for Lisa McPherson, how would the org go about procuring that Valium from a public drug store?
A Well, you would have to use — you know, Scientology in itself is a closed system to that degree because it does disagree — seemingly disagrees with psychiatric medicines, the use of psychiatric medicines.
However, in — in the case of introspection and a person that is psychotic, there are references of using drugs to treat those people.
But Scientology would only go to another Scientologist who would have that same understanding that would provide what they needed because they are kind of like on the same track. I have never seen it work where a doctor outside of Scientology would do that.
Q Well, how does the organization work to go about getting the money approved to push the prescriptions?
MR. WEINBERG: Well, I’m sorry to interrupt. But he’s asking how Flag would have gotten the money in 1995 or whenever it was. He wasn’t there. He wouldn’t know that.
THE COURT: Well, he can testify as to what he knew when he was there.
MR. WEINBERG: In 1982? I mean, it’s just —
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okay.
THE COURT: I mean, he — this is what he based his opinion on. If it had to do with 1982 we just have to take that into consideration.
A Well, there is a simple answer to the question because it’s a Scientology policy, it’s called CSW, completed staff work. Whenever the organization is expected to — is expected to finance or pay for something, a document is submitted that — to the person senior and financial persons within Scientology that explains what the situation is, what the handling of it is.
If the situation is a person is psychotic and — you know, and in need of drugs, according to this reference, and handling is to buy the drugs, and then this is okay and they sign it and that gets passed along, the drugs are purchased.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So it gets passed along to who?
A If it was an emergency CSW, which would be accompanied with a purchase order, if it is an emergency CSW with an accompanying purchase order, it would normally go from the person who originated the CSW, to his immediate senior, to the commanding officer or whoever that person designated to be in authority to instantly approve moneys expended by the organization.
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Q And have you seen a CSW for any of the prescription drugs purchased for Lisa McPherson?
A No, I have not.
THE COURT: What was the CSW again?
THE WITNESS: Completed staff work.
THE COURT: Thank you.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q If — if the pathologist retained by the state who say that she’s in a coma, it was obvious for five days that she wasn’t getting any better, she was getting worse, if Heather Hof, in my recollection of what she said, is correct
that she was — Lisa was getting worse as early as December 2, if that is all true, is there any other explanation that you can think of that would explain why nothing was done sooner for Lisa McPherson?MR. WEINBERG: I object to the form of the question, your Honor, as a completely improper hypothetical.
THE COURT: Overruled.
A You know, again, I have studied for 16 years these issues, this stuff with red writing, this stuff with black writing, called staff writing; the only — this is the way I opine this way, the only reason she would have been treated
this way is because she was a threat to Scientology.And Scientology has a principle called the
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greatest good for the greatest number of the dynamics. The dynamics being the different areas of life that L. Ron Hubbard codified or, you know, decided this is the way it was.
In Scientology, the overriding principle is to protect Scientology. That is the greatest good. For her to go in a bad condition to the hospital, complain of what Scientology did to her, to create bad publicity for them, possible lawsuits, possible investigation by law enforcement because she was incarcerated, held against her will, was not anything anyone wanted to deal with.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q How could letting someone die be less of a PR flap than taking them to the hospital while they are alive?
A Well, I think it is an empirical fact, because it wasn’t — it was virtually unheard of until a year after her death. When you do enough cover-up — I mean, you know, not until a year after her death was it even known what happened to her. So it worked for a while.
Q Okay. Let’s go to —
THE COURT: I have just got to ask a question there. And I had so many but I didn’t want to interrupt Mr. Prince.
She went straight to the medical examiner. Right? I mean, from the hospital to the medical
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examiner?
THE WITNESS: Right, with meningitis.
THE COURT: Well, whatever. There is a medical examiner who is the one that determines cause of death in this city.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: If she had been stabbed, if she had been dehydrated, if she had been shot, whatever it is, you take a dead body to the medical examiner when they are not under a doctor’s care for the medical examiner to say what is the cause of death.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Right?
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: I don’t know how long it took her to do her work. But the deal was as far as the Church would be concerned, she was delivered to the medical examiner to determine cause of death. Right?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: So any delay was occasioned apparently by some difficulty in determining what was the cause of death. And some disagreements in sending off lab tests and all that sort of stuff. Right?
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THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. So — so as far as the Church is concerned, Dr. Wood or whoever was going to do the autopsy might have known what they saw in two days.
THE WITNESS: Well, I don’t believe —
THE COURT: I mean, they have no way of knowing that, that they couldn’t just cut her open, look, say, “Whoops, there is a blood clot, this was caused by dehydration.”
THE WITNESS: Well, wasn’t it after the criminal case got started that Mrs. Wood went on national TV and spoke about dehydration and all of these things? Wasn’t that —
THE COURT: It may have been. But the fact of the matter was, is within a matter of however soon they got to this body, depending on how many bodies they had —
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: — somebody did an autopsy, you know, did an autopsy.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Dictated findings, and eventually this was put into an autopsy report. And Dr. Wood apparently did go on nationwide TV at some point in
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time later.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: But, I mean, it still goes without saying that there would be no way for the Church to know what was going to go on at the medical examiner’s office.
I mean, gosh, they could have said she was stabbed. They may have been wrong. But there is no way of knowing, when a body is taken under unusual circumstances, anybody not under a doctor’s care, where a doctor signs off, like in a — in a — and a medical examination is done, an autopsy is done, there would be no way for the Church to know what the ultimate result was going to be.
Why, look at all of the flap now about the different autopsy reports and what have you.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: Right?
THE WITNESS: I agree with you wholeheartedly.
THE COURT: So this has been my problem all along is that you talk about a bad public relations flap.
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: Well, a death, for heaven sakes, brings about a lot worse public relation than
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somebody who goes to the hospital and says, “I was kept there, I didn’t want to stay and they brought me here but I want to go home and I don’t want to be here” and some charges are brought because of that.
THE WITNESS: Well, your Honor —
THE COURT: Which they can defend on the way by saying this was a religious — she was a member of the Church, this was the way we handled this. That would have been the defense.
THE WITNESS: Right. And I — and I beg to differ with you on the fact that it was more convenient to take her to the hospital as opposed to take a dead body there.
THE COURT: I didn’t say convenient. I said it would be a — it was a worse public relations flap to have had Lisa McPherson die at the hotel under the care of the Church of Scientology than it would have been for Lisa McPherson to have gotten well in the hospital, having been taken there by the Church of Scientology and had her say, “They held me there and I wanted to leave and they wouldn’t let me leave.” That would have created less of a public relations flap.
THE WITNESS: I beg to differ, your Honor. And the reason I beg to differ is again, like I say,
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this person has just attested to being almost superhuman. This person has been in the community here in Clearwater. She worked on public relations, on behalf of the Flag Service Organization, setting up the Christmas dealies. She was part of the OT committee whose responsibility is to interface Scientology with the community. Lisa was not a low-profile, no-nothing nobody-person.
THE COURT: I understand that. But here we are, we are in this hearing, it is the seventh week of this hearing. This case has been going on seven years. There has been no good publicity that has come out of it, presumably, for the Church of Scientology.
All this would have been avoided if they had taken her to a hospital if it had been something that they would have known, they took her to a hospital, and had she said, you know, “Those folks were holding me against my will,” and they just said, “No, she was there on introspection rundown,” that would have been litigated, long over.
Do you think, in the long run, it would have been less of a public relations flap?
THE WITNESS: Let’s take another perspective of it. If it had gone along as Scientology planned, if
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my contention there was a cover-up and they were successfully able to cover up and this girl simply died of embolism, well, who cares? Okay, well, so, you know, another dead person.
But if this person came and said, “Hey, look, I have been in here, they have held me, these people have jumped on me, forced drugs down my throat, they shoot me up with needles,” you know, I know that — that they said they never used Valium. I’m sorry, I disagree. I have been through these introspection rundowns. The instant they give that stuff — they give it to the person because they can’t sleep.
Otherwise, they are up all night. What they call it is a free will or the person simply cannot sleep so they are giving her drugs to make them sleep. Why would you get the same drug two times and not use it?
THE COURT: A person that can’t sleep is the person that is psychotic in a very hyperactive state. Right?
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: So, consequently, you would concede that Lisa McPherson was, in fact, in a very psychotic state or she could have slept just fine.
THE WITNESS: Something caused her not to
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sleep.
THE COURT: Right. Which, of course, if she was in a psychotic state — now we are back to that situation where it would have been fairly dangerous for them to let her walk out the door, which —
THE WITNESS: You know, as far as her being psychotic, your Honor, I feel we can only speculate about that, because she was never taken to a doctor and diagnosed as being psychotic when they say she was psychotic.
THE COURT: Then she wouldn’t have needed Valium to make her sleep, would she?
THE WITNESS: No.
THE COURT: I mean, you can’t have it both ways.
THE WITNESS: Well, you know, your Honor, I’ll be quite honest with you. Before I came in here —
I’m tired now because I wasn’t able to sleep that well, and I’m sure this will go on until I’m finished. So I don’t know, six to one, half dozen of another to me.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Have you ever in your experience seen drugs like Valium or chloral hydrate given to a Scientologist so they
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don’t leave?
MR. WEINBERG: Can we limit it to one or the other?
A No, I have not.
THE COURT: So you have never seen Valium given to a Scientologist?
THE WITNESS: Because they want to leave?
THE COURT: Because they want to leave?
THE WITNESS: No.
THE COURT: Because they were sick?
THE WITNESS: Because they were —
THE COURT: Psychotic?
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: When was that?
THE WITNESS: Again, this girl, Terese —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Teresita?
A Teresita. Again, she, you know, literally fell off the chair and started doing her thing. And I think one day passed and she wasn’t sleeping, and immediately Dr. Dink was contacted. You could literally see her dying in front of your face. She was just burning up. It was one of the most amazing things to see, kind of like the person caves in on themselves, they just kind of fall in, you know.
And this started happening to her after she hadn’t
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slept for two and a half, three days. And she came out and she was given an injection.
Q Did you —
THE COURT: Was it Valium? That is the question.
THE WITNESS: Your Honor, I couldn’t speak truthfully as to what the injection was because the doctor was there, he injected her, and I know that within an hour, hour and a half, she was asleep.
THE COURT: So in truth now, Mr. Prince, you can’t testify in this courtroom that you ever saw Valium given to someone because they either wanted to leave or because they were psychotic; you don’t know what the psychotic person was given?
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, did you have to assist Teresita in eating and drinking?
A Yes, I did.
Q How did you do that?
A I would just gently talk to her and tell her that it is important for her to eat if she wants to get well. I would tell her the case supervisor has said you have to drink X amount a day. Would you please do it? Just trying
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to get her cooperation.
Q Could she do it by herself?
A No.
Q So how did you do it?
A Oh, I thought you asked me would she do it by herself.
Q Right. Did she pick up the water and drink it by herself?
A Yes.
Q And the food, did she eat it by herself?
A Sometimes I had to take a spoon and put it to her mouth and watch her chew, you know, and, “Did you eat it all,” you know. That kind of thing.
Q All right. Your opinion that Lisa McPherson died because of an end cycle order, an order just not to do anything for her —
A Correct.
Q — is that opinion based upon because you hate Scientology? Or is it based upon something else?
A For one thing, I certainly do not hate Scientology. I don’t hate anyone or anything.
My opinion is based solely on personal observation, personal experience. I give it as an opinion. I say why. Maybe I haven’t said it as clearly as I need to, but it is so important for Scientology. And, you know,
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especially Clearwater is considered a hostile environment.
I mean, I have been here when half the city of Clearwater were picketing around the Ft. Harrison with Michael Flynn.
I mean, I have seen and been involved in trying to make this a place where Scientology could comfortably be and the environment would be comfortable with Scientology.
So, no, I don’t hate Scientology. I was a Scientologist myself for sixteen years. You know, I had a firm belief in what I was doing. I have since become disillusioned with a lot of that. But my motive certainly isn’t hate.
Q Now, Mr. Prince, there came a time when the Lisa McPherson Trust was formed. Do you recall that?
A Yes, I do.
Q And after you finished working for me full-time, you went to work for them full-time. Correct?
A Yes.
THE COURT: You know, on some of these things you really are going to have to stop leading him.
That is one of the issues that is an issue here. So don’t ask him a question and then say “Correct?”
MR. DANDAR: Okay. All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, were you ever with Bob Minton when he talked about giving money to me for the case?
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A I have been with Mr. Minton a couple of times, yes. Two or three. Yes.
Q I want to direct your attention to May of 2000.
A Okay.
Q All right?
A Yes.
Q Do you recall any incident where Mr. Minton talked to you about giving money to me?
A Around that exact time period, Mr. Minton made it known to me that you needed more money to bring this case to trial. He had thought in his mind that he had given enough money already and, you know, it could have went to trial or whatever.
But he was concerned about the repeated motion and — motions and on and on, just the cost of the case from the filings and things, that he asked me to go over there and look into, well, what is coming up now, I mean, what can we look forward to now?
I think at that time you were working on an accident reconstruction. And Mr. Garko was talking about doing a jury pool survey or something. And these were going to be additional expenses that would be needed, you know, as
well as whatever else came up to take the trial — take this case to trial.And I remember going back and speaking to him about that. And he wasn’t very happy about that. And then
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he — he — he went away — he came into town. Mrs. Brooks and I were working at the LMT. And he came and he said, “Come here, you guys come out here,” because he had a fear that the building that we were in was electronically bugged.
And we got in Stacy’s car and we went into the city parking lot, which is directly across the street from the LMT Trust. Went to the very top where we could see.
And he said, “Look, I’m going to tell you guys, you can’t tell anybody this, Ken Dandar has more money, he doesn’t know where it came from. It came from Europe. You know, I told him, this is as much as I think I can get, I
hope this takes you to trial.”That was in 2000. He told us that, you know, he didn’t want the office to know, you know, Ken didn’t want everybody in the office to know or whatever, but this $500,000 came. And — and, you know, everything with the case would be okay, basically, was the one instance.
The second instance was very recently, I guess in March of 2002 —
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, before he gets to the second incident, that happened when, the first incident?
THE WITNESS: May of 2000.
MR. WEINBERG: May of 2000?
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did he say where this $500,000 came from?
A Europe. People from Europe.
Q Did he say to you it was his money?
A No. He said he had arranged from some people from Europe who made this money available.
Q Did you ever see that check?
A No.
Q Okay.
A Then the second instance was recently in March of 2002. He told me that, “Ken needs more money to finish this case and get this case to trial. You know, I’m willing to arrange to get him some money, but I have a problem with some people on the Internet saying bad things about him.
Could you ask Ken if there is any way if he has influence over these people to tell them to stop. And if you do, I’ll see if we can arrange to get him some more money.”
Q So what did you do?
A So I went and had that meeting. I went over to your office and I met with you. And I said, “You know, Bob thinks that he can get more money for you but he’s concerned about this matter. And what are you doing with that? Are you connected with these people, or are you — you know, are you encouraging them to do this?” You know, we had a bit of a conversation.
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And, Mmm, you said you knew nothing about it and had no control over those people whatsoever but, you know, you would do what you could to make it stop if that is what he was worried about, but it wasn’t anything you were actively concerned in.
Q Do you know anything about the check I got after that?
A Mmm, I know at some point that you had gotten a check. And he called me and let me know that you had.
Q He did?
A Yes.
Q Okay. Did he say where that check came from?
A He did not.
Q Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: And the date of that — the date of the conversation with Mr. Dandar was, you said, March?
THE WITNESS: Of 2002. Yes.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Was this before, or after, I flew to Mr. Minton’s house?
A Before.
Q Okay. If I flew to Mr. Minton’s house February 22 of 2002, when would this conversation be that you and I had?
A So I think maybe a week prior.
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Q Okay. Were you aware that Mr. Minton —
THE COURT: So you are saying that was February of 2002?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
MR. BATTAGLIA: Excuse me, your Honor, what was February of 2000?
THE COURT: 2002. This is when Mr. Dandar and this witness had a conversation.
MR. BATTAGLIA: Oh. Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, I jumped — when you talked about that meeting, that kind of threw me off because that is two years after where I wanted to talk to you about. So let’s go back.
Do you know a fellow by the name of Patrick Jost?
A Yes. I do.
Q Okay. How do you know him?
A I know him because he was hired by Mrs. Brooks to specifically assist Mr. Minton to deal with allegations that were being stirred up by Scientology investigators in Nigeria and Switzerland.
Q What was he supposed to do?
A Mmm, Patrick Jost is multilingual. I think he speaks maybe four or five languages. Mmm, he’s also a person — ex-CIA, spent many years in Europe on behalf of
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the United States defense.
So he knew a lot of people and had a lot of contacts.
And he was supposed to go and find out where the trouble was originating from and try to deal with it accordingly.
Q Do you know if he was successful in doing that?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection, hearsay, your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: This whole thing is hearsay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did you — can you describe for us the demeanor of Mr. Minton throughout the years — almost two years that the Lisa McPherson Trust concerning the — what he perceived to be actions taken against him by Scientology?
MR. BATTAGLIA: I’ll object to that as being far too broad, demeanor over a period of two years.
THE COURT: Mr. Battaglia, much as I would like to let you object, I don’t think you have any standing to object in this hearing. This is a hearing between these two people. Your client is simply a witness. So I’ll simply ignore that.
MR. WEINBERG: You beat me to my feet because I was about to say the same thing.
MR. FUGATE: Stereo.
MR. WEINBERG: That is like asking for — I
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don’t know how you ask a question like that. His demeanor over two years?
THE COURT: I agree with that. It was a little broad.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did Mr. Minton ever talk to you about what he felt concerning the Scientology investigation of him?
A Many times, to answer the question. And it wasn’t even the fact that investigations were happening. It’s the false information. The false information that was being provided to government officials in different countries, unfounded allegations that were being provided, that disturbed him more.
And over time it became increasingly more evident that this was having more and more of an effect on him.
Q How did you pick that up?
A When I first met Mr. Minton, he was probably about 40 pounds lighter than he currently is. Just the nicest, gentlest, kindest person. I mean, I had never seen a person like him before. I mean, literally, who am I? Nobody.
But a person like that to come around in your life that just was — I don’t know — genuinely concerned about other people to the point of almost fault. And very — very kind. Very intelligent person.
I seen him go from that, to — to kind of being a
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person that is annoyed — kind of annoyed by what is going on, kind of — Mmm — annoyed with, you know, what is happening with his kids, you know, what is happening with his house, his phone lines, on and on.
Then I seen him go to a person that actually became very doubtful about what he was involved in, what he was doing. He seemed to be less confident as time went on that he would be able to do anything to restrain Scientology from exercising some of its practices that are detrimental to the general public at large.
Q Have you — are you familiar with the doctrine of Scientology called fair game?
A For sure.
Q Has fair game been canceled?
A No. It’s alive and well.
MR. WEINBERG: It’s what? I couldn’t hear.
THE COURT: Alive and well.
THE WITNESS: Alive and well.
MR. WEINBERG: And that is based on your —
THE COURT: Counsel, we’re going to let you ask that question later.
MR. WEINBERG: I will. I’ll withdraw it. I’m sorry.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Based on your expertise and experience in
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Scientology, did you personally observe any fair game practiced on Mr. Minton?
A Yes. I have.
Q Can you give us some examples?
A Mmm, leaflets passed around in Boston where his wife and children live, saying that he’s an adulterous, robbed the Nigerian children — the Nigerian people of moneys, this is a starving country. And — and kind of — he’s kind of somehow aligned with the KKK because he was attacking Scientology. Mmm, his children being followed around. You know, the whole Nigeria/Switzerland thing.
They used to meet him at every airport he went to, irrespective of any city, they would just show up and meet him and picket him at the airport. I have been with him when the police literally have to stand in the airport and hold Scientologists back from attacking him.
I have been with him in Boston where somehow Scientology OSA people had gotten a hold of his — his — his records, his counseling records when he was seeing a psychiatrist. And they started saying things to him that he said to his therapist, I know, that upset him extremely that it could even happen.
And the fact of the matter is that therapist decided to no longer see Mr. Minton after Mr. Minton went
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back and told him, “Hey, why are these guys saying this to me?”
Q This was a psychiatrist?
A Yes.
Q Of Mr. Minton’s?
A Yes.
Q So —
A And —
Q — he refused to see him after the records were made public?
A Correct. Or exposed. His position was exposed.
Q Okay. Did there come a point in time when Mr. Minton, in your presence, was — had any dramatic change in his emotions compared to the years that you have known him?
A Again, you know, what I said earlier. For sure, he changed. He became more of a somber person. He wasn’t as cheerful anymore. He was more serious.
And at some point it even got into, “Well, you know, they did this to me so I’m going to go picket them. They did this to me so I’m going to go picket.”
You know, this is — was kind of like his last line of defense, as I testified the first day I came here, that he could possibly do, you know. “I’m just going to go picket. When they fool with my wife, I’m going to picket.
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When they fool with my children, I’m going to picket. What they are doing over in Nigeria, doing all this crap, I’m going to go picket.”
So he became increasingly despondent about that. And, you know, Mr. Minton takes medication. Not that there is anything wrong with medication, but sometimes he wouldn’t take it. You know, he seemed to just be extremely stressed.
And during the time periods when he didn’t take his medication, he would literally be in a state of collapse with just — crying uncontrollably and totally despondent.
I remember one time he told me he was going to kill himself. He was walking around in the woods with a gun, you know. 200 acres up there where he lives and it is nothing but beautiful woods in New England and he’s walking around with a gun. He drove his car in the woods, got it caught on a tree stump and he’s out there in the middle of the night, with a gun, crying. You know, that has happened.
Q When did that happen, that particular incident?
A That was in the fall of 2001, I believe.
Q Okay. Do you have any knowledge concerning Stacy Brooks’ desire, in the summer of 2001, to go see Dell Liebreich to get her to drop the case?
A Yes. I do.
Q What is your knowledge?
A Mmm, Scientology had very effectively convinced
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the courts — and I’m not trying to cast any aspersions here — tried to convince the court that somehow the Lisa McPherson Trust had something to do with this Lisa McPherson case.
And this assertion, this stuff that had grew over the years, inextricably tied these two things together, which allowed a way to now do continuing discovery on Mr. Minton and Mrs. Brooks and other staff members that worked at the trust.
And this was something that he was very concerned about, because financially it was ruining the Lisa McPherson Trust to have a lawyer have to represent all of the staff members, you know, when they get deposed, and they’re away, and on and on and on. So —
Q Did there come a time when — well, let’s go back to the question.
Did there come a time when you had knowledge about Stacy Brooks wanting to go to Dell Liebreich?
A Yes. So because of that, you know, and there was more discovery by Scientology specifically on Mr. Minton’s finances, they were just narrowing down on that, which is pursuant to their policy here to cut off the funds, on and on and on. They are on a systematic program.
One thing that can be said about Scientologists, they are extremely organized and they have resources to do
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what they need to do.
So Stacy thought that, you know, a lot of stress was coming because of this. So she thought, well, the only reason this is happening is because of this wrongful death case. So she decided to go visit with Dell Liebreich and ask her to drop the case because of what was happening with Bob Minton. And she decided to do this without Mr. Minton knowing about it.
And she consulted me on it and asked me, “Do you think he will be extremely upset if I do this?”
And I told her that I thought he would be extremely upset, you know, without talking to you about it and just go down there because there was no relationship.
Stacy had no relationship with Dell Liebreich. So for her to now — now come out of the blue and ask her to drop the case, it would be like a woodpecker coming along, telling me to pay my house rent or something, something as bizarre as that. So, you know, Stacy decided she was going to do it anyway.
She finally asked Bob Minton. And he said, “No, you don’t do it. You don’t do that.” She decided to do it anyway. She attempted to have a phone conversation with Mrs. Liebreich. And I think at that point, after Mrs. Liebreich spoke with Stacy, she then spoke with you and refused to speak with Stacy anymore.
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Q Are you aware of any instance where Bob Minton controlled the wrongful death case?
A Not at all. The wrongful death case was the last thing that Mr. Minton was interested in because he had turned it over to you, he felt you were a competent, honest attorney, and, you know, many arguments have happened between Mrs. Brooks and Mr. Minton concerning the fact that she did not need to be involved in the case, or if there was a differing of opinion, to do what you say because you are the lawyer.
And, no, he — he — he never — Bob Minton was more concerned about what was going on at the Lisa McPherson Trust.There was a period of time, after we came into existence and actually established a phone number, that people just started calling like crazy. “Hey, can you help me with this? Can you help me with this? Can you tell me what is going on with my brother? He doesn’t speak to me anymore. Can you tell us what it means to be an SP? I need to get my money back from Scientology that I haven’t used because I have no life, I don’t have a place to live.” You know, all of these kind of phone calls. And we — we became extremely interested because after the trust was set up, it gave you a broad cross section of, well, what types of things do people need help
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with in relationship to Scientology?
So our job became, well, there is nothing we can do about it. If there is a criminal activity concerned, if there is any fraud that is concerned or bad business practices, at that point we started referring people to the responsible governmental agencies.
If you have a problem with them returning your repayment money, you refer them to the Consumer Fraud Department — Department of Agriculture, Consumer Fraud. If it is bad business practices, the Better Business Bureau. If it has something to do with money — the IRS could possibly be a person to contact if they are not getting satisfaction with known policies on giving money back. This kind of thing.
And we had nothing whatsoever — and the whole reason I stopped working in your office is that we had gone through deposing the majority of the Scientologists and Scientology witnesses. And you were going on to your medical experts. So there was no reason for me — I mean, I didn’t need to sit and listen to a medical expert being deposed.
So I worked at the trust. And this is kind of what we were doing. It was kind of like when you went off doing your medical people, we just forgot about the case.
At least, I did.
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Q So you actually did work at the trust in answering calls for people who needed counseling?
A Very much so.
Q You weren’t just waiting for the trial of the Lisa McPherson case to start?
A This trial — you know, as much as I’m willing to offer my services — help point out certain things, what happened with Mrs. McPherson was a very unfortunate thing but there are still a lot of people alive that needed help.
And that is where I went to — what I wanted to do.
Q What was my involvement with the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A Occasionally stop by to have dinner.
Occasionally, like maybe I think I maybe seen you there two times during its entire existence, maybe three.
Q Did I give any orders to anyone at the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A Not that I ever saw. It would be highly unusual if that happened.
Q Did I direct any of the picketing?
A No.
Q Do you know if I ever participated in a picket?
A No. You know, I was sitting here listening to testimony about that, and I listened with a sharp ear as Judge Schaeffer here mentioned the fact that you shouldn’t
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have been anywhere near picketing. And I think what may be kind of misunderstood here is the fact that the vigil is not — was not and never has been a picketing experience. The vigil is where the people come from all over, they light the candles, they — they do some Bible stuff, they sing hymns and they may place a wreath where she died at the cabana. That is not a picketing experience.
And that is where I have seen you with the vigils, along with the family. And you were there because the family was there.
Q Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, I have an objection.
In light of Mr. Prince’s last statement, he said he understood you had said certain things during the hearing? How would he know that if he was to be excluded?
THE COURT: I am sure he read transcripts.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, but it is —
THE COURT: It would have been what he read or somebody told him, which would be inappropriate, too.
A I think it came up on the first day when I sat here in the courtroom giving testimony where you admonished Ken and pointed that out. I heard that direction from this
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seat.
THE COURT: I’m not excluding you from testifying if you read something or heard something.
THE WITNESS: Well, I’m just saying that is not the case. I heard it right here in this seat on the first day I was here.
THE COURT: You have to understand to the — to the rest of the world, if candles are being carried, signs are being carried, it is being done, the Church of Scientology — it may look and seem like a picket. A lot of folks have talked about it as being a picket.
THE WITNESS: Right. But at the vigil there are no signs, though.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, did you ever hear Mr. Minton talk about the money that he gave me as — giving it to me or giving it to the estate? Did you ever hear him talk about that?
A I have. And what Mr. Minton has always said to me is he is giving this money to Ken to use on the case at his discretion. He’s loaning the money to Ken. That is what I heard.
Q Did you ever hear Mr. Minton write or speak about the LMT or Mr. Minton getting the bulk of any of the money
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that may be realized from the wrongful death case?
A The only time I heard that statement made was when Mr. Minton came back from a radio interview. And he was laughing. And he said, “Hey, you know what, I just went in there and said the bulk of the proceeds are going to go to an anti-cult group or whatever. And I know this is going to chap Scientology’s behind.” He was into that kind of tit for tat kind of thing.
Q Did you ever hear him talk about it in private or outside of the media’s presence?
A Well, you know, the particular time that I’m talking about was private, you know. And I — you know, I made the comment, “Really, you know, is that the way it’s going to go?”
He said, “Look, I’ll probably never see a dime from this stuff. I just said it.”
Q Okay. Did there come a point in time when Mr. Minton started to express concern over the discovery by Scientology of a UBS check?
A What I recall about that, and I mentioned or made reference to it in the affidavit that I did, I guess the last one that I did, the April 2002.
He called me just in grief, crying. He’s like, “It’s over. They got me. You know, I’m going to jail.”
He’s just —
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THE COURT: Can we have a date on this? You want your last affidavit? I think it was in there.
THE WITNESS: Yes, it would probably be a week prior to the meeting that happened on March 28th. So we’re talking like maybe March 21st or something like that. You know, the week prior to going to New York.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right, here is the April 2002 affidavit.2
A Okay.
MR. DANDAR: Judge, do you need another copy?
THE COURT: No. I know it is in evidence somewhere. If I need to see it, I’ll ask to see a copy of it.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
A So, you know, I immediately called Mrs. Brooks and —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well, let’s back up.
Bob Minton called you up, crying, saying, “It is all over.” What else?
A He said that, Mmm, “I’m going to jail. I have been told I’m going to jail. They’re coming after Therese and the kids.”
And he was just completely despondent about that.
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Q And this was before the New York City meetings?
A Yeah.
Q Okay.
A Yeah. So then —
Q But he didn’t go into detail as to why he thought he was going to jail?
A No, he wouldn’t tell me then. I wanted to know, what is his new thing? What in the heck happened? What new thing has happened? He wouldn’t tell me.
Q Okay.
A Stacy, I called her to try to get additional information. She didn’t know what the heck had happened. But she knew she had to go up there. So she went up there that day.
Q To New Hampshire?
A Yes, to New Hampshire. Subsequent days, I got an idea of what happened. And it had no significance to me, I had no idea that this was a significant incident.
But he told me that Mike Rinder had somehow gotten a copy of a check, of the $500,000 check, and told him that he knew that Bob Minton lied in deposition about this $500,000 check and they had the proof and they were going to prosecute him on it.
Q Did Mr. Minton say he, Mr. Minton, also had a copy of this UBS check?
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A No. He said he didn’t know how they got a copy because he can’t get a copy of it. He said, “I tried. I can’t get a copy of it.” Somehow, they come up with a copy and show him.
And he was just beside himself.
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, could I ask, could we point out in this affidavit where this incident is that he’s just described?
THE COURT: Yes.
MR. WEINBERG: Because I don’t think it’s in there. They are saying something about a $500,000 check prior to the New York meetings.
THE COURT: You have your affidavit there in front of you?
THE WITNESS: Yes. I do.
THE COURT: See if it is in the affidavit, or if it is something not in your affidavit.
THE WITNESS: Okay. Okay, so here, if you turn to Page 3 of the affidavit, I started talking about what I’m explaining right now on the 20th of March, 2002.
THE COURT: What is this number?
MR. DANDAR: Paragraph 9.
THE WITNESS: Paragraph Number 9.
THE COURT: I don’t have it. Maybe I do need
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it. What is the number of the exhibit and I’ll have the clerk get it?
MR. FUGATE: I believe it is attached to Mr. Dandar’s response to our memorandum of fact and law. I believe that is where it is.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. FUGATE: Can I give you a copy?
THE COURT: Yes, please. If you would, that would be great. I’ll give this back to you because I know it is in evidence or in the pleadings.
MR. FUGATE: It is in the pleadings, I believe, Judge.
MR. DANDAR: He’s reading from Paragraph 9 on Page 3.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Am I right?
A Yes. But, you know — yes, that was on Page 3, Number 9, during the time period, what I’m talking about
here.And before I wrote this affidavit on the attachment, when I met with Mr. Dandar, I wrote on the first page that — that Scientology had gathered enough information about Bob Minton to get him prosecuted, convicted and jailed.
MR. DANDAR: He’s looking at his handwritten
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attachment.
THE COURT: Oh, okay.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
MR. DANDAR: The first page, the first paragraph.
THE WITNESS: Did I answer the question?
MR. WEINBERG: I asked you — I asked you, does it say in the affidavit about this conversation you supposedly had with Mr. Minton prior to the New York meetings where he told you that the Church had a copy of a $500,000 check, and he didn’t —
THE WITNESS: I don’t —
MR. WEINBERG: — have a copy and didn’t know where they got it.
THE WITNESS: I’m sorry, I don’t mean to cut you off.
I don’t mention the check specifically, but what I mention is, is the information that Scientology had gotten, information that said they were going to get him prosecuted and put in jail.
You know —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Paragraph 9, do you talk about the conversation — the first conversation where he’s crying?
A Yes. They discovered information about him that
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threatened his wife and children’s future. You know, again,he’s suicidal. And then —
THE COURT: In your handwritten notes it appears that you are talking about this — this information before Paragraph 3 which deals with Bob Minton and Stacy Brooks flew to New York.
So I presume you were discussing — or you — your notes indicated that occurred before the New York trip?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: I don’t think it is very clear, certainly, in the affidavit, but he says that is what he’s talking about.
THE WITNESS: Well, you know, your Honor, I really did try to do the best I could. This is a very disturbing time for me, too.
THE COURT: There is nothing that says that you have to speak to every word of your affidavit. You can expand on it. If that is your testimony, that is fine.
THE WITNESS: Thank you. And, you know, in the days between the New York meeting and the 20th of March that I noted here, which is where I came to find out, you know, what is this. Because Stacy flew there. And after she was there, I let her, you know, get settled.
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And then he’s telling me, you know, they have got this check. And, you know, and he says — basically, it’s come down to me or Ken Dandar, somebody has to die here.
And I’m like, you know, this was such a complete turnaround. These are people I worked with now for years. We have all been on one accord, doing what we thought were good work. Suddenly now Mr. Minton has to turn on Ken Dandar.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And did you have any further conversation in that phone call with Mr. Minton?
A Well, he informed me —
THE COURT: This is the phone call before –you are saying this is the phone call before the first time Mr. Minton and Ms. Brooks went to New York?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: We’re going to finish that phone call, then we’ll take a break.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
A Yes. He said he didn’t feel safe about discussing the information over the phone, he was too upset to talk about it.
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MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: Did you say this was about a week before the trip to New York?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor. I said on or around the 20th of March. And the trip to New York was the 28th of March.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: The 28th and 29th of March.
THE COURT: Let me just say this about affidavits. They wanted me to sign an affidavit of borrower to buy my house. And I refused to sign it without — I said, “I’m not going to sign this without this and this and this and this.”
And finally they just said, “Well, we’re going to throw it out. It is not that important.”
I said, “Well, good.”
All this, and affidavits. It makes me very nervous. You know, some things might not have made me so nervous.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Anything else on that phone call with Mr. Minton before we take our break?
A Mmm, you know, again, starting on March 20th until they actually went to New York, there were many conversations. You know, I don’t want to give the illusion
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this just happened one phone call and suddenly they were in New York.
THE COURT: Let’s go ahead and break and then we’ll start with — if you want to go into the other phone calls before New York. All right?
MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: We’ll be in recess until 3:15.
(WHEREUPON, a recess was taken from 2:55 to 3:15 p.m.)
______________________________________THE COURT: All right. You may be seated.
MR. FUGATE: Your Honor, before we begin back again, on May 13, 2002 we had filed a request to produce to Mr. Dandar for all financial records of payments to Jesse Prince, including bank records and checks, all W2s, 1099s, and any other tax form issued from Dandar & Dandar for Jesse Prince for tax years 1999, 2000 and 2001. It was never responded to.
I think it is now relevant, based on the testimony elicited, that that be produced, or at least responded to that was filed May 13th of 2001 (sic).
MR. DANDAR: Didn’t we respond to that?
THE COURT: Had you responded to this?
MR. DANDAR: We produced at the time they took
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Jesse Prince’s deposition — he’s no longer working for me — all of the W2s, 1099s, all of the checks we wrote. We did not respond to that one.
THE COURT: Is there anything additional?
MR. DANDAR: I’ll have to check. I’m sure — you know, since I brought him back on board as my expert, yes, I paid him since then. So there is something additional. But not back on May 13.
THE COURT: You don’t need him to regive you what he has already given you.
MR. FUGATE: No, I’ll go verify what we have and compare that to what he gives us. But — but he needs to respond. And he needs to give us —
THE COURT: I’m not going to require you to give him what he gave you already. So if he gave you stuff for the depositions —
MR. FUGATE: I’ll check that tonight.
THE COURT: Then you must give him whatever else there is.
MR. DANDAR: I will.
THE COURT: Try to have that to him by the morning. All right?
MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: You may continue.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay, Mr. Prince, following that telephone conversation, which you said was on or about March 20, 2002 with Mr. Minton, did you have any more conversations with him before he went to see Mr. Rinder and Mr. Rosen in New York City?
A Yes, I did. I may have had maybe three to four conversations with Mr. Minton and Mrs. Brooks concerning this. Yes.
Q Before the New York City meeting?
A Yes.
Q And what was your relationship with Mr. Minton at that time?
A Mr. Minton was a good friend of mine. A person that I trusted. You know, we worked together.
Q Okay. Did he confide in you?
A Yes. On some things, he certainly did.
Q And some things, he didn’t?
A I can’t say that he confided in me on everything. But I know some things he did.
Q All right. For instance, when he talked about somehow this check was going to make him and his wife go to jail, did he confide in you what it was that they got — this new thing in the year 2002 that caused him to think he was going to go to jail?
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A You know, he said that they got a copy of that check, that — Mmm — that he — you know, had given different testimony, I think, in a deposition or something.
And this is what was going to — this is how they were going to put him in jail for perjury.
Q And did he — all right. Did he go into more detail how that was going to be perjury?
A Because he said that he had given testimony contrary to — you know, in other words, this check, this $500,000 check, came from him, apparently, not people from Europe. Scientology had discovered that. And they were going to use it to get him convicted for perjury.
Q Did you ask him why he lied to you and told you that check was from people in Europe?
A You know, that was a very good question that I should have asked. But at the time this was all new news to me.
He’s telling me, you know, “Oh, well, it came from me, it didn’t come from him. Now I’m in trouble and now they are getting ready to depose my wife Therese and bring her in on all of this stuff.”
And in the heat of the moment, the panic of the moment, I’m sure I didn’t ask, you know, all of the right questions. But no, I didn’t ask him that specific question.
Q During those three or four other telephone calls with Mr. Minton before the New York meeting he had with
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Mr. Rosen and Mr. Rinder, did Mr. Minton tell you how it was that Scientology can find out that this bank check from UBS that doesn’t have his name on it came from him?
A The only comment he said was he had no idea how they possibly got a copy of that check because he himself did not have a copy, nor did he know how to obtain a copy.
Q Did Mr. Minton ever mention to you anything about Swiss prosecutors during — before the New York meeting?
A Yes, he did. He told me that there was yet another action being contemplated by a prosecutor in Switzerland. And it was my understanding that this had something to do with Nigeria but I’m not sure. You know, I don’t know the details of it.
Q And he told you this in March before the New York meeting?
A Yes.
Q Now, isn’t it true that before Minton called —
MR. WEINBERG: Object to the form to the question, “Isn’t it true.”
THE COURT: Yes, “isn’t it true” is suggesting that the answer to that is yes. I mean, I don’t know what the question is, but I know what the answer is. That is what the leading part is.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What was your understanding, Mr. Prince, of the
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status of the Swiss prosecution concerning Mr. Minton prior to Mr. Minton’s frantic calls to you in March of 2002?
MR. FUGATE: Objection, hearsay. Or at least the basis for this statement, “What was your understanding.”
THE COURT: If it came from Mr. Minton, he can answer. If it came from somebody else, then I am not sure you can answer.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q From Mr. Minton.
A Mr. Minton told me they were going to prosecute, going to file charges.
THE COURT: In Switzerland?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q When did he tell you that?
A Mmm, at one of the phone conversations between the 20th and 28th of March.
Q Well, my question is prior to that, had you ever heard from Mr. Minton about Swiss prosecutors?
A Oh, yes. I mentioned that before.
Q Right. And what was the status of the Swiss prosecution prior to you getting this call —
A These phone calls? Oh, I thought it was over.
Q What made you think that?
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A Because Patrick Jost had went over there and talked with people.
There was one other thing that was pending which, when Scientology got the bank records for the Bank of America, somehow the Bank of — someone in the Bank of America in Europe, some executive or some banking official, had did something that was improper concerning either divulging or passing along information about Mr. Minton’s accounts. And Mr. Jost was over there to pursue that.
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. Hearsay as to any conversations with Mr. Jost or anybody else. If he’s saying this is something Mr. Minton said, I would appreciate if he could date it.
THE COURT: Is this something you learned from Mr. Minton?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. Could you tell us about when that was?
THE WITNESS: Mmm, gosh. This — this would have to be in the fall of 2001. Maybe October, something like that.
THE COURT: As best you can remember?
THE WITNESS: As best I can recall, yes.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right. What was it the Bank of America
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official in Europe did improperly, according to Mr. Minton, what he told you?
THE COURT: Does this have something to do with this Swiss prosecution?
MR. DANDAR: I don’t know.
A This has something to do with when the bank records were obtained by Scientology here, the Bank of America somehow simultaneously did something — something happened in Europe, as well. I think they used the fact they had these records to get information that they were not supposed to get, they made it appear like the Court sanctioned them having this information or it was proper for them to get the information, when it was not.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q How did Mr. Minton react to them getting this information in Europe?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. Your Honor, this is hearsay based on hearsay. It is speculation. Then the question is how did they react to the Church supposedly getting this information in Europe? What information in Europe? What is he talking about? This is just hearsay.
And, you know, Mr. Minton testified. Mr. Dandar had an opportunity to ask Mr. Minton about this. He didn’t say anything about this,
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about this accusation or anything like this. He didn’t even ask him the question.
THE COURT: Overruled. This bears on Mr. Minton’s state of mind, anything Mr. Minton may have said about what he thought was going on, what the Church knew. Remember, we had a lot of this, as I tried to explain.
MR. WEINBERG: I object more to the form of the question. When he said the Church did such and such at such and such a time, it is just an improper form, I think.
MR. DANDAR: It is based on the witness’s answer.
THE COURT: Right.
A He was very distraught and upset that this had happened. You know, he felt like that there was no one that could be trusted or no one who was impervious to Scientology’s ability to penetrate and get information that they should necessarily have.
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, just for the record, so we are talking about now the fall of 2001 that he’s distraught?
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: Is this —
THE WITNESS: Yes.
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THE COURT: The same October period of 2001?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And even — did you have any conversations with Mr. Minton in January or February of 2002 before you had this — what you described as this March 20 — the first call in 2002?
A Conversations concerning?
Q Mr. Minton’s well-being, his mental state?
A Well, Mr. Minton — back in the fall of 2001, we decided that we could no longer operate the Lisa McPherson Trust. He was quite despondent about that. He was despondent about what to do with the people that we were either in the process of servicing or starting some — something with new people that were calling. And plus the phones just never stopped ringing.
So he was distraught over the fact that it wouldn’t be there anymore. He was distraught over the fact he felt Scientology had successfully caused the Lisa McPherson Trust to no longer exist because of a misunderstanding, that misunderstanding being that it was somehow inextricably tied into the Lisa McPherson case.
Q Did Mr. Minton or Ms. Brooks order you to quit being the expert for the estate?
A Ms. Brooks asked me to — and this, again, is in
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the fall of 2001 — to not be an expert in this case on the theory that anything — we were trying to sever any real or imagined ideas that the Lisa McPherson Trust was connected with the ongoing litigation.
Q And did you listen to her?
A No. I — I — I consulted Bob about that. I had a conversation with him.
And he told me that Mrs. Brooks was very upset about the discovery that was going on, particularly the finances. And — Mmm — this is why she was doing it. And he understood why she was doing it.
And — Mmm — what he said, you know, “If Ken — you are Ken’s expert. If he’s going to need you, you know, I’m sure you’re going to go and do what you have to do.”
MR. WEINBERG: Could we date that, your Honor, when that conversation took place?
THE WITNESS: Mmm, I think we were speaking about late 2001/early 2002. Maybe January, around there. This is as close as I can place it.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well, prior to that, you filed or signed an affidavit dated September of 2001 withdrawing as the expert for the estate.
A Okay.
Q So was this conversation with Stacy Brooks before,
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or after, that affidavit?
A Preceding that.
Q So it was before that?
A Correct.
Q All right. And in that affidavit — do you recall that affidavit when you withdrew as the expert?
A Not particularly.
Q No?
A I mean, I have a general idea.
Q What is your general idea of why you withdrew as the expert?
A Mmm, again, this was during the time period when the Lisa McPherson Trust was in the process of closing. The trust itself had literally been drained of operating funds for, you know, paying lawyers. This wasn’t anything that we ever anticipated or budgeted for. And it became the most expensive part of the operation, which was trying to step away from this case. And that is what I remember about it.
Q Let me show you your signed affidavit September 21, 2001 and see if you can identify that.
MR. DANDAR: Judge, do you need another copy of this?
THE COURT: No. No. This is the one I remember quite well.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
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MR. WEINBERG: Excuse me, is he impeaching Mr. Prince with this affidavit now?
THE COURT: I don’t know if he’s trying to refresh his memory or what.
MR. DANDAR: Refresh.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q First of all, is that your affidavit?
A Yes, it is.
Q Did you prepare that affidavit?
A Yes, I did.
Q Did you sign it?
A Yes, I did.
Q Is that the affidavit that you signed concerning the reasons for your withdrawal as the estate’s expert?
A Yes, it is. And, you know, I remember because I was talking about now the trust was closing, there were no lawyers — I mean we just couldn’t afford to pay lawyers anymore.
I personally cannot afford to have a lawyer to come in here and do activities like you are involved in or represent me or — or be here on my behalf. I have a family. I have people that are totally innocent to this and could care less.
But my family was threatened with the Scientology operation that was wrought on me to plant drugs in my house
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and get my house raided by the DEA, and try to get multiple charges put against me. And now I’m losing my job, too. There is no way that I could continue this activity without being able to see that my family would be safe and cared for.
Q Did you continue to receive income from Bob Minton or Stacy Brooks in the fall of 2001?
A Yes.
Q And the income you received in the fall of 2001, was that from Stacy Brooks individually, or from the Lisa McPherson Trust?
A I think it was probably Ms. Brooks individually.
Q Okay. What about 2002? Did she continue to pay you?
THE COURT: When did — when did LMT close down again? I have been away from this awhile and some of the details are out of my mind.
MR. DANDAR: It closed in August.
THE COURT: Of 2001?
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well, you tell us, Mr. Prince, instead of me.
What was going on in the LMT in the fall of 2001?
A They were closing — wrapping up, closing down, terminating the operation. Mmm, there was an order to allow
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a magistrate to come in and go through the personal files and records at the trust. So for a month or two it was kind of kept open for that reason alone, just to finish that. So that — you know, there was an extensive library that —
that library had to be shipped, cleaned — the building had to be cleaned up and prepared to be sold.It became our responsibility to ensure that the building did get sold. I had a verbal agreement with Mr. Minton, because at that point I didn’t have a lot of money either, that if I sold the building, I would get 25 percent of whatever the building sold for so that I could move — I was in the process of leaving Clearwater. My house was on the market. We were finished — the trust was over. We were finished.
I mean, if that is what Scientology wanted, they had accomplished it. It was finished. We were all moving.
I put my house on the market, put the building on the market, we were trying to sell it. We’re — we’re done. But it is never done, I guess.
Q Back to 2002, do you believe — have we exhausted your conversations with Mr. Minton or Stacy Brooks prior to the New York City meetings?
A The only additional things —
THE COURT: I just dread the thought of asking this question, but are you suggesting there is some
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agreement between you and Mr. Minton regarding the sale of real estate, as to your receiving proceeds from it?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: I see. Is there a lawyer in the room that wants to take that on a contingency? Probably not, Mr. Prince.
Okay. Continue on.
THE WITNESS: You know, I missed the point. I guess you’ll explain it to me later.
MR. DANDAR: That is all right.
THE WITNESS: I hate to miss the punch line.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So anything else about these phone calls, before we get to the New York City meeting?
A Well, the only other thing I think I covered in my affidavit that Mr. Minton said is, you know, after having conversations with Mr. Rinder, that it basically boiled down to who is going to die? Is it going to be Ken Dandar? Is
it going to be me. And I —THE COURT: Is that the word he used, “die”?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor. And for the life of me, you know, I couldn’t get a concept of what he was saying. I mean, he said it several times —
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THE COURT: Is this — I’m sorry, my mind is off on agreements and it is kind of an insider joke that has nothing to do with you really, a lot of agreements we’re talking about in this particular hearing, and we teasingly asked about what lawyer would take what on a contingency fee.
THE WITNESS: Oh, okay. So nobody wants my opinion.
THE COURT: Well, it will be volunteered, Mr. Prince.
Was this before or after the New York meeting, this conversation?
THE WITNESS: This was before the New York meeting. This is after Ms. Brooks arrived.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: He was telling me that, you know, that somebody has to die.
And, you know, Bob has always come to me, when he wanted to interface or maybe know something from Ken, he’s asked me, you know.
So for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how is it now that suddenly we sit here today and we have to decide who dies. Why does anyone have to die? That was my question.
And — Mmm — he told me that for them — for
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him not to go to jail and be prosecuted — and he had actions going in both cases in front of both judges, Judge Schaeffer and Judge Baird — that he somehow had to make this case go away, the Lawrence Wollersheim case go away, and that is — he said, “That is all — that is what they said they want.
So we’re going to go talk about that.”
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q In New York City?
A Yes.
Q All right. And — all right. Anything else, before we get to New York City?
A That — Mmm — Stacy was just adamant that she would be able to successfully settle with Scientology so that they would disengage Bob Minton, because he was literally being driven insane. He was terrorized into a state of mind that was beyond anything he was capable of dealing with.
THE COURT: Did you ever ask him what — when he used the word “die,” whether he was — I mean, we all say, “Oh, I’m just going to die if such and such happens.” But he was not using that word in a literal sense, that was a —
THE WITNESS: Well, I asked him later about this.
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THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: After they came back from New York and was in the hotel, what was he talking about.
THE COURT: Right.
THE WITNESS: And what he was talking about was saying that Ken Dandar, as one thing, perjured — you know, blamed the perjury on Ken. I mean, these are all things to do to get rid of the case. Okay, so now we made Ken responsible for any perjury that Bob Minton did. Then, you know, he mentioned about what’s going to happen is Mr. Dandar is going to be disbarred.
And I took it a step further. I said, “Well, if Mr. Dandar gets disbarred, he’s going to lose his business. If Mr. Dandar loses his business, he’s going to lose his home and his family. Is this really what you want for Ken Dandar after you built him up all of this time, and now you get in trouble and now this is what we do?”
THE COURT: So, again, I think my question was is we all tend to use the word “die” and we don’t really mean it literally, drop dead, I mean, die.
THE WITNESS: Oh, yes, I don’t think —
THE COURT: He meant either business-wise or
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something?
THE WITNESS: Professional decease, to cause decease, which is in accord with one of the Scientology policies we have gone over here.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Is that known as fair game?
A No. It is called the Scientologist’s Manual of Dissemination, where it talks about, if possible, of course, ruin the person utterly.
Q Let’s get to New York City. Did you have any conversations with Bob Minton or Stacy Brooks about the New York City meeting with Rosen, Rinder and Yingling?
A Yes, I did. When they were traveling to New York City, I was traveling to Memphis, Tennessee to drop my family off. It had just reached a peak for me. And I just wanted to have some safety in my life.
So they called me when they left home. They called me when they arrived. They called me when they met, had the first meetings. They seemed somewhat hopeful. Then, of course, the next day happened.
But when they got there, you know, Steve Jonas arrived. They were there. They met. They went over what they wanted. And Bob — you know, one of the things Bob did, which I didn’t know he was going to do until he got to New York, is he said he wanted my house to be able to be
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sold, because I had had my house on the market for some time, zillions of people were coming there. And, you know, unfortunately, it just didn’t sell.
So he thought that that may have had some Scientology influence. And the reason why I think he thinks that, because the realtor for our building —
THE COURT: He? This is Mr. Minton again?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay.
A The realtor for the building in downtown called Mr. Minton while he was in New York and told him he had had a buyer for the LMT building, and this buyer was a person that sold furniture, sold used furniture.
And he mentioned this potential buyer — this potential buyer mentioned to his clients, current clients, that he was going to move his operations to this building, and would that be okay, would he still be able to service them.
And he came back and said he found out that 45 percent of his clients were, in fact, Scientologists.
And he was told in no uncertain terms that if he moved into that building, that they would no longer do business with him. So —
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, I object.
A He couldn’t — he couldn’t —
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MR. WEINBERG: This is hearsay on hearsay. This is supposedly what Mr. Minton said that somebody said.
THE WITNESS: No. Mr. Minton said to me that the realtor —
MR. WEINBERG: Said to him. Objection, double hearsay.
THE COURT: I do understand. But, remember, this has to do with Mr. Minton and whether Mr. Minton has lied or whether Mr. Dandar is lying.
Mr. Minton’s state of mind, therefore, becomes, to some extent, relevant.
I understand it is double hearsay. I understand what that means. But I’ll allow it. It is a very unusual hearing.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So when did you first hear back from Bob Minton concerning the first day of the New York City meeting on the 28th?
A The night of the 28th after they met. He said, “Well, we met.”
I spoke to Stacy. She said, “I think it is going to be okay. I think we’ll be able to work this out. Ken Dandar is not going to be happy.”
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Mmm, you know, I said, “Okay,” whatever that meant, because, you know, I’m not really tracking. I just know something traumatic has happened, it has to do with some information that came up on Bob, and I know that now Stacy Brooks and Bob Minton are in negotiations to disengage this whole thing, and I am not there but they are calling me, telling me what is going on.
Q Did they tell you why I would not be happy?
A Whew. Because they were going to say that you caused Bob Minton to lie about the check — that you advised him to lie about the check. This was during that particular time.
THE COURT: Is this Ms. Brooks testifying — or Ms. Brooks telling you this? Or is this Mr. Minton telling you this?
THE WITNESS: You know, it is kind of a bit of both, your Honor.
THE COURT: Was this over the telephone?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: This was after the first New York meeting?
THE WITNESS: This was the night of the first day of the meeting on the 28th.
THE COURT: Of March?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
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THE COURT: It was this night they were explaining to you — either Bob or Stacy, or both of them, on the phone, explaining why Ken wasn’t going to be happy?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. Go ahead.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, Mr. Prince, I want to make sure you don’t have your dates mixed up. Could you look at your affidavit to refresh your memory and make sure you have your dates down when you first mentioned that Ken Dandar wasn’t going to be happy.
A Okey-doke. Okay, I’m looking at my affidavit —
Q By the way, who typed that affidavit?
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor —
THE COURT: Just a second now.
MR. WEINBERG: I object to this process. He has done this a number of times. He elicits testimony. Mr. Prince testifies, he’s very specific, he had this conversation.
Then Mr. Dandar takes his affidavit and says, “Well, look at this and see if it is really your testimony.” He’s impeaching him.
MR. DANDAR: Well —
MR. WEINBERG: I don’t think it is proper.
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THE COURT: I think that I’m — I have heard his testimony. I think he can look at his affidavit and see if it refreshes his memory. If it does, I’ll just have to remember his testimony was different before it was refreshed with this
affidavit.MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
A Yes. Okay. I talk about the problem with the checks. We talked about that again. This was the next day on the 29th — now, wait a minute. “Bob told me he called –” now, see, this is before they went to New York, “Bob told me he made — ”
THE COURT: You are going way too fast.
A “Scientology was going to put him in jail.”
THE COURT: What page are you on, please?
THE WITNESS: I’m on Page 3. Bottom of Page 3, Line 27 —
THE COURT: All right.
THE WITNESS: — and 28. “Bob said there was a problem with some checks he had given to Ken Dandar.”
That was the —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q That is before the New York trip?
A Yes. Okay, so they arrive in New York. “The next
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day, on the 29th, the next day around noontime,” I’m on Page 4, Line 10, “Stacy called me. She was upset. Bob was going to jail for contempt in front of Judge Schaeffer, going to jail for perjury in front of Judge Baird. At this point they had only mentioned to me about the wrongful death suit and the Wollersheim suit having to be dismissed for Bob not to go to jail. Mr. Rinder –”
THE COURT: You don’t have to read out loud.
You really are looking to see when it was that — if this — if this refreshes your memory as to when this statement about why it was that Mr. Dandar would not be happy.
MR. DANDAR: Right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q When did that first occur?
THE COURT: When it occurred.
A Either the 28th or the 29th, one of those two days.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay. And then again I want you to look at your affidavit —
A And, you know, this information was sketchy because I didn’t get the full picture until they came here to Florida. I wasn’t able to divine the full picture until they actually came back from that meeting.
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Q Okay.
A Now —
Q Do you recall — do you recall that Mr. Minton called you up, after the second day of the New York City meeting, to talk to you about a phone call he received from Mr. Rinder?
A Oh, after they got back from New York?
Q Right.
A Yes — well, no. Stacy is the one that I spoke to.
Q What did she say?
A She said, after they got back from New York, they were all upset and thought they wouldn’t be able to negotiate with Mr. Rinder and Mr. Rosen.
Q Why? Why wouldn’t they be able to negotiate?
A Because they told Mr. Rosen and Mr. Rinder flat out that they had no influence to get either of these cases dismissed or made go away or whatever, they had no authority to do that; that Stacy Brooks had already made an attempt to contact Dell Liebreich to get her to drop the case, so she wasn’t interested in hearing from Stacy; and Mr. Wollersheim certainly — and Mr. Leipold were certainly not interested in dismissing their case, either.
THE COURT: When — now, I’m so confused, and I haven’t read your affidavit in some time so I’m
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listening basically to your testimony.
You indicated — what I think you just said is Ms. Brooks told you on the telephone that she had told Mr. Rinder that they didn’t have the proper influence to get the case dismissed?
THE WITNESS: See, I’m totally screwing this up if you think that, your Honor, because what I’m saying there is that happened in New York where they were face-to-face with Mr. Rinder, with — at least this is what was relayed to me by Stacy and by Bob on the phone conversation when they left the office, I think it was about noontime on the 29th where they tried to make it clear that they had no influence over these cases and they were asking them to do something they were not able to do.
THE COURT: What confuses me, if I did understand your testimony, after the New York meeting, perhaps the very night of the New York meeting, Stacy called and — Stacy and/or Bob called and said, “I think we’re going to be able to work this out.”
THE WITNESS: Yes, that was after they came back to New Hampshire, left New York, because they were back in New Hampshire that day.
THE COURT: Okay.
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THE WITNESS: It was either that night or the next day I spoke to Stacy Brooks, and she said she had received a second conversation from Mr. Rinder, who mentioned that he thought that there may have been a misunderstanding, while he understood that they legally — or, you know, weren’t plaintiff or defendant, had no standing to effect these cases one way or another, that there were things that could be done to get the same result.
THE COURT: This was another conversation with Mr. Rinder and Mr. Minton or Ms. Brooks, when they told you about that, that is when they said, “We think we can do something but it is not going to make Ken Dandar happy”?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
MR. WEINBERG: Would that be on the 29th, your Honor?
THE COURT: I believe.
THE WITNESS: The 29th or the 30th or such a date of this.
MR. WEINBERG: Of March?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q When did you get the details about what that meant about Ken Dandar not being happy?
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A When they traveled to Florida for the Judge Baird hearing that was, I think, occurring on April 5.
Q That is Judge Schaeffer.
A Hmmm?
Q Judge Schaeffer was April 5?
A That is right. Judge Schaeffer was April 5. But they had a Baird one right the next week or whatever.
Q Right.
A Anyway, when they came down for that activity, then we had a meeting at the Harbour Bay Hotel in Tampa, Florida where they made it clear to me what was happening here.
Because I asked them, “Did you find out what these things were that you can do to make these cases go away?”
I’ll start with Wollersheim because that will be quickly.
Q All right.
A She said what she had already done and told Scientology she would do and had done, that she called Dan Leipold and told him to withdraw her testimony — her affidavits in the Wollersheim case, and she had instructed him to do the same for my affidavits.
And there was only three, Vaughn Young, Stacy and me. Vaughn Young, because of his physical condition, how upset he would be to even do that, she told me she had not
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promised Scientology anything in relationship to Vaughn, but she could promise the relationship to me and her.
Q How did you react to your affidavit being withdrawn?
A I was shocked. I was like, “I’m not withdrawing my affidavit.”
Q Why did she want to withdraw her affidavit?
A Because these are the things that she could do — you know, they want — they want what are the things you can do? What you can do is take your testimony out. Take Jesse’s testimony out of there. Because there was only three witnesses that they were using on the issue of alter ego to claim the judgment.
Q Did you ever —
MR. WEINBERG: Before — could we just date that? Is that at Harbour Island? Is that what you are saying? Could we just date it?
THE WITNESS: I think I dated it in the affidavit.
THE COURT: You want to look at your affidavit and see if you can find it then?
THE WITNESS: Okay. Okay. Yes, Page 5, Line 11.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What is the date?
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A If you look at Line 22, he starts talking about things that could be done.
THE COURT: Line 22?
THE WITNESS: Yes. Where it starts talking about things that could be done.
THE COURT: And that is where you use the phrase, “Ken Dandar was not going to be happy”?
THE WITNESS: Right. So when we met at the hotel, you know — and I’m doing the best job I can here — I asked them — they mentioned about getting the affidavits out of the Wollersheim case, then specifically here in the wrongful death case — “Well, what are you going to do with that?”
“Well, Mmm, we’re going to –” they had a couple of things they were going over. One, the perjury of the check to make it seem like it was Ken Dandar’s fault. And then they were insistent about some meeting that had occurred which included myself, Dr. Garko, Stacy Brooks, Bob Minton, Mr. Dandar, where we were discussing adding Mr. Miscavige as a party, and how Ken Dandar had instructed Mr. Minton to say the conversation never happened, something about it never happened.
Now, you know, for me, I’m not understanding
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this because it is not making a whole lot of sense why it would matter one way or another. You know, I’m not a lawyer, I’m not a criminal, I didn’t understand what they were talking about. But those were two things specifically that they mentioned bringing out about Mr. Dandar and connecting him with perjury.
THE COURT: One was the check? Is it the $500,000 check that you testified to previously?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Number two was some meeting that occurred dealing with adding Mr. Miscavige as a party?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Was there anything else of how they were going to get Ken Dandar, besides these two items?
A Well, the only other thing that came up — I knew about those two things. But then they had the meeting with Judge Schaeffer where Bruce Howie did something, and the whole thing was moot. And they were happy about that.
I think maybe that same day he got served with the Armstrong suit. And he told me, “It’s not over, I still have got to go in front of Judge Baird.”
Now, I think at that same time the decisions came426
down from the 2nd — from the appeals court concerning discovery issues with finances and this, that and the other thing, so it was kind of like things were turning around.
So I’m questioning them, “Do you really think you need to do this?”
And they are trying to elicit my cooperation, like we used to have this thing amongst us, me, Stacy and Bob, we called ourselves the A team. There was three of us, this is an A team activity. It is tough at the top, we have to make some hard decisions here, you know. So I’m part of that entity. So we’re discussing these matters. And, Mmm —
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, is this all one conversation? Does it mean it happened after your hearing on April 5?
THE COURT: I’m not real sure.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE COURT: Was this all at the same conversation?
THE WITNESS: Mmm, your Honor, maybe not because, I mean, I was with them the whole time and, you know, Page 5, starting at Line 11 — 16, Number on the affidavit, I talked about the time periods we were there, the 2nd or 3rd of April through —
THE COURT: Did you try, in your affidavit, to date the time frames when these conversations took
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place as you remembered them?
THE WITNESS: Yes, I did. I sat there with a calendar and I did it as best I could.
THE COURT: Okay. So those are the dates as best you can recall?
THE WITNESS: As best I can recall.
THE COURT: All right. So whatever it says in the affidavit is the best he can recall.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE WITNESS: Yes, that is the way I sat and worked on it.
MR. WEINBERG: I was really more asking whether this was one conversation or he was — he talked about a conversation in the Harbour — I think he meant Harbour Island Hotel, but —
THE COURT: It depends what the affidavit says.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
THE COURT: Is that right, Mr. Prince?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: The affidavit speaks of these things that you have been talking about in different conversations. That would be your testimony if you refreshed your memory?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So your memory was better when you wrote this in April than it is in July?
A For sure.
Q In your affidavit you say Harbor Bay Hotel. That is not Harbour Island Hotel. Do you know where the Harbor Bay Hotel is?
A No, I guess not if I am confused about it. It is the one that has the restaurant in there — well, that means nothing, they all have. Okay, I’m sorry, I spoke out of turn.
Q All right. But what I’m saying, when you took the time to sit down and write your affidavit of April 2002, of course you weren’t under pressure, being examined in front of a judge in a courtroom. You said you had a calendar in
front of you?A Yes.
Q Okay. Now, let’s jump back again to New York City. All right?
A Okay.
Q Well, no, I’m sorry. Let’s go to the conversations you had with Bob Minton and Stacy Brooks about New York City.
Did they tell you what type of things Mr. Rosen said to Mr. Minton at the New York City meetings?
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A That he was going to jail and actually spoke with him quite loudly about this. That he was going to jail. He was going to be prosecuted in front of Judge Schaeffer and Judge Baird.
Mmm, by giving the affidavit, I wrote either Bob — Mr. Rinder — he told me — Bob Minton told me specifically Mr. Rinder said, you know, “Bob, you know I’m f-ing you but I’m doing it to your face. You have people around you that are doing it behind your back.”
And he mentioned the people that were doing it behind his back being yourself, Patricia Greenway and Peter Alexander.
Q Did there come a point in time when Mr. Minton showed you any documents that he received from the Church of Scientology?
A Yes. This was when they had — yeah, now this is after I actually attended the Judge Baird hearing, saw Bob get up on the stand and start lying, and left and went to —
Q All right, I probably jumped the gun. And I apologize. Let’s go back.
Before we get to the Judge Baird hearing, let’s make sure, as far as you can recall today, what transpired when Bob and Stacy came to Florida.
A The first time they came to Florida, they were concerned about the hearing in front of Judge Schaeffer.
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They were meeting with Bruce Howie. They were continuing to meet with Scientology, working on the things that could be done to get these suits dismissed.
And I guess part of it was to elicit my cooperation to go along with this new plan to disengage Scientology from Bob Minton.
Q Okay. And did Mark Bunker come with them?
A Yes.
Q And Mark Bunker, did he stay at your house?
A Yes, he did.
Q Did anyone else stay at your house?
A No.
Q All right. So did you attend the deposition of Mr. Minton on April 8?
A No, I did not.
Q All right. So the first time you saw Mr. Minton testify was before Judge Baird?
A Correct.
Q All right. And you said that you sat in the audience?
A Yes, I did.
Q And what did you hear Mr. Minton say you thought was a lie?
A Mmm, something about Mr. Dandar making — telling Bob to perjure himself in relationship to the checks.
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Q All right. How did you know that was a lie?
A Because if that would have happened, I would have known about it when it happened. You know —
Q Why is that?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection, your Honor. I move to strike, “if that would have happened, I would have known about it when it happened.” How is that a response?
MR. DANDAR: I’m asking him to explain it right now.
THE COURT: Yes. Overruled.
A If there had been some agreement between Mr. Dandar and Bob Minton to hide the fact that — the check, I would have known about it when it happened.
THE COURT: Are you saying that Mr. Minton would have told you?
THE WITNESS: Yes. That is what I’m trying to say. He would have told me when it happened. Now, this coming up after all of this time, when I’m sitting there and he — you know, he’s taking us up to the garage when he gave the check, he’s saying this stuff is coming from Europe and you don’t know where it is coming from, on and on, now suddenly he changes his mind, I knew it was a lie.
Or he told me — one way or another, he’s lying now.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right. What was the next thing he lied about before Judge Baird?
A I just got up and just walked out. I couldn’t take it. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I was extremely distraught.
As I say in my affidavit, I actually wept because — you know, because once again we see the big Scientology machine, with all of its high-priced lawyers and endless resources, endless staff, to make this occur. “We can’t get the case dismissed or thrown out in any other way so now let’s go manufacture some information.”
MR. WEINBERG: Objection, your Honor.
A Let’s create —
MR. WEINBERG: This is pure and utter speculation.
THE COURT: Not only that, but I think it is just kind of a discussion what he thinks. And, frankly, I need his testimony, not what he thinks. He can put that in someplace else.
That objection is sustained.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Before you walked out of the courtroom, did you hear Mr. Minton say any other lie outside of the Dandar making a lie about the $500,000 check?
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A No. I got up and left immediately.
Q All right. And when is the next time you were talking with Mr. Minton or Stacy Brooks?
A After they had left Clearwater. I mean, I just couldn’t even stand to be around them anymore. When I saw that that thing happened in front of Judge Baird, I didn’t know what to do.
And I finally figured that, you know, in my mind something criminal was going on here, I need to do something to help my friends. So I went to visit Mr. Denis deVlaming. And I —
THE COURT: When you say to help your friends, you are talking about your friends Bob Minton and Stacy Brooks?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So you went, on your own, to Denis’s office?
A Yes.
THE COURT: I’m sorry, I should not put words in your mouth, either. Obviously you meant Mr. Minton when you say friends. Who was the other friend?
THE WITNESS: Mmm, Stacy Brooks. I went to Mr. deVlaming’s office and I explained to him that I had been privileged to know that this was going to
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happen, that this was going to be created and done against you, and I explained the whole thing to him.
And his reaction was, “Oh, well, they got him this time.” But because he had represented me before, and he had also represented Mr. Minton, he told me that it was a conflict of interest, because I went there to see if I could somehow get law enforcement involved in what was going on here because I was confident that Bob was lying on behalf of Scientology.
And I asked him to put me in touch with someone on a federal level, because I believed that Scientology did have influence in the state prosecutor’s office. I believed that they were able to somehow enact, somehow, undue influence on prosecutors simply because they never get prosecuted for the things that they do. And I myself, you know, I could have one little small marijuana plant in my house, I’m raided by the DEA.
But, you know, a person — a dead body shows up, they can’t do anything.
I had no confidence in that. I asked a federal — asked for federal protection, a federal level, because I said in my mind what they have done is RICO; they have conspired to commit a crime that
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started in New York, they continued it down here in Clearwater.
Bob told me clearly that he was not going to involve his lawyers in the negotiations proper to any degree where they’re really getting down to the meat and potatoes.
THE COURT: Did Bob tell you why?
THE WITNESS: Because they disagreed.
Mr. Jonas thought the whole thing was disgusting and distasteful that was going on.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Minton’s lawyer?
A Yes. Mr. Jonas, up in Boston. And you notice he has been visibly gone. He didn’t want nothing to do with this.
So they decided to use Mr. Howie to enact this. And they didn’t tell him what was going on. They were happily meeting with these lawyers and without any representation.
Q Well, why —
THE COURT: Wait, you said they were happily meeting with these lawyers without representation.
What is it you mean?
THE WITNESS: The lawyers specifically that Bob and Stacy were meeting with was Sandy Rosen and
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Monique Yingling.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did Mr. Minton tell you why he chose not to have Mr. Howie or Mr. Jonas go with him to meet with Mr. Rinder, Mr. Rosen and Ms. Yingling?
A Mr. Jonas thought the whole thing was disgusting and distasteful and thought it would be improper.
And he told Bob specifically — and Bob told me he told him — not to meet with Scientology without representation.
Mr. Minton — Mr. Minton mentioned that Mr. Howie could be used because he didn’t really understand what was going on in the first place with — I mean, and the reason why he didn’t understand, it is not because he’s a stupid or ignorant person — but because they weren’t giving him all of the information, Bob and Stacy were not telling Mr. Howie everything, they were negotiating with Scientology and telling Mr. Howie what they wanted him to hear.
Q But why — did Mr. Minton explain to you why he chose not to have his attorneys be present at the meetings?
THE COURT: I presume you’re talking about the meetings in Florida?
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: And his lawyer down in Florida being Mr. Howie?
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MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: Because Mr. Jonas was in New York?
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Yes. Did he tell you why he didn’t want Mr. Howie at these meetings?
A Mr. Minton expressed to me that he had personally had enough of lawyers, period. And he thought that this is something he needed to do.
Q All right. By the way, did Mr. Minton ever appear at a meeting with you, me, Dr. Garko, Stacy Brooks, to talk about adding on David Miscavige?
A No.
Q Ever?
A No. This was the second big point, you know, that — you know, that Stacy is going on and on, “Jesse, you have to remember, it happened like this.”
“I told you, you are imagining this. It never happened. I’m not going to sit and lie about this.”
But this was another point I was supposed to go along with at the meeting. This is where they were really trying to bring me in to find these points to get you, basically.
Q Well, what made you not join and continue to be part of the A team, as you call it?
A Well —
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MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, I — can we explain what the A team is? Because maybe I missed something.
THE COURT: Yes, the A team is Jesse Prince, Bob Minton and Stacy Brooks. They laughingly referred to themselves as the A team.
MR. WEINBERG: I guess I was daydreaming. I didn’t hear that. Sorry.
THE COURT: I did. So I — I miss some, but I recall that.
MR. WEINBERG: You caught that but I missed the A team. Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So why did you choose not to go along?
A Well, Mr. Dandar, for obvious reasons. Number one, I worked for years on this case. I have worked honestly, to the best of my ability, on this case. I assumed that Stacy was, as well.
Mmm, I understood that Bob Minton — Scientology discovered something about him that upset him greatly and had him horribly concerned. But I wasn’t going to lie to protect him to hurt someone else.
And, in fact, my exact words to Mr. Minton was — and Mrs. Brooks, that I will never, in my life, help Scientology hurt or destroy one more person.
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Q When did you tell them that?
A After — after I walked out of Judge Baird’s courtroom, and then now they’re all looking for me and they’re calling around to see if I’m in jail or see if I’m in the hospital. They thought I had a heart attack, because I was visibly upset. I mean, I was shaking when I walked out of that Judge Baird’s courtroom.
But the thing is I didn’t want to see them. I told my fiance, “You tell them to go home where they live because –” excuse this expression “– they have come and shit all over where I live, I don’t want to see them. You go back to where you live and then we’ll discuss this.”
And we discussed it. And when we discussed it, when I got on the phone with them after they got back, that is when I had the conversation and said that to them. “I can’t do it.”
Q Did you meet with them after Judge Baird’s hearing in Clearwater?
A Yes. I met with them a couple — not after the Judge Baird hearing. You know, at a later date after that, sure.
Q Do you recall meeting with them that following weekend?
A It could have been that weekend. Again, I have done the dates here to the best of my recollection, with
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sitting down with the calendar. But it was after the Judge Baird — yeah, because Bob had been deposed — no, wait a minute, I’m confusing incidents now, because by the time they went back, they had already been through the Baird (sic) deposition and they were having the contempt hearing or whatever it was in front of Baird where he lied.
So, you know, they came back at a later date. And the discussion was — after they got back to New Hampshire, I told them how upset I was and how I couldn’t do it, and Stacy said to me in no uncertain terms that, “The reason you feel this way is because you don’t have all of the information. We’ve been leaving you out of the loop on some things that you need to know.”
She said that they had signed some agreement with Scientology, so — she couldn’t tell me everything, but the next step was to bring me back into the circle to make this go away for Bob.
And Stacy was just hell bent for leather to do whatever she had to do to disengage Bob from Scientology because she thought it was killing him.
Q Did you meet with them in Clearwater then?
A Yes, I did. We met at Adam’s Mark Hotel.
Q At the Adam’s Mark Hotel there are two things I want you to talk about. Number one, the conversation. And, number two, any documents you saw.
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A Well, I hadn’t seen Bob. He knew I was furious with him. I hadn’t seen Stacy because I was furious with her. But we agreed to meet because we were friends.
Friends don’t get along every day. It would be nice if you did. But you don’t lose a friend because there is a disagreement.
So we met. And Bob told me, you know, he said, “Look, Jesse, you know, I’m not sure that this is gonna work, either. Stacy is more confident about doing this than I am. I don’t know.” We were kind of having that discussion.
Then the phone rang. Mr. Minton spoke with someone and he said, “Okay, leave it at the desk” and he hung up the phone.
And I asked him what that was.
And he said Scientology was delivering to him a packet of information that had to do with his prior deposition testimony — or prior testimony, that amounted to about 11 inches, for him to go through for the purpose of finding more things for him to — Mmm — quote/unquote, recant or do whatever he was going to do.
There was total — I asked him, “How many things besides Wollersheim and the Lisa McPherson case, what else do they want you to do? Do you know when your leash is over with, where they get done with you? Okay, you think if you
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destroy Ken, that will make you safe. But what else are they going to have you do? Do you know?”
He said he didn’t know, but this package represented six to seven other things that they wanted him to change testimony about or — or say something different about.
Q Did you see this package?
A Mmm, no.
Q How do you know it was 11 inches high?
A He told me.
Q Okay.
A And he also told me at that time that his attorney, Steve Jonas, told him not to meet with Scientology concerning that package without representation, but he was going to do it anyway —
Q Okay.
A — because he’s taking control.
Q Did you ever see any lawsuits that Mr. Minton was given where Scientology was suing him or contemplating suing him?
A He had a rough draft of a RICO suit that he showed me. It was about this thick.
Q How many inches is that?
A It was about maybe an inch, inch and a quarter, something like that. And he —
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Q All right.
A — flipped through it like this. And he would never physically give it to me.
He said — and we all predicted they were going to do some crazy RICO thing. He said, “They finally did it. Here is the RICO thing. We already have the Armstrong thing. They are suing me for 80 million which I’ll be liable for, here is the — another RICO, that is another 110 million. They are adding me as a defendant in the breach of contract.
And,” he said, “I’m the only person with money. I have got to get out of this.”
Q Okay. Now, did you at any time tell Mr. Minton or Ms. Brooks that you were willing to meet with Scientology?
A Yes.
Q When was that?
A Mmm, at the Adam’s Mark Hotel when they — you know, what they call bringing me into the circle.
And I’m looking at these people that I have worked with for years and I might as well have been looking at strangers, because Stacy has this whole thing lined up.
She — you know, she knows exactly what is going to happen, who is going to do what. And Bob is kind of like following along because he’s just at his wit’s end.
And Stacy figures that she knew Mike Rinder for a long time and they were good friends and she’s just going to make this as good for Bob as possible.
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And, to me, she just delivered Bob into the hands of his enemies.
Q Did Stacy Brooks ever — in all of the years you have known her, did she ever say to you, “I filed a false declaration or affidavit”?
A Never in a million years. To the contrary, Stacy is fully aware that part of, you know, Scientology’s intelligence operations are to get rid of the lawsuit in any way possible. You know, whether you actually have real evidence, get rid of it, or you manufacture it or you bring up enough threat where the person just wants to be done with it.
She knows this because it happened to her.
Q When?
A December of 1999 she did an affidavit about it, about the same people, Mr. Rinder, Mr. Sutter, coming in, wanting them to change testimony, offering money.
THE COURT: We have had testimony about that.
THE WITNESS: Yes. All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Well, did she ever say — I just wanted to touch on that. Did she ever say that Mr. Rinder was actually telling her the truth about attacking Graham Berry and Graham Berry did something bad?
A No. But what she did mention to me, she said, “You know, after speaking with Mr. Rinder, you know, I
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always thought in the Fishman case –” where she appeared as an expert, she said she always thought that because they tried to add Miscavige on as a party, that that made Scientology want to instantly settle because, you know,
hands off from Miscavige, he’s the ecclesiastical leader of the Church, Sea Org, on and on.So she said that after speaking with Mr. Rinder, she came to realize that it wasn’t adding Miscavige that caused the suit to be settled in the way it was. After talking with Mr. Rinder she came to understand that it was because of the introduction of Scientology’s upper levels at which they commonly call it as being trade secrets that was the real issue at hand.
Q Okay. Did Stacy Brooks ever say that her affidavits that she filed about Mr. Rinder offering her and her husband over $200,000 to change their testimony — did she ever tell you that Mr. Rinder’s version of what her declaration should be was true versus what Mr. Berry had her sign?
A Mmm, no. We — I mean, I had read that information before that she had done this. And at this point in time at the Adam’s Mark Hotel, Stacy was not an obvious target. They were working on Bob Minton.
Q Okay.
A Stacy was incidental at that point.
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Q All right.
A It wasn’t contemplated for her to change her testimony. It was Minton to do it.
Q Did you ever have a conversation with Bob Minton, for instance, let’s go to that night, the Adam’s Mark Hotel, where he’s talking about the $500,000 UBS check and what he told you in the parking lot about it?
A Oh, I brought that up to him. You know, they were saying, you know, “Ken is really going to get it. He told me to lie about this check.”
I said, “Wait a minute, Bob, let me remind you –“he and Stacy are like gleeful children, like all responsibility is gone. “Hee-hee. Guess what?”
“Are you insane? We were both on the parking lot. Bob got you and me out of the office, said he was giving this check to Ken, Ken didn’t know where it was coming from, told us it was from people from Europe. I mean, why are you gleefully now telling me somehow this is Ken’s fault?”
Q What did they say?
A They just looked at me like, “Oh, yeah, we forgot about that part.” Mmm, they were telling me things like, “We really got him now.”
I said, “But don’t you remember what we did?
Don’t you remember this is what really happened as opposed
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to this story you are making up now? Do you remember what actually happened?”
Q What was their response?
A “Hmmm.” You know, just “Hmmm.” Like, “He’s not cooperating.”
Q So —
A So I told him, you know, “Now, you know we were up in the parking lot. We went through this whole thing. So now what do you want me to say what happened now, when this is what did happen? What am I supposed to do?”
THE COURT: What did he say?
THE WITNESS: He just looked at me like I was crazy. And they looked at each other and they changed the subject. We started talking about — Mmm — what else did we start talking about?
They brought up something else that — the meeting, yeah, oh, and the other thing they want — “they” being Rinder and Rosen, the other thing they want brought out is how Minton was supposedly at some meeting that happened where we all said, “Yeah, add Miscavige and don’t talk to anybody about it.” I am like, “Are you crazy? That didn’t happen either.”
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So when you told them it didn’t happen —
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A Then they said, “Look, let’s stop talking about this. Let’s go to dinner. We’ve made some progress.”
But, on the other hand, I’m thinking, “I have to talk to somebody from Scientology about this,” because obviously I’m looking at Bob and Stacy, they are just convinced that I’m just going to to-to-to, go along with this. They are just convinced.
They are telling me — Stacy said, “Look, we’re going to do this, it is unpleasant, but we’ll put all this behind us. You won’t have worry — money problems anymore, you’ll have plenty of money, you’ll be taken care of, you know, and –”
THE COURT: Who was going to give you the money?
THE WITNESS: The same — your Honor, the same person that has been, Bob Minton. They have been taking care of everything.
(Discussion had off the record.)
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So this was — then you went out to dinner?
A Yes. We went out to dinner and we just kind of changed the subject because it was getting heated. You know, I’m trying to find a scintilla of logic of what is going on here. And I can’t — I can’t even imagine — I can’t even make myself imagine what they are talking about
449
here.
Then I told Bob, I said, “Bob, isn’t this strange –”
(Discussion had off the record.)
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So Bob Minton said —
A I keep losing my train of thought.
Q I know. Sorry. Maybe we should read it back.
(A discussion was held off the record.)
(Last answer read back by the reporter.)
THE WITNESS: Repeat the last line again.
(Last answer reread by the reporter.)
A I got it. Because I started talking to them, I said, “Well, look, we had further discussions about Wollersheim, too.”
And I said, “Well, you have loaned Lawrence money to continue his case. Now you’re going after him. You have given all of this money against Ken Dandar. Now you are going after him. Don’t you think it is obvious what has happened here? Don’t you think it is going to be obvious to all concerned that something bad happened here?”
His response was, you know, “I’m not convinced.
Stacy is convinced this is going to work, Jesse. I’m not convinced about it. And I feel bad what is going on with Ken.”
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My thing was, okay, I have to talk to somebody about Scientology about this because obviously these two things — I have a ring in my nose and they have a leash. I have to let Scientology know they’re not going to get away with this, this is not going to work.
THE COURT: Who was it — you are saying you had the ring through your nose and they had a leash?
THE WITNESS: Yes, this is an analogy of what seemingly was in their minds.
THE COURT: “Their” meaning Bob Minton and Stacy Brooks?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Thought they had the leash and were leading you around.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: You thought you had to tell Scientology that wasn’t accurate?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay.
A So I’m going along now with this whole thing. I said, “Look,” I told them, “Okay, I’ll do it. Okay, I’ll do it. Tell me –” because they said, “We have to bring you in. You have to meet with Mike Rinder now. You have to meet him face-to-face and go over this and you are going to be happy like us.”
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“Okay. Okay.”
I tell you, I left that Adam’s Mark Hotel and I felt like, “Oh, my God.” You know, I would rather be doing anything. But ultimately I came home and I told my fiance, I said, “Look, it is over. I can’t do it anymore. I have to let Ken know. I have to call somebody.”
So I called Frank Oliver and told him the whole story of what had been going on the whole time and told him to please tell Ken, and I’m so sorry what happened to him.
I sat in Judge Baird’s courtroom and it upset me greatly, and asked him to arrange for you and I to meet, at which point you called me and we met the Sunday.
And I was supposed to meet with Bob and Stacy and Mike Rinder that time. And I told them, “Yes, I’m going to go along with your plan.”
And as I state here in my affidavit and I said to you to your face, I just want to see Mike Rinder’s face when he finds out that this isn’t going to work if he thinks he’s going to use me to do this thing.
So we have that meeting —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q You and I had a meeting?
A You and I had the meeting. And Mr. Lirot was there.
Q Right. Right. And then you went to meet with Bob
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and Stacy and, you thought, Mike Rinder?
A I thought Mike Rinder would be there. So what happens, now they moved hotels, they moved to the Radisson on Clearwater Beach. I guess they didn’t like the Adam’s Mark. So we are at the Radisson.
And he has this big sheaf of papers. And he said, “Jesse, you are unreal. Let me show you what Judge Schaeffer is saying about you.” And he read something that, to me, was totally uncomprehensible.
And he said, “See, she doesn’t trust you. You are not credible in her eyes. You are going to jail if you don’t do what we tell you to do.”
I said, “Bob, I think you’re the one going to jail. You’re the one lying. You’re the one that has already went in court and lied. And you want me to do it? I think you’re the one going to jail.”
Oh, my God, it gets hot. “Okay, let’s go down to dinner.”
Then I sit and I explained to them, I said, “Look, let me tell you specific experiences I have personally had making deals with Scientology. Let me tell you the results.”
I told them painstakingly some awful things if I even started to mention, I am sure Mr. Weinberg would be up in a flash.
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MR. WEINBERG: No, your Honor, I would like to hear exactly what he said he told Mr. Minton about all these awful experiences.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay. Go ahead.
A I told him about the time I was removed from that position you saw me on the video with the sailor clothes, on and on. I told them about the circumstances about me being removed from there.
THE COURT: I’m not sure I saw that.
THE WITNESS: Your Honor, it was the first day I was here, Miscavige introduces me, I’m telling him I’m from RTC and we are going to get the squirrels and what do the squirrels mean.
THE COURT: I remember.
MR. DANDAR: This is the New Year’s Eve speech.
THE COURT: Right. I remember now.
A Well, how I got removed from that position. I’m telling him the story where Miscavige wants to come in and get rid of Broeker because he thinks Broeker is crazy.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So you were caught in between Broeker and Miscavige?
A Yes. And I told them, either one, “I don’t want anything to do with either one of you,” because when I got
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involved myself in doing illegal activities, with listening to wiretapping and, you know, all of this crazy stuff I’m being shown how to do, I’m cutting my teeth, I am being broken into OSA, this is no Scientology that I ever knew
anything about.You know, I don’t want nothing to do with this part of it. I didn’t even know it happened where they do this stuff to people.
Mmm, and then, you know, they — because I didn’t go along with that, I’m woken up at 5 o’clock in the morning, there is — there is Miscavige standing there, there is Lymon Sperlock, Ray Mithoff, Mike Sutter, Greg Wilheir (phonetic), his brother, security guards. There are about 12 people there.
I walk into Miscavige’s office, and there is Vicki Aznaran, the person that used to be inspector general of RTC, just crying in the corner, crumpled. They are all in their Sea Org uniforms just like, grrr. And I’m running around with something that looks like pajamas.
And he told me, “You didn’t go along with this, you wouldn’t follow me, now you are going to the RPF. You call me sir. You have been disrespectful.”
I stood up and told him to go to hell and went and tried to leave, at which point they tried to grab me. And me and Judge Moody has been through this story before so I’m
455
not telling a new story.
And I ran to my bedroom and I got a Mini 14 assault rifle I had been given for my birthday from L. Ron, and a .45, loaded in both, went back to that office, and I have them like this (indicating). And now they are standing there like — oh, Norman Starkey was there. And Norman says, “Jesse, you traitor. You can’t kill us all.”
And I said, “Well, I’ll tell you what, maybe not, but you will certainly be the first to go.”
And I’m standing there with these guns. Then Miscavige, because he and I used to be very good friends, too, he and I were very good friends at one point in time, he came over and he said, “Jesse, look, this is horrible, let’s stop this.”
He knew I wasn’t going to do anything. He walked right up to me. He told all those other jerks, “Get out of here, I have got to talk to Jesse.”
So we go down to the ship and we have a conversation. And he tells me, “Jesse, I know this all seems horrible now, but I need you to take this fall. I need you to be a head on a pike.” Head on a pike is a term in Scientology where somebody takes a fall for Scientology.
Put a head on the pike means if you are going through the gate, you end up like this, head on the pike.
“I want you to be the head on the pike.” He
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wanted me to go to RPF. You know, Vicky and Rick really screwed things up with the Broekers and conspired about him, yik-yik and on and on. And he said, “Look, this will be over, you’ll be restored to your position,” on and on.
“Oh, okay, Dave, I do it.” We talked. I willingly once again go to the damn concentration camp.
Once again. Like eighteen months wasn’t long enough. Now I’m in there again.
What immediately happens? Miscavige starts issuing this horrible stuff about me, “He’s terrible, he’s a piece of crap.”
I stood up and walked out of that place, went to that base and said, “Look, if this is the way you want to play this, I’m going to the police, I’m going to go talk to them about what you do here.”
Oh, my God, all them issues are canceled. No, Jesse is good again. “Jesse, I’m sorry.” It is always someone’s fault, someone else acted in an unauthorized manner and put these things out.
Okay, he got rid of all of that stuff. I mean, I had to have something to show for being in Scientology 16 years. Every certificate I had — I had a wall from top to bottom, at least half of that, of everything I have ever done in Scientology used to be in my office.
And, Mmm, so I ended up going back to the RPF.
457
Oh, no, we straighten it all out again. That was one instance.
Just lying. Just can’t wait to get me in a position to where I am incapacitated to do something.
The second time I’m trying to leave Scientology, “Look, you guys can do this. Do whatever you want to do, you know. You want to do this activity? I don’t want to do it anymore. I just want to take me and my wife and leave, just be away.”
Well, of course that didn’t happen. I had to be degraded for four and a half months, locked up, sec-checked, told to divorce my wife. I have written about this, too. Finally, I leave.
THE COURT: What did you say, seg-checked?
THE WITNESS: Sec, security checked. Being interrogated on the E-meter.
A Well, what happens, as soon as I leave, they have someone that is a tail on me that works for this Scientology business who, because I won’t continue to do Scientology and their business, now I’m no good. You know, I have come in there and boomed that business. I was hired, I was on salary making $60,000 or $70,000 a year.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Are you talking about the artwork business?
A Yes, the artwork business.
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would call me once or twice a week. Mike Sutter, RTC, “Jesse, how are you doing?”
So now they want me to do Scientology work where they want me to do cramming, do correction, yik-yik, on and on.
I said, “Look, I have left that. I’m not doing that anymore. Let me just do a regular job. I’m just doing a regular job now, not using the Scientology mess, and everything is going fine. You know, don’t fix something when it is not broke.”
No, that is not good enough, that gets reported to RTC. Now I have to get removed and now I have to go through endless crap.
It finally culminated losing my job, having to start my own business, being followed around every place in Minneapolis, because I travel a lot. Then one day I found a bag right outside my hotel room, like this (indicating), Rock cocaine.
THE COURT: How big?
THE WITNESS: Huh?
THE COURT: You are showing it.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Tell —
A Like this (indicating).
THE COURT: Say for the record, is that the
459
size of a baseball?
THE WITNESS: About the size of a softball.
THE COURT: About the size of a softball?
THE WITNESS: With individually little crack cocaines.
A And I’m like, uh-uh, this is it.
So, to me, I’d already been through enough betrayal with Scientology. And I explained this to them.
THE COURT: This is just — all that cocaine just sitting outside your hotel room?
THE WITNESS: Yes. Yes. And the fact of the matter is, your Honor, it is known that I had, you know, smoked marijuana before or whatever, but if anyone in my family — because my brother tried it — does cocaine, he did it, had a double aneurysm. I sat in the hospital a month while they cut off his dreadlocks, peeled his skin back, cut his scalp, went through his brain, cauterized two microscopic veins because his head exploded from fooling around with crap, and put it all back together.
And the reason they said it happened to him, something genetically in our family that makes those veins do that. What do I want to do with cocaine
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for? It is just —
THE COURT: I think we’re far afield.
MR. WEINBERG: Is this what — all these incidents you told Mr. Minton?
THE WITNESS: Yes, I’m telling all this to Mr. Minton. I said, “In the end you may think –” and I told him, “As you sit here you can’t tell me when Scientology is going to be done with you. When are they going to be finished having you done whatever they want you to do? All you know, you have Wollersheim and you have McPherson.”
He said, “Jesse, you are being unreal.” He got mad. He cursed at me and said something. And his last words were, “Well, fuck it, you’re going to jail.”
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did you use the same language back at him?
A I said, “Bob, I’m sorry, you’re going to jail.
Stacy, you’re going to jail. I’m not having anything to do with this.”
I got up — he asked me to leave. He said, “Get out.”
I said, “Fine.”
Stacy follows me in the parking lot. She said, “You know, after all of the things Bob has done for you,
461
this is how you treat him?”
I’m looking, “What in the hell has Bob done for me that I have to perjure myself, I have to become a criminal because he thinks this is what I got to do to save him?
Uh-uh. He’s not done anything for me. And there is only one person can sell my soul. That is me. I already sold my soul to this organization one time and I got it back. Bob Minton is in no position to offer my soul to them.”
And I told her that. And we really haven’t talked that much since.
Q Well, now, was there a point in time when Bob Minton was coming over to your house after that for barbecue?
A Well, again, we have been friends a long time. This was another bridge of disagreement, blowup, everybody cursing, but we have such history. Even as I sit here today, I can’t fathom not talking to him once or twice a week.
So, you know, we’re talking again.
“Look –” Stacy said, “Look, this is going to blow over with or without you. We’re going to make sure.”
So I said, “Okay, well, then if we’re not doing this, could we still be friends?”
They love to come over to the house. We barbecue and have little parties. “Sure.”
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But then he called his lawyer and he was told not to come.
Q This is while the hearing is going on in this courtroom?
A Yes. They want to tell me what is going on. They want me to be a part of it because I have been since the beginning. But I can’t because of what they’re doing.
Q Did Bob Minton want to close down the LMT?
A No.
Q Whose idea was that?
A I don’t think it was any one person’s idea. Well, if it was anybody’s idea, I think it was Stacy’s, because the LMT was being used as a vehicle to get to Bob. And —
THE COURT: I think it sounds — this must be allowed to start at 4:30, but it is giving me a headache. Is this a good stopping point?
MR. WEINBERG: Yes — I’m sorry.
MR. DANDAR: This would be — this would be fine.
THE COURT: They probably are allowed to start up at 4:30.
MR. WEINBERG: I thought I was having a ringing in my ears, which I do have an ear issue.
THE COURT: So we’ll go ahead and quit. We’ll start up at 9 o’clock. Mr. Prince —
463
MR. WEINBERG: Remember you said ten?
THE COURT: Oh, I did. Ten o’clock tomorrow.
Ten o’clock tomorrow. I think I told you this before, but if I didn’t, let me remind you: While you are on the witness stand, I did give you permission to speak with Mr. Dandar because of the long break, but now, like overnight, you and he can’t talk.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
THE COURT: Okay? I mean, you can talk about something else, but you can’t talk anything about your testimony or about this case. Of course you can’t talk to the other side, you can’t talk to anybody while you are on the stand about this case or your testimony. Okay?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor, I understand that.
THE COURT: We shall be in recess.
MR. FUGATE: Judge, I have one issue on the E-Mails. And I’ll be really quick.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. FUGATE: There are, to my understanding, about 3,000 E-Mails. And during the break —
THE COURT: Have you-all come up with any agreement as to a list?
464
MR. FUGATE: That is what I want to talk to you about. I went over to see, there is a list that prints out all of the ones that they were able to recover from the various hard drives. And I have found a series of — on that list of E-Mails that related to Peter Alexander and Patricia Greenway, and I have left a list of those with Mr. Keane.
And then I understand that Mr. Dandar indicated that those shouldn’t be produced because Ms. Greenway is a consultant. And, you know, in this hearing he said she wasn’t.
I don’t really care what she is today. But back during the time that she was at LMT prior to this hearing beginning, which is where all these E-Mails generate from, I don’t think they would be covered as a consultant —
THE COURT: Counsel, I can’t deal with something that won’t be agreed to with this noise. That is why I stopped this hearing. We’ll take this up first thing in the morning, and hopefully we won’t have any noise and we’ll get it done then.
Ten o’clock tomorrow. Bring it to my attention then.
MR. FUGATE: All right.
THE COURT: All right. Thank you all.
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(WHEREUPON, Court is adjourned at 4:50 p.m.)
REPORTER’S CERTIFICATE
STATE OF FLORIDA )
COUNTY OF PINELLAS )I, LYNNE J. IDE, Registered Merit Reporter, certify that I was authorized to and did stenographically report the proceedings herein, and that the transcript is a true and complete record of my stenographic notes.
I further certify that I am not a relative, employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties, nor am I a relative or employee of any of the parties’ attorney or counsel connected with the action, nor am I financially interested in the action.
DATED this 9th day of July, 2002.
______________________________
LYNNE J. IDE, RMR
Notes
- Document source: http://www.xenu-directory.net/mirrors/www.whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/bob/A-008-070802-Prince-V3.html ↩
- See Affidavit of Jesse Prince (April 2002). ↩
Testimony of Jesse Prince (Volume 1) (June 18, 2002)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
DELL LIEBREICH, as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF LISA McPHERSON,
Plaintiff,vs.
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY FLAG SERVICE ORGANIZATION, JANIS JOHNSON, ALAIN KARTUZINSKI and DAVID HOUGHTON, D.D.S.,
Defendants._______________________________________/
CASE NO. 00-5682-CI-11
PROCEEDINGS: Defendants’ Omnibus Motion for Terminating Sanctions and Other Relief.
CONTENTS: Testimony of Jesse Prince.1
VOLUME 1
DATE: June 18, 2002, afternoon session.
PLACE: Courtroom B, Judicial Building
St. Petersburg, Florida.BEFORE: Honorable Susan F. Schaeffer, Circuit Judge.
REPORTED BY: Donna M. Kanabay, RMR, CRR,
Deputy Official Court Reporter, Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida.2
APPEARANCES:
MR. KENNAN G. DANDAR
DANDAR & DANDAR
35340 West Kennedy Blvd., Suite 201
Tampa, FL 33602
Attorneys for Plaintiff.MR. LUKE CHARLES LIROT
LUKE CHARLES LIROT, PA
112 N East Street, Street, Suite B
Tampa, FL 33602-4108
Attorney for PlaintiffMR. KENDRICK MOXON
MOXON & KOBRIN
1100 Cleveland Street, Suite 900
Clearwater, FL 33755
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. LEE FUGATE and MR. MORRIS WEINBERG, JR.
ZUCKERMAN, SPAEDER
101 E. Kennedy Blvd, Suite 1200
Tampa, FL 33602-5147
Attorneys for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. ERIC M. LIEBERMAN
RABINOWITZ, BOUDIN, STANDARD
40 Broadway at Astor Place
New York, NY 10003-9518
Attorney for Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization.MR. THOMAS H. MCGOWAN
MCGOWAN & SUAREZ, LLP
150 2nd Avenue North, Suite 870
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3381
Attorney for LMT.3
INDEX TO PROCEEDINGS AND EXHIBITS
PAGE LINE
JESSE PRINCE 5 13
DIRECT Mr. Dandar 6 5
[…]
MR. DANDAR: All right. Plaintiff calls Mr. Prince.
JESSE PRINCE, the witness herein, being first duly sworn, was examined and testified as follows:
MR. WEINBERG: For the record, your Honor, I want to preserve the same objection that we’ve made to Mr. Franks — is that his name — Mr. Franks and Mr. Young, which is, among other things, the 404, 406, the First Amendment, and overall, at least as it relates to the — paragraph 34 of the complaint, to competence, in light of the fact that he left the church years before and doesn’t have any personal knowledge of what if anything occurred in 1995.
THE COURT: All right.
6
MR. WEINBERG: Same objection. I presume that it’s preserved? And I will limit my objections to things like hearsay and other —
THE COURT: It is preserved.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Please state your name, and spell your last name.
THE COURT: What witness is that? Do you all have the numbers by any chance? How many witnesses have you called, do you remember?MR. DANDAR: Caught me off guard.
THE COURT: All right. I’m just trying to put a number with it.
Go ahead.
A Jesse Prince, J-e-s-s-e, P-r-i-n-c-e.
MR. DANDAR: Okay. I think we’re number six.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: I’ll double-check. Mr. Lirot will be checking.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, how long have you lived in Pinellas County?
A Oh, for a little over two and a half years.
Q Are you currently employed?
A No, I am not.
7
Q When is the last time you were employed?
A Last September.
Q And who were you employed by?
A The Lisa McPherson Trust.
Q What is the extent of your formal education?
A Went to Catholic school pretty much all of my elementary years. I was born and raised a Catholic. Went to Chicago Vocational High School; went to Job Corps; went to community college, college prep in Chicago. I had a scholarship for University of Louisiana which I never took. And that’s pretty much it.
Q Why didn’t you take the scholarship to Louisiana?
A ‘Cause I was afraid to go there.
Q All right.
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, could we possibly — I don’t know if the microphone’s on or not, but I’m having a hard time hearing Mr. Prince.
THE COURT: Check and see if the microphone’s on.
MR. WEINBERG: If you could get — not that close, but a little bit closer than he was.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Just try to talk into it.
A Okay.
Q So what did you do after finishing your formal
8
education?
A I had various jobs. I worked at the Norfolk and Western Railroad as a clerk. I’ve worked in binderies, a place in Chicago, Fidelity Bindery. And — well, wasn’t too much time after that before I became a Scientologist.Q What year did you join the Church of Scientology?
A It was 1976.
Q Where at?
A San Francisco.
Q And when did you become a Sea Org member?
A I became a Sea Org member that same year. I believe I transferred to Los Angeles from San Francisco, maybe in November, September or — maybe September; sometime between September or October, November, I went to the Sea Org.
Q Okay. And can you tell us — give us a capsule of your experience in the Church of Scientology after becoming a Sea Org member? What did you do?
A Well, I joined the Sea Org in ’76. And then at that time, when you joined the Sea Org, there was a program that was called the EPF that everyone who was becoming a Sea Org member did. EPF stood for estate’s project force. This was located in a little house in — in Los Angeles. I guess it was an old Charlie Chaplin estate. It was a place where you had to do training to become a Sea Org member.
9
The training for the most part culminated to making you a missionaire. A missionaire in the Sea Org is a person that has studied certain levels up to at least what’s called staff status 2, which basically means you’re familiar with the basics of the organization, how it operates, how it’s staffed, how it’s organized, the statistics of the area and the rules and regulations. It trains — the mission school training involved something that I guess I never even thought before. It was very military, where you — you wear a uniform and you — you’re trained on orders to go to a Scientology organization and improve the statistics by either changing personnel or increasing production one way or the other.
Q And how long did you maintain that status?
A During the entire time, from — from that point, which would have been in 1977, to the time that I left in 1992.
Q And what organization — when you became a Sea Org member and became staff, what organization was paying you?
A Organization called the Advanced Organization Los Angeles.
Q And did you ever change from that to another?
A Yes, I did. I never made it through the EPF before I was put on the RPF. I was on the RPF for — RPF being the rehabilitation project force. I was on the RPF for 18 months. And I got out of the RPF and went to an organization called the PAC Co-Auditor Organization, P-A-C, Pacific Area Command, Co-Auditor Organization. This was a Scientology organization that basically supervised and trained staff members to audit themselves on Scientology’s bridge.
Q How long did you stay there?
A I probably stayed there for probably a little under a year. And I transferred from Los Angeles to here in Clearwater, Florida in 1979, and I worked in — at the Ft. Harrison —
Q What did you do —
A — and various other buildings.
I came there — I came to Florida here to be a supervisor; to actually train and supervise the training of auditors, which are members that partake in the — the technical aspect of delivery of Scientology services.
Q You were an auditor?
A Yes, I was.
Q And when did you —
THE COURT: I’m sorry. You came to Clearwater when, sir?
THE WITNESS: 1979.
THE COURT: To train supervisors.
THE WITNESS: To — to become a supervisor. I
11
came here actually as a supervisor, to train auditors.At the time, NED for OTs had recently come out. This was a big advance.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q NED, N-E-D?
A Yes.
Q What does that mean?
A New era dynamics for operating thetans.
Q This had just come out?
A Yes. This was new technology that had came out. And it was urgent at that time in Scientology to be able to train auditors in this new rundown. This rundown is delivered only by certain organizations, Flag being one of them. There’s others in other countries. And this was a very specialized type of auditing. So I was to train the bulk of the auditors on this process so that they could then go back to their organizations and deliver this new rundown.
Q How did you did learn how to do it — how did you learn about it before you were able to train other auditors?
A Well, there were other auditor levels that one had to train on before being able to train on this NED for OT levels. I guess there was a requirement that a person had to at least do Scientology academy levels, which are levels 0 to 4, specific auditing techniques. And once you were in — trained and interned on that, you became eligible to also learn to do this new NED for OTs business. You also had to be of the same case level in order to do that. So for a person to be trained as a NED for OTs auditor, they would have had to go through Scientology’s bridge all the way up to and through OT 3 expanded.
Q How far up the bridge had you gotten before you came to Clearwater?
A I had done — or I was mid what was called old OT 6.
Q Okay.
A And at the time, the levels only went to OT 7. So I was on the old OT 6. Now, those OT levels changed with he advent of NED for OTs to become something totally different. OT 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are something totally different than what the services that were earlier offered under those same names.
Q How long did you stay in Clearwater, from 1979, to supervise and train auditors?
A I was here from the summer of ’79 till the fall of 1982.
Q And did your scope of the work that you were doing at the Ft. Harrison and other Scientology buildings here in Clearwater from ’79 to ’82 change?
A Yes, it did. It changed several times. I went
13
from supervising auditors, to train them to get up to the level of NED 4 OTs, to being —
THE COURT: I don’t know what you’re saying. NED fro-teez (phonetic.)
THE WITNESS: New era dynamic for operating thetans. This is —
MR. DANDAR: NED is N-E-D.
THE COURT: For OTs.
MR. DANDAR: F-o-r. Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. Go ahead.
A Anyway, I forgot what I was —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Was NED for OTs —
A Yes.
Q — written by Mr. Hubbard?
A At the time that I studied them, I thought that it was that. I — subsequently I guess it was determined in the courtroom that the materials were actually written by David Mayo.
Q Okay. But anyway, you were — who were you working for when you were sent to Clearwater from ’79 to ’82?
A Well, when I first arrived in 1979, I worked for an organization that wasn’t at the Ft. Harrison but at the Clearwater Bank Building. It was called the International
14
Training Org, ITO for short. At the time the commanding officer for the international training organization was Bill Franks.
Q Okay. So you worked under him?
A Under his command as the commanding officer. I had — there were other people between myself and —
Q Okay.
A — Mr. Franks for sure.
Q Did you run into — in Clearwater, did you train Alain Kartuzinski?
A Yes. Alain Kartuzinski was a student that had come from Paris to train on NED for OTs. I do believe the original idea for him was to go to one of the European organizations such as Advanced Organization for Europe or — 15 yeah. I think he was supposed to go to AOSH EU —
Q Okay.
A — it’s called, which is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Or he would go to the one located in Saint Hill, East Grinstead, Sussex.
Q Try to keep closer to the microphone.
A I’m sorry.
Q And what else did you do in Clearwater from ’79 to ’82, in addition to training auditors on this new rundown?
A Well, I became what’s known as the intern supervisor, which is the supervisor that takes the students
15
that have finished their courses and then puts them through a period of time where they have to demonstrate their skills by auditing other people. And they continue to do this until they can do it perfectly and flawlessly. The intern supervisor is there to guide and direct and correct students on the materials that they may not have understood as deeply and as — as would later be required for them to apply. So I was the supervisor for a long time. And then there is another position — and all of these things are — kind of segue into one another — of what’s called a cramming officer. Now, a cramming officer will take a person who maybe is making errors in auditing and then correct them on their procedures or go over the exact bulletin or policy or whatever it may be that was not followed exactly, and to make the person understand and agree with that policy, and then apply it as written.
So I did that for a long time. And then I became the chief cramming officer at the Flag Service Organization. I did this correction type of activities for auditors from level 0 to level 12, which would be the highest level in what are called the Ls in Scientology. And I would do correction on all the auditors as well as the case supervisors.
Q Now, were you — did you have — in order to be a supervisor or cramming officer for auditors and supervisors,
16
if I’m saying this right, did you have more training than they had?
A Not necessarily. I certainly did not have more training than the majority of the case supervisors that I would do correction on. And I did not train on the Ls, which would be 10, 11 and 12, which are the highest levels of — of Scientology. But I was like a class 9 auditor.
Q At that time.
A Yes.
Q Did you ever get higher than that?
A Yes. I became a — I was interned as an auditor, certified as a class 9 auditor; certified as a corrections — a cramming officer, correction officer; certified as a case supervisor for a class 9 as well.
Q Okay. And how high on the bridge did you go?
A When I left, I had completed what’s known in Scientology as OT 7.
Q Okay. All right. So have we covered your years from ’79 to ’82 in Clearwater —
A Yes.
Q — as what you did?
A Yes.
Q Okay. What did you do after ’82?
A I was transferred — well, in 1982, in the fall of 1982, I was transferred to work at the Scientology
17
International headquarters. Of course I didn’t know it was that at the time. But I was transferred to work at Golden Era Productions, which is the movie production studio that Scientology has in the desert at Gilman Hot Springs, California. I was transferred to work in the RTC as a corrections specialist.
Q And how long did you do that?
A I probably did that from ’82 — for about a year and a half. I did that job for about a year and a half. Maybe to 1985 and — or maybe even ’84. Because after that, I was promoted to a higher position; became the deputy inspector general for the Religious Technology Center.
Q And who appointed you to that position?
A Vicki Aznaran appointed me to that position. It was approved by those that — you know, the seniors above that area, which was David Miscavige.
Q Did Mr. Hubbard ever have any input in any of the selections — selecting you for any position?
A In — in as much as when I left here in Florida, there was a — a mission out to find the best supervisor, best cramming officer in Scientology, and to bring that person to international management, and correct international management on its application of Scientology policies. A search was done in the organizations internationally, and at the end of that — the weeding-out
18
process, I guess my name came up as the person to fill that job. So he was informed that I had that job, and he welcomed me to that job when I arrived in California.
Q How did he — Mr. Hubbard welcome you to that job?
A He sent me a dispatch, a letter —
Q Okay.
A — welcoming me.
Q And what is the duties of the deputy inspector general of RTC?
A Well, this may take a while. But as the deputy inspector general — there’s only one position higher than that in the Scientology ecclesiastical org board, which would have been inspector general. RTC licensed other Scientology corporations to use the trademarks, a licensing agreement. And RTC was responsible, I believe — maybe still is responsible — for ensuring the purity of application and delivery of Scientology technology, auditing technology as well as administrative policies.
And so because we licensed different corporations such as the Church of Scientology International — if you had organizing chart you would have RTC, which would be here; then you would have the mother church, which is the Church of Scientology International, which is here. The
19
mother church in turn then license other organizations, such as the Flag Service Organization, AOSH EU, AOSH UK, and the Los Angeles organization missions. Whatever entities were using the trademarks and copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard, they were given a licensing agreement.
So in that regard, ultimately — there’s a very strict policy in Scientology called Keeping Scientology Working, where it’s imperative that everything is done exactly according to the policies and technical bulletins written. I was ultimately responsible to ensure that not only the Church of Scientology International was making good on its licensing agreements, but it was also enforcing it down through other organizations to make sure that they were adhering to their licensing agreement to apply Scientology technology 100 percent standard. You know, this is a — a term that they use. So I had that responsibility —
[Other court business transpires.]
[…]THE COURT: — okay?
Okay. Go ahead and continue.
A I hadn’t quite finished answering the last question.
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BY MR. DANDAR:Q Do you remember what it was?
A Yes. The last question was what were my responsibilities as deputy inspector general —
Q Yes?
A — at RTC.
And I mentioned we used to do the technology side of Scientology.
Then there was a separate area, areas that I also had responsibility for. And those were the legal intelligence and PR activities of OSA, which is a separate network in Scientology. And I had the responsibility of also registering, getting trademarks registered in the different countries of the world where Scientology was — had activity.
Q Okay. So what did you have to do with legal and intelligence departments of OSA?
A In the — in the beginning, not very much, because it was nothing that I really knew anything about. This was something that I learned as part of this — this job activity. So I would — I was privy to the activities of those areas as I learned the strategies for those areas.
Q Would you receive reports from OSA? A Yes. I would receive a report. Every executive — well, not every — I shouldn’t say every
2
executive, but the top executives in Scientology were kept abreast of the different operations in intelligence, legal and PR, by — at the end of the night — just before the end of the night, I would receive an envelope that said “Eyes only.” And inside the envelope there would be typewritten pages, maybe seven or eight typewritten pages, that gave a summary of the different operations that legal, PR and intelligence were involved in. And after reading that information, it was shred — something that had to be shredded instantly.Q It wasn’t stored somewhere?
A No.
Q When you say legal operations, what are you talking about?
A Legal cases.
THE COURT: Did you get this every day, you say?
THE WITNESS: Yes. Every day we get —
THE COURT: How — in those days — I don’t know. There was no e-mail. How did you get it?
THE WITNESS: Well, your Honor, this isn’t information that — in an envelope, typed on, obviously, a —
THE COURT: I mean, if you’re in Los Angeles, and Flag down here in Clearwater wants to send you
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something at the end of the day, how did they get it from Clearwater to you?
THE WITNESS: Well, your Honor, no one from Clearwater would have sent me anything, because there’s a chain of command. There are channels. In other words, executives in Scientology aren’t accessible to staff members of lower organizations or things like this. You have to go through a chain of command in order to have correspondence with an executive, or be asking for a specific privilege from that executive, after having gone through the channels.
THE COURT: Okay. But somebody — if — you got seven or eight pages from somebody —
THE WITNESS: Oh, yeah. This was brought — brought around from a person in the intelligence area, and they would simply come in, drop the envelope on the desk and leave.
THE COURT: Okay. Whoever it is that would bring that envelope to you, from wherever it is, how was it that they got the information, for example, from Flag on the day’s activities? This is really a very simple question. This is: Was it faxed? Was it gotten there by horseback? I mean, how did they get it from Flag in
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Clearwater up the line to whoever it is that dropped it off on your desk? Just physically.
THE WITNESS: Well, there could have been several ways that the information could have been passed along. It could have been passed along from telephonic communications; it could have been passed along via the computer. At that time, when — the time that I’m speaking about there was no, quote/unquote, real Internet, but Scientology had its own computer messaging systems where we could send messages to each other from Europe or from Florida to Los Angeles. So that was a way that information would come in as well.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And was OSA part of RTC?
A No. Not — not during the time that I was there, OSA was not part of the RTC. During my time period in OSA, OSA was in a very formative stage of being formed, being — departments figured out, purposes, duties, that kind of thing.
Q Was there any carryover from The Guardian’s office to OSA?
A Yes, there was. The staff — there were a
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carryover of some of the staff and some of the — and the policies.
Q Now, let’s just go back — you said one of the things you would get daily is a report on legal operations. Is that just in the United States?
A Yes. Well, predominantly. But I don’t think we had any cases abroad of any real significance outside of the United States during my time period.
Q And when you were a deputy inspector general, who was your senior?
A The inspector general, which is Vicki Aznaran.
Q And who was her senior?
A David Miscavige.
Q And who was his senior?
A L. Ron Hubbard. Pat Broeker.
Q And when Mr. Hubbard died, who was Mr. Miscavige’s senior?
A He had none.
Q And when you were deputy inspector general, you were a member of the Sea Org, correct?
A Correct.
Q Who was the head of the Sea Org?
A The captain of the Sea Org was David Miscavige.
Q Did he have any equal to his rank?
A I’m sure he probably did.
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Q He had other captains?
A Yes.
Q And would they have equal power as David Miscavige?
A No.
Q Why not?
A Well, again, I’ll refer to the organizational chart, the command charts, which is an exhibit in this case.
You have a — a kind of pyramid system of organizations as far as seniority, powers — broad powers and responsibility. And at the top of the chain is RTC, Religious Technology Center. Below that is CSI, Church of Scientology International, which is the mother church. And then from there you have like a — what’s called a FOLO, Flag Office Liaison Office, which is supposed to be a management center in the different sectors and countries where Scientology has activity.
An example of — of that would be here in Clearwater. You have the Ft. Harrison as one — the Ft. Harrison Building, or the Flag, which is one organization. And separate from Flag you have another organization called the FLB, the Flag Land Base organization, which, during my period of time, concerned itself with the buildings, the maintenance of the buildings, and then also did the missions, where they would pull Sea Org members to send to
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other areas, train them on specific orders to go out and accomplish different things in the organizations.
Q While you were in Scientology, could a Sea Org mission go in and take over a completely independent org like the Boston org?
A Well, that — that was the entire purpose of a mission, to go in an area —
Well, that’s not entirely true. There’s different types of mission. You could have a mission that would simply go in there and observe —
THE COURT: His question was, could the Sea Org go in and take over?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And what gave it the power to do that?
A The Sea Org is the organization that is responsible ultimately for the success of Scientology. The persons that are in the Sea Org have dedicated themselves to Scientology for one billion years, and their dedication is to ensure that Scientology carries on and prevails in the society we live in.
Q And you signed a billion-year contract as well, correct?
A Yes.
Q Now, the intelligence operations —
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Well, let’s go back to legal operations. Would you receive a report daily of what was going on in each and every case that the Church of Scientology was involved in?
A Pretty much, yes. If there was activity, if there was courtroom activity that day, or a motion that was being put together or — or whatever, I’d receive the report about that.
Q So if there was a lawsuit that the Boston org —
I’m sorry. I’m picking on Boston — the Boston org was a party to and had a lawyer representing them in court, would you receive a daily report on the activity of that lawsuit?
A Yes. If there was daily activity on that lawsuit, I would certainly receive information about it.
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, could we just date from when it started to when it ended, that he was getting this kind of info?
THE COURT: I think he was saying during the whole time that he was deputy inspector general.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay. And I think he hadn’t said when that ended.
THE COURT: Okay. What was the period of time that you were deputy inspector general?
THE WITNESS: I would say from early 1985 until January, 19, 1987. ’84. I’d say ’84. Early ’84.
THE COURT: ’85 — early ’84 to January of ’87.
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THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Now, when you were deputy inspector general of RTC, was Mr. Miscavige the chairman of the board?
A No. Mr. Miscavige was the chairman of the board of Author Services.
Q Okay. Do you know who the chairman of the board of RTC was at the time you were deputy inspector general?
A I later came to find out the chairman of the board of RTC — it changed a couple of times, to my knowledge, but I think the person who was — the last person who I knew was actually chairman of the board was David Miscavige.
Q Okay.
THE COURT: Well, I thought — let me stop you just for a minute here. I thought you indicated that the chain of command was the deputy inspector general, who was you, reported to the inspector general, who was Vicki Aznaran, who reported to David Miscavige. In what capacity?
THE WITNESS: David Miscavige was the chairman of the board of Author Services. Author Services was a literary —
THE COURT: Believe me, I know about Author Services.
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THE WITNESS: Okay. So —
THE COURT: So that — all I’m trying to find out is the capacity in which David Miscavige was, that Vicki Aznaran reported to, was as chairman of the board of ASI?
THE WITNESS: No. He was really captain of the Sea Org.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q How could Vicki Aznaran and RTC, a religious organization, have a senior who’s a chairman of the board of a for-profit organization?
A Well, that’s exactly the point. Being-senior part and — and giving orders and things from Miscavige to Aznaran wasn’t anything that the general Scientology public would know about. This was kind of kept secret, in the same way that Scientology staff members or Scientology public members don’t realize that Gilman Hot Springs is the location of international management of Scientology; in that same regard they would not know that Miscavige ultimately would be the seniors of a person such as myself, Vicki Aznaran and that kind of thing.
Or we couldn’t have that — it couldn’t be clear that — that that was the case because that presented problems with the tax — we’re trying to get tax exempt status — to have a for-profit corporation running a
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nonprofit corporation.
But Miscavige was the leader. Was and is the leader. I mean, at the even when L. Ron Hubbard was alive, he would do his communications through Miscavige, that would come to us.
Q Okay. And so was — was Miscavige, Vicki Aznaran senior — and I think you already answered — COB of ASI as captain of the Sea Org?
A As captain of the Sea Org.
Q Now, the intelligence reports that you would get daily, what kind of intelligence reports would you get?
A Ones that I remember specifically at this time had to do with different activities in the Wollersheim case, whether it be Wollersheim 3, 4 or whatever; you know, what was happening with the lawyers, what was overheard, what was planned, what kind of information was coming up during what’s called a ODC and CDC. ODC being overt data collection. They would collect information about the attorney, his — you know, his record. They would do an ODC. And then a CDC. And a CDC mainly entailed getting information that is not readily available or is public knowledge, such as personal phone records; a credit report, bank reports, an individual’s bank reports, this kind of thing.
Q How did OSA get an opposing counsel’s bank
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reports?
A Hiring a private investigator.
Q And how did the private investigator get an attorney’s private bank records?
A This is something that they were hired to do. It was — it was very much shunned that we know specifically how that happened in case it ever went to court or the person was ever caught. So it was just, “Hey, we need this. We need a credit report on this person. We need his phone records. We need to know who he’s talking about, who he’s talking with,” and to do an analysis to find this person’s weakness. What is the Achilles’ Heel? What is going to get this person to stop giving grief to Scientology even if — in a professional capacity as an attorney. And then, you know, pursue those things that will intimidate, harass or discourage.
Q And why — what gave you, as a member of the Church of Scientology, the authority to do that, under the — under the rules and regulations or the policies of the Church of Scientology?
A I’ve seen many exhibits turned into this courtroom concerning policies on intelligence and attitude. And I guess the overriding factor is this: Scientology comes first. Scientology comes before the individual, comes before the individual’s family, comes before our current
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justice system or whatever laws. Scientology — I mean, it’s even a high crime to speak at — in Scientology’s laws, it’s a high crime to come before a court and give testimony without first Scientology being — knowing completely what your testimony would be, even if it had nothing to do with Scientology.
So they have different rules and a different standard to operate on. I mean, you know, is it legal? Is it right? Those are different matters. But that’s —
Q Well —
A — the —
Q — when you were in this position, reading these intelligence reports, do you know that if you got a credit report of anyone that had not given you written permission to get their credit report, that that was a federal crime?
A You know, at the time I did not. I personally did not. Because again, this is an area where I was kind of cutting my teeth on, so I was being walked through it and shown how things worked.
Q Who was walking you through it?
A Several people. It started out with David Miscavige kind of bringing me in the loop on this kind of thing and showing me. And the person who would normally be involved in these kind of operations would be Marty Rathbun, so I spent time with him, learning about these things.
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And — and Vicki Aznaran, who had previously had a lot of association in the Guardian’s office, which later became OSA. She was very familiar with the pattern and things that they do. And her husband, Rick Aznaran, who was my junior. He was a person that I used for the physical security of — to ensure the physical security of the Golden Era base of Gilman Hot Springs, which eventually spread to other organizations. But that’s another person who had experience.
Q Did you ever work with Mr. Moxon?
A No.
Q Were you gone before Mr. Moxon came on board?
A I met Mr. — no, I was not. I met Mr. Moxon when — again, I was there in OSA’s formative stages when I actually had the responsibility to put a person in command of it, fill personnel in the legal department, the PR department, the intelligence department, establish it as a organization which then would repeat itself in the other minor organizations within Scientology.
Q So you established the main OSA departments?
A Correct. The main OSA org board. We were there to work on what its organizing board should be, what personnel it should have, what policies it needs to operated on, who it needed to establish lines of communication with.
Q Was OSA still Department 20 like the Guardian’s
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office was?
A Yes.
Q Did it have the same org board as the Guardian’s office?
A You know, I couldn’t — in some respects they did, but I don’t think totally they did, because — and this is kind of how I learned it as we went along. The — the OSA wanted to make sure that they didn’t make the same mistakes as the past Guardian’s Office did. One of the main mistakes that the Guardian’s office made was putting in writing and detailing some of the operations that they did to some of the people that opposed them. An example that is, oh, Paulette Cooper, with, you know, having a person inside with her to affect her in certain ways, you know, and then the next thing you know —
MR. WEINBERG: Objection as to competence. Because he’s talking about something that he wasn’t part of, that supposedly happened in the early ’70s and it can only be based on hearsay.
THE COURT: Well, what does it have to do with this hearing?
MR. DANDAR: It has to do with our defense of extortion against Mr. Minton and the fair game of Mr. Minton causing him to come to this court and lie.
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THE COURT: Okay. And what — who is this woman?
MR. DANDAR: Paulette Cooper.
THE COURT: And how did you find out about Paulette Cooper, since Mr. Weinberg objected?
THE WITNESS: I was briefed about it, and I remember her specifically.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, hold on. That’s my objection. This is just pure unmitigated hearsay.
MR. DANDAR: Not when it comes from a corporate client.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, wait a minute. He was only in this position for — whatever he said — ’85 to early ’87. And if I understand this, he’s now going to recount some supposed incident that happened in the early ’70s before he was even part of —
THE COURT: Within — within the organization to which he was the higher echelon person.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, RTC didn’t even exist back in the early ’70s when this supposedly occurred.
MR. DANDAR: But Department 20 did.
MR. WEINBERG: Could I —
MR. DANDAR: I’m sorry.
THE COURT: You can, but your objection’s going
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to be overruled.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay. Well, I’m just making a record.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q How did you find out about Paulette Cooper?
A In 1977, when the FBI raided Scientology headquarters in Los Angeles, they broke into a department called B1, and they removed a lot of files.
Q Scientology department?
A A Scientology department. It was their intelligence branch.One of the problems on the files which led certain people to go to jail — I guess 11 people went to jail over this — was the fact that every operation, including the operation like the LSD in her toothpaste — put LSD in her toothpaste to make it seem like she’s insane, or to lift her fingerprints off a glass and put it on a bomb threat, which she was eventually being prosecuted over — I mean, these things were written in detail of exactly how to do it. And it said on the top who it went to, who approved the program, who executed the program. In other words, details which later came back to bite them severely.
So in putting this new OSA, this new branch there, that had similar functions, but were supposed to operate a
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little differently. These reports came. Again, it said, “Eyes only.” There was no routing as to who it was going to. There was no author. There were just paragraphs which were just summations of different operations that — that Scientology were enacted to discourage people who were in lawsuits against it or critical of it.
Q And then those — what you saw was then destroyed in some way?
A We were — we had to shred it immediately. Part of the new policy — and Vicki Aznaran is one of the people that told me this — everybody had to had a shred. There were only certain designated people these reports were going to. And we had to verify we shredded the reports. But the reports themselves only contained brief statements of the activities, not who were doing the activities or any details like that.
Q Would those activities include picketing, critics?
A No. These — these were different.
I — I’ll give you an example of an activity.There was an organization called CAN, called Awareness Network, that Scientology had apparently been fighting for years. I had no knowledge of it myself, but I would receive a report that there was a deep cover in CAN, listening in on the legal process CAN was involved in, lawsuits and spats with Scientology.
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This person would get privileged information —
MR. WEINBERG: Your Honor, I object —
A — report it to —
MR. WEINBERG: I —
THE COURT: Excuse me.
MR. WEINBERG: I believe that CAN didn’t exist in 1985 through 1987. What’s Mr. Prince talking about?
MR. DANDAR: Well, that’s good cross examination question.
MR. WEINBERG: Well — but then I object to whatever it is: Hearsay, competence. And he’s up here talking about some organization that, if I’m correct — and I think I am correct — didn’t even exist when he was there. How can he be talking about an intelligence operation with regard to it as if —
THE WITNESS: If you’ll let me finish —
THE COURT: Well, just a minute. NO, you don’t get to talk —
THE WITNESS: Oh.
THE COURT: — until I make a ruling. And we surely do not need help from you. At least, I don’t, in making my ruling.
Now, when did this occur, Mr. Prince?
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THE WITNESS: The specific example that I’m telling you —
THE COURT: Yes.
THE WITNESS: — are things that I’ve read with my own eyes concerning a group — it was either CAN or something like CAN — that Scientology wanted to get rid of.So a person was placed in there, deep cover —
THE COURT: You are so far ahead of me. Don’t incur my ire, because it’s the afternoon and it’s getting close to 4:00, and that’s bad for you and everybody else.
When did this operation take place, whatever it is you’re talking about? When did it occur?
THE WITNESS: It was either 1984, 1985, 1986.
It would have been somewhere —
I’m giving an example of something that I read within those three years.
THE COURT: Okay. And that’s when it occurred?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: And you were in the organization?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: And you read it as part of the documents of the organization.
THE WITNESS: No. As part of the envelope that
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would come by, like I explained earlier.
THE COURT: Oh, and you read it on — in what was reported to you.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Overruled.
MR. WEINBERG: I understand. And I’ll cross examine him if it has to do with CAN.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So they put an undercover person into this organization?
A Correct.
Q And what was this person doing?
A The person was there as a volunteer to assist the executives of the organization, you know, carry out whatever they were doing. And this organization was an organization similar in some ways to the Leo J. Ryan Foundation, in that anyone from anyplace could call, “I think my kid is in a cult. My daughter’s in a cult. Can you give me information about it?” It was an organization similar to that.
And this person was put in there to divine and be able to turn over to Scientology’s legal team information that would give them an advantage in court.
Q Okay. Now, besides the reporting of intelligence and legal operations, did you have anything to do with the hiring of law firms?
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A Yes. I hired — I can’t tell you how many different law firms abroad, simply for the purpose of filing trademarks. But in the United States, a law — well, an attorney that I hired by the name of Joseph Yanni for RTC —
THE COURT: I know this must be relevant, and I’m sure you can tell me, but what — what is who the law firms were or who was hired —
MR. DANDAR: No. I don’t care who the law firms were.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: I just want to know if that was part of his duties.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. WEINBERG: All right. And to the extent that he’s going to ask Mr. Prince about his discussions with these law firms, that would be privileged.
THE COURT: As to those — those —
MR. WEINBERG: In particular —
THE COURT: — matters — that’s right. During the time that he was in the organization.
MR. WEINBERG: And I assume Mr. Dandar has not talked to Mr. Prince about if Mr. Prince talked to lawyers for the Church of Scientology about —
THE COURT: I don’t want to hear it right now.
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I mean, this is a question-and-answer period. You have an objection, make it.
MR. WEINBERG: That was my objection.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q In addition to just hiring the law firms, would you also direct the litigation?
A Correct.
Q All right. And we’re not going to go into details about how you directed the litigation.
A Or even participated in the direction of it. You know, maybe not me, “Oh, this is my idea. Therefore we’re doing this,” but as a group. It was a group of people. It was, you know — and if there was ever a single decision to be made, it was certainly made by the highest person. But we operated as a group.
Q Who was in the group?
A It was Mr. David Miscavige, myself, Vicki Aznaran, Mark Yeager, Marty Rathbun, Lyman Spurlock, Mark —
THE COURT: It really — I don’t get it yet.
Why I do care how they hire a law firm?
MR. DANDAR: No. This is how they direct the litigation, Judge.
THE COURT: Oh, all right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And was the litigation —
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THE COURT: Well, I hope they do. They hire the law firm, they’re supposed to be in charge of the litigation, right?
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Do you leave it up to the lawyers to decide how to run the litigation?
MR. WEINBERG: Excuse me, your Honor. Now we are getting into work product as to how it is that the church dealt with their lawyers back in the ’80s.
THE COURT: Sustained.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did the litigation involve RTC, that this group would meet and discuss, or did it involve any organization of Scientology?
A In one instance it did involve RTC. In other instances it involved CSE, such as the Wollersheim case. So you know, it would — depending on the case —
Q Okay. What I’m asking you is it didn’t — it didn’t concern crossing over corporate lines and involving litigation involving different corporations.
A The — the persons that I named that concerned themselves with litigation concerned themselves with all Scientology litigation, despite what corporation or whatever. These were the people that dealt with litigation
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for Scientology.
Q And there — was there a head of that group?
A Yes.
Q Who?
A David Miscavige.
THE COURT: Are you trying to tell me that David Miscavige is running this lawsuit? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?
MR. DANDAR: Running everything.
THE COURT: Well, I mean in particular are you trying to tell me he’s running this lawsuit?
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: Well, why would I care? I mean, why do I care who’s running the lawsuit?
MR. DANDAR: All right. All right.
THE COURT: I mean, this is — this is a motion to determine whether your case should be dismissed.
MR. DANDAR: It’s leading up to this question.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q You mentioned the Wollersheim case. Can you tell us what activities you personally know about in the Wollersheim case that have anything to do with the destruction of evidence?
A Yes, there is. And I — I’ve done an affidavit about that, and I’m sure it’s filed in this case.
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But there came a point in time where the judge —
as part of a discovery motion, it was ordered that Lawrence Wollersheim’s PC folders get turned over. I remember during one of these requests — and it looked like it was pretty serious that the judge was going to make them turn over these PC folders — that we had to organize — myself, Vicki Aznaran and other people had to go through the files and redact them by taking out incriminating information, what was considered to be incriminating information against Scientology or anything that could be misunderstood and could then become incriminating. We went through and we redacted files. And then when defense complained and — about the files being redacted and the judge ordered the files just simply turned over straight out, those files were destroyed. They were pulped.
Q What do you mean by pulped?
A They were taken to a paper factory. They were loaded into a — they were shredded, loaded into a solution and turned into a fiber.
THE COURT: Who ordered them destroyed?
THE WITNESS: At the time that I destroyed those documents, the order came to me from Vicki Aznaran, who received it from David Miscavige.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Were there — was this a — destruction of evidence — was it pursuant to policy established in the Church of Scientology?
A Well, the old overriding policy in Scientology is to protect Scientology; to make it — you know, protect it in any way and to cultivate it and — of course, something that would harm it —
THE COURT: Where is that written? I mean, everything here in policy is in a document written down somewhere. Where is it?
THE WITNESS: There’s a policy letter called Keeping Scientology Working.
THE COURT: Okay. And that’s in evidence and I have that, so that’s — you’re suggesting that is part of the Keeping Scientology Working —
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: — policy.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Any other policy besides that one?
A Of protecting Scientology, there’s Safeguarding Technology. I believe that’s a HCO policy letter and a bulletin. There’s policies concerning — Well, I — that’s what readily comes to mind. That’s what I mentioned.
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MR. DANDAR: Okay.
THE COURT: The relevance of this testimony is because you’re going to ask me to believe that Mr. Miscavige directed that the PC folders of Lisa McPherson be destroyed.
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. Or at least in part be pulped.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Are you familiar with —
THE COURT: Pulped. Destroyed in some fashion.
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: Just so the record is clear, we turned over the PC folders.
THE COURT: Well, I understand. But he is testifying, and so did they in the Wollersheim case, that they turned over what they wanted to turn over after all the damaging stuff was taken out and pulped. I’m not saying that’s true; I’m saying that’s the testimony. Maybe it is true. I’m not saying it’s not either.
MR. WEINBERG: Well, in this particular case, Mr. Dandar has used the PC folders he believes affirmatively to indicate it supports his case. I
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mean, we turned over volumes of PC folders of Lisa McPherson.
THE COURT: I can guarantee you did. If this testimony has any relevance at all, the only relevance it could possibly have is that this witness as an expert is going to tell us that Lisa McPherson’s PC folders are not intact. Is that right?
MR. DANDAR: Yes. That was my next question.
THE COURT: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q I had you review Lisa McPherson’s PC folders, correct?
A Correct.
Q And you did that with Stacy Brooks, right?
A Correct. In part, yes.
Q And did you — did you find her 1995 —
Well, actually, you looked at — you did a general review of ’95, ’94 and ’93, correct?
A I believe that’s correct. I mean, I don’t remember. But I certainly did an affidavit that laid out exactly what years I covered and what —
THE COURT: Why don’t you let the man have his affidavit while he’s testifying?
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BY MR. DANDAR: Q Let me show you the 12-page affidavit dated in this case — April 4th, 2000 —
A Okay.
MR. DANDAR: Next exhibit number.
THE COURT: I think this may be in evidence, but maybe not.
MR. WEINBERG: I don’t think so.
THE COURT: Oh, okay.
MR. DANDAR: 108.
MR. WEINBERG: Affidavit — it’s your new 108.
Is that what it is?
MR. DANDAR: Yeah. I — what did I do —
Oh, Judge, let me give you the clerk’s copy. Well, I better give you your copy and I’ll give the witness the clerk’s copy. Then I’ll be left without a copy. Here. Take this one.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
THE COURT: Oh, no. This isn’t — I’ve never seen this before.
MR. WEINBERG: If I’m not mistaken, this is under seal.
THE COURT: Well, really, there isn’t much under seal —
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Well, this is part of the PC folders.
MR. WEINBERG: I think because of the PC folders.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q First of all, Mr. Prince, you said you were a class 9 auditor in Scientology?
A Correct.
Q You audit people who are members of the Church of Scientology?
A Yes, I have.
Q Both staff and public?
A Correct.
Q Of course, you’re not going to tell us what you did in the auditing. I’m not asking that. But who are some of the more famous people you audited?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection to that. He shouldn’t — I object to him talking about auditing famous — quote, famous people. I mean, the St. Pete Times is here. Has nothing to do with the proceeding. If Mr. Prince has audited some famous person, what’s that got to do with this proceeding?
THE COURT: Well, you know, the truth of this matter is, I remember seeing something in this lawsuit that was filed that said he audited David Miscavige.
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MR. WEINBERG: I understand.
THE COURT: I think that would have some bearing, that Mr. Miscavige would trust — or Mr. Miscavige would trust this man to audit the head of the church.
MR. WEINBERG: I don’t think that’s where Mr. Dandar was going.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: I think what Mr. Dandar was trying to do was get some famous person’s name, who has been audited, much like a priest gave somebody confession, and just put it out there so that we can read about it tomorrow. And I don’t think that’s appropriate and I don’t think it’s relevant.
THE COURT: Well, you know what I think? That at issue in this particular case is whether Mr. Prince is qualified as an expert, his credentials and everything about it. If he was — I don’t know who picks an auditor, whether he decides who he wants to audit or whether someone hired him — and there weren’t too many when he was there — made that choice. And if they chose him to do a famous person, I would think that showed they had confidence —
MR. WEINBERG: But isn’t that the person’s — I
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mean, talking about what Mr. Dandar talks about — privacy right, as to — as to who it was that — and when it was that he was talking to a minister of the Church of Scientology —
THE COURT: I didn’t hear anybody say when and I didn’t hear anybody say what they said. What I heard him ask was, who did he audit? I know of no privilege at all —
I mean, are these people not proud to be members of the Church of Scientology?
MR. WEINBERG: I think they are, but I think they would prefer that there not be testimony from Mr. Prince, who they don’t have a high regard for, you know, at this point, given —
THE COURT: Well —
MR. WEINBERG: — given what Mr. Prince has done over the last — whenever it is — four or five or six years —
THE COURT: Overruled.
MR. WEINBERG: That’s my objection.
THE COURT: Your objection is overruled.
A The fact of the matter is — is as far as Scientology celebrities are concerned, I’ve never audited one. I’ve been a case supervisor for them. I’ve supervised their folders. I’ve reviewed and ordered corrections on
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their files. But I’ve never audited any Scientology celebrity.
THE COURT: See? Wasn’t that a big bunch of hooey over nothing?
MR. WEINBERG: I guess my question is, why did he ask the question?
THE COURT: I have no idea. But I had to listen a lot longer to him and your objection than I had to listen to him saying no one.
MR. WEINBERG: That’s true.
THE COURT: Is this Number 108, by the way? I can’t read your writing.
MR. WEINBERG: Yes.
THE COURT: 105? 108. Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Who are one of the celebrities you case supervised, Mr. Prince?
THE COURT: I must need a break because I can tell I’m getting cranky. So we’ll be in recess for 15 minutes. We’ll be in recess.
(A recess was taken at 3:30 p.m.)
(The proceedings reconvened at 3:46 p.m.)
THE COURT: Okay. Mr. Dandar, continue.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q So as a case supervisor, can you give us a couple
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names of the famous celebrities you case supervised?
A I’ve done case supervision, training exercises, training with John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Karen Black. I don’t know. I mean, there isn’t a one of them that I haven’t, because I specifically ran a project to ensure that the auditing of the celebrities were going well.
Q When was this?
A This was again during the same time period I mentioned before, from I guess 1983 through ’87.
Q Did you audited (sic) Mr. Miscavige?
A Yes. I was his personal auditor for a while.
Q How long?
A Maybe a year, year and a half. Maybe a couple of years.
Q What couple of years was that?
A Oh, I’d say, you know, through ’84, ’85, I audited him; ’86 I audited him. So it’s a longer period of time, actually. Maybe three years.
Q Okay. Did he have other auditors?
A Yes.
Q And he selected you and the other auditors or somehow he gets assigned or rotated or anything like that?
A I was selected to be his auditor by the senior case supervisor international, Ray Mithoff.
Q And were you in RTC at the time?
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A Yes.
THE COURT: Senior case supervisor, did you say?
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am. Yes, your Honor.
Senior case supervisor international.
THE COURT: Yeah. Okay.
THE WITNESS: He would be the highest case supervisor within Scientology.
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And how was your relationship with Mr. Miscavige until you left in ’87 — I’m sorry — until you left — you changed your post of deputy inspector general?
A Well, shortly after that, there was a big power struggle. And I’ve also certainly written about that and spoke about that. But there was a power struggle in 1987 where I was forcibly removed. However I remained in the Sea Org for five years after that.
Q And of course, Mr. Miscavige was the captain of the Sea Org for those five years, correct?
A Sure.
MR. DANDAR: Judge, at this time I’d like to play a video clip. It’s nine minutes long.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: Of Mr. Prince inside Scientology.
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MR. WEINBERG: Do you have a transcript?
MR. DANDAR: There’s no transcript.
This is a copy from a copy from a copy, so it’s not the best quality.
THE COURT: Do the best you can.
MR. DANDAR: Should we dim some lights?
MR. WEINBERG: Can we date this?
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, do you know when this speech was given?
A Yes, I do.
Q When?
A It was December 31st, 1986.
Q Okay.
(The videotape, Jesse Prince at New Year’s, 1986, was played as follows:)
THE COURT: 1996?”– discuss expansion, legal victories and acknowledge top contributing members. “Thank you. Thank you very much.
“Next area we wanted to brief you on were the activities and wins from the Religious Technology Center in 1986. As I’m sure you’re all aware, the Religious Technology Center owns the trademarks of Dianetics and Scientology, and their job is really
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to see that Scientology is applied as LRH intended. Keeping Scientology Working. Along with that, they have started new activities, expansion activities at Scientology, opening up new fronts to Scientology, new countries to Scientology, and seeing that not only is the tech applied correctly, but in some instances seeing that it starts being applied for the first time.
“The speaker we have this evening has been in the Religious Technology Center for four years. In fact, he’s a deputy inspector general. Please welcome Commander Jesse Prince.
“Thank you.
“Thank you.
“Well, good evening. And it’s a pleasure to be with you tonight as we welcome in AD37.
“I want to brief you on some of the highlights of 1986 as we made some breakthroughs in the areas of terminating and handling squirreling and the expansion of Scientology and keeping Scientology working, which I think you’ll all find of interest.
“Squirrel groups are by themselves a rather simple thing to handle. As per HCO spec letter of 27 September, 1965, Internal dissension is what tears these splinter groups apart, formed by people
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who’s overt acts against Scientology prevent case gain. They rapidly rip one another to pieces. So even if one took no action at all because of their own ability to keep ethics in on themselves, these squirrels always disappear.
“But the real key to it is to handle any squirrels and squirreling so that they are terminatedly handled. To do that takes a no-nonsense and a nonapologetic attitude about who and what we are, and an unstoppable dedication to the preservation of the technology.
“This year, the Religious Technology Center undertook several courses of action designed to shut the door forever on squirreling of any kind, whether it is on the upper-level materials of Scientology, the lower levels, against the copyrights, or even the right to license and control of the trademarks of Dianetics and Scientology.
“First, as you may remember, in 1985 we won an order from a federal court in Los Angeles that prevented certain squirrels and psychs from using, copying or even having the noisy materials.
“Well, in 1986 we actually took this a step further. This year, the noisy materials were officially copyrighted, and we took this
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breakthrough to the federal court in this lawsuit. We got a green light — of course, against the squirrels’ protest — to add yet another account to the lawsuit for the squirrels’ violations of our copyrights. Now legally this means the squirrels cannot have any unauthorized originals or copies of our upper-level materials at all without being prosecuted under copyright law. And I assure you that any squirrels committing that crime, abusing our materials, will be prosecuted.
“You see, we take a very hard line with those few ill-intentioned small thetans that would attempt to pervert our tech, as for them, to see others become, or better more able, threatens their tiny little beingness. It’s just that simple.
“The reason we take a very hard line in enforcing our trademarks, copyrights and the purity of the tech and its application was very succinctly stated by LRH in Keeping Scientology Working. And I quote, ‘The whole agonized future of this planet, every man, woman and child on it, and your own destiny for the next trillions of years depend on what you do here and now with and in Scientology.’
“This is a deadly serious activity. And if we miss getting off the tread now, we may never again
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have another chance.
“The next area to handle was the area of the lower-level materials, which are also protected by copyright. In both the United Kingdom and Europe we found instances of squirrels who thought that they could get away with copying and using various — various of our lower-level materials. In both cases, these squirrels were sued, and in both cases, the squirrel immediately asked for a settlement on our terms completely.
“Now, the final settlement papers contain some strong language that can be used from this point forward to show that the courts around the world will not put up with attempts to steal, use LRH tech in an unauthorized manner. There is however another side to this battle that is actually very fortunate for us. And that is, in HCO PL, 21 November, 1972, issue 1, LRH states, ‘The basic characteristic of extreme madness is perpetual attack. Attacks on anything. Attacks on persons or things which contain no menace. Extreme, not petty crime, is at the root of such an impulse.’
“You see —
“I’ll say it again: ‘Extreme, not petty crime, is at the root of such an impulse.’
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“And we have a handling for that. Because this obviously works to our advantage. Many squirrels wound up inside a jail in 1986 and many others are being prosecuted. Their crimes range from robbery to drunken driving and resisting arrest to contempt of court to manufacturing drugs. As we move into the new year, it is important to understand why we will always walk away winners and why our enemies will ultimately end up the losers.
“In 1965, LRH explained this. He said, ‘The basic purpose of orgs is to implement Scientology. Scientology is prior to purposes. Explaining them and handling them, it is of course senior to all purposes and indeed the universe. It simply is life. And being life itself, it has a far greater power than any activity, depending upon purpose alone. That is why people are so happy with it and why groups founded on mere purposes are quite afraid of Scientology. For it is unconsciously realized that life itself, alone, can make and unmake purposes and rise superior to all formulas and actions.'”
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Mr. Prince, in that video you said something about having settlements with people, and they — they — they beg
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or they want to settle. Do you recall that?
A Yes, I do.
Q What did you mean by that?
A Well, I can really only relate that to specific examples.
There was a — a person named Robert Scott who put on a Navy uniform — who put on a Navy uniform similar to the Navy uniforms that were used by Scientology at the time, walked into its top organization in AOSEU — AOSHEU. I hate to keep saying that. But he walked in there, and he demanded a copy of NED 4 OTs so he could use that to review folders, and he took this material and he walked out the door. One thing that I did in my department was to arrange for someone in Denmark, who seemingly wanted to pay a high price for these materials — arranged for him to negotiate a price with that person, and then to fly over to Denmark with a copy of the materials to exchange for money, when in fact what had been set up was, the instant he got off the airplane, to be arrested. And years later, I went back to his house and threatened him even more on that particular issue after he was — got out of jail — I think he was in there for a month — and basically just let him know that we intended on taking everything that he had, and his only salvation was to
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cooperate with us.
Q Did he cooperate with you?
A Eventually he did, yes.
Q And did you — in what manner did he cooperate with you?
A He — I think even in my own hand I may have gotten him to sign something, because I think he had a countersuit. And I’m just doing this from memory, of course. My former colleagues will be able to provide more information. But he had a counterclaim, I believe. I got him to agree to drop the counterclaim. I agreed with him to drop our lawsuit against him if he listed for us everyone that the materials went to, gave us all copies. And he had a castle called Kendegrade Castle in Scotland.
(A discussion was held off the record.)
A But we were in Scotland at the time, and he had this magnificent castle, and I told him he would certainly lose the castle as part of these negotiations, because there was some financial consideration as well in the settlement.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And did he lose the castle?
A Yes.
Q Did the Church of Scientology take it?
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A I think the castle was sold and they may have gotten money from it.
Q Have you ever been involved in any operation where the Church of Scientology went after attorneys?
A Yes. I’ve been in a couple of instances of that.
My first memory of it happening, again, was in the Wollersheim case. This is during the period of time where I’m kind of being broken in. I’m kind of cutting my teeth on these areas. While I was talking with Marty — I was in a room with Marty and Dave and Vicki, and we were just kind of laughing and talking. And Marty mentioned that Charles O’Reilly — they had followed him to some club after a hearing or something. And I guess they were having drinks and a meal. And a private investigator by the name Gene Ingram apparently had hired a thug or somebody to physically beat up the attorney there, Charles O’Reilly.
Gary Bright, who was an attorney, I think, on — on one of the Wollersheim cases — we had a deep cover in the Advance Ability Center, which was located in Santa Barbara. He would come there to have meetings with his client. And our deep cover was also a trusted person by the client, so that person would have privileged information. That person was the senior SCS international’s brother, Bob Mithoff, who was a deep cover. There were actually three deep covers that we had in there, Bob being the most effective and the most trusted. And privileged information would be taken, financial information would be taken, legal strategies would be known and, you know, used against them.
Q You’re talking about Mr. Wollersheim, is that right?
A In this last instance, yes, that’s right, the Wollersheim.
Q Okay. Any other attorneys or any other cases that you personally have knowledge of while you were inside the Church of Scientology?
A You know, I don’t remember anything specific, but I do know that part of it would be to always create complaints that could be submitted to the bar against opposing counsel.
Q Do you have personal knowledge about that?
A You know, I’m going to say, as I sit here today, that I don’t remember specifically who the attorney was or —
Q All right.
A I can’t say that.
THE COURT: In your video you kept referring to the term — which is — happens to be new to this hearing — which is squirrel group and squirreling.
What is that?
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THE WITNESS: Your Honor, squirreling is a term created by L. Ron Hubbard to mean that anyone that is using Scientology in an unauthorized matter (sic) and is also not using it strictly as it is written.
THE COURT: It could be somebody within or without.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: So someone using the tech, is that it; someone using the tech improperly?
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay. Thank you.
MR. DANDAR: All right. Rather than mark all this as separate exhibits, your Honor, I’d like to mark the next document as a composite so it would speed things up.
What number would that be? 109?
THE CLERK: Yes.
MR. DANDAR: Okay. Handing the witness the clerk’s copy, Plaintiff’s 109.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Can you identify the first page of 109, Mr. Prince?
A Yes, I can. This is HCO executive letter written in 1966. Apparently parts of it were written by a person named Kathy and the other author is L. Ron Hubbard.
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Q And what is a noisy investigation?
AThis is an intelligence operation that is done to discourage; to harass and discourage. An example — they give a pretty clear example I think right here.
But another example of that could be to go around to a person’s neighbors, past business associates, ex-girlfriends, anyone that would have a bone to pick, and make allegations about the person, and ask them, “Well, did you know that he stole the blue ball on the 17th of whatever, and he — he’s doing this, and he’s really a bad person; and do you know anything he’s done?” And an investigator will systematically go through persons associated with the target to create this air of alarm and hysteria, basically.
Q When you were the deputy inspector general, receiving reports from OSA intelligence, do you know — did you see reports on noisy investigations of people opposed by Scientology?
A Yes.
Q And — now, this is an HCO executive letter, 1966. Was that still being practiced when you were deputy inspector general?
A Everything that is written by L. Ron Hubbard and is actually in a published form. Like this is a timeless
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piece to be followed for eternity. So it’s kind of like the Bible, you know? The Bible was written a couple of thousand years ago but people still stick to that.
In that regard and only in that regard is there a similarity in that these things are held sacred and forever.
Q Did you observe any noisy investigation of Bob Minton?
A Yes.
Q What — give us some examples.
A Well, the most vivid one that comes to mind is an operation that was done on his best friend, Jeff Schmidt, who he had apparently started a company with. Scientology found out about Jeff Schmidt through its investigation of Bob Minton.
MR. WEINBERG: Objection. Hearsay, your Honor.
THE COURT: How do you know about this?
THE WITNESS: Your Honor, I was there and I spoke with Jeff Schmidt and Robert Minton. We were in the financial district in London. And he made it very clear to me what Scientology had done. And he was in the process of packing up his office to move out of the country.
THE COURT: I’m going to allow it. It — it is hearsay. You’re right. It’s hearsay. But for the purpose of this hearing, I’m going to allow —
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there’s a lot of hearsay in this hearing.
MR. WEINBERG: I know. I just — you know, you —
THE COURT: Right. And it is hearsay, and it’ll be taken as hearsay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And Jeff Schmidt was Bob Minton’s business partner?
A Correct.
Q And what happened to him?
A He eventually disassociated himself from Bob Minton from fear of losing his business practice. He basically couldn’t stand a threat –What he told me specifically is that a Scientology investigator came to him and asked him to either provide or show them how to create information to get Bob Minton; in other words, to get him in legally, to get him involved in law enforcement, on the bad end of law enforcement. And Jeff Schmidt said that he was refusing to do it, and had had many negotiations with this private investigator. Finally his office was broken into and materials were taken out of the office, and at that point, that’s when Bob and I flew over there to discuss, “Well, okay. What was taken? What does this mean? What can be done?”
Q Do you know where that information ended up?
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A I do not.
Q Did Jeff Schmidt — was he Mr. Minton’s partner in the Nigerian deal?
A Yes, he was, along with a person, I think, named Miselan (phonetic).
Q And do you know if they made a little bit of money on that deal, or a lot?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection, your Honor. I mean, again, Mr. Prince is now being asked what Mr. Minton made on the Nigerian deal, based on a conversation, apparently, with Mr. Minton’s former partner. I mean —
THE COURT: And Mr. Minton.
MR. WEINBERG: And/or Mr. Minton.
He had the opportunity to ask Mr. Minton this stuff if he wanted to.
MR. DANDAR: And I believe Mr. Minton — well —
MR. WEINBERG: No, he didn’t. He said he didn’t think he did anything wrong in Nigeria.
THE COURT: I’m going to allow it. Overruled.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay. Just —
A Mr. Minton never disclosed to me the exact figure of how much money he made from doing the debt buyback for the government of Nigeria.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And did Mr. Minton go to Howard University and explain to the Nigerian professors and students about what his Nigerian buyback program was all about?
A Yes. This was again a private investigator working on behalf of Scientology in Nigeria, started spreading this idea that something illegal had happened in the debt buyback; that somehow Bob had absconded with maybe a billion dollars or some other thing, or some other crooked regime. And they used a soccer star, John Fashanu. Feds — the — the investigator said this to Fashanu. Fashanu then used his connections. And he was paid to go around doing this noisy investigation stuff, by, number one, spreading false allegations, allegations that couldn’t be proven.
And this finally culminated — I met with a government official from Nigeria in Leipzig, Germany — I guess it was in 2001. I guess it was in 2001. And it was decided at that point that John Fashanu and his people would show up at Howard University in D.C. and we would debate this and Bob would explain to all concerned, Howard professional students and Howard professors who were familiar with the economic scene in Nigeria — I guess some people were upset about that because there is some
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criminality over there.
But we set it up to be in a hall in Washington, D.C. And strangely enough, John Fashanu never showed up. But I sat in a meeting with those Nigerian people at that university for many hours as Bob went through a stack of paper like this, showing them exactly how the deal was done, who was involved, how much debt buyback they did; what was their percentage of the company; how that was split. I mean, he took the time to go through this very painstakingly —
THE COURT: This must be — this must have been videotaped by Mr. Bunker, is that true?
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: Because it’s all on videotape and it’s all going to be turned over pursuant to the court order. If you want a copy of it, you can get it. You can get it.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q My question is, did the false allegations against Mr. Minton by Scientology on the Nigerian deal — how did Mr. Minton react to those allegations?
A He was very disturbed by it, greatly upset. He was upset over the fact that he had — was in the process of losing his best, best friend, who he had been in business with many years, Jeff Selman (sic), who was afraid of Scientology’s power and influence.
Q Wait a minute. Jeff Selman?
A Jeff —
Q Schmidt.
A — Schmidt.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m talking too fast. He was very upset about that. He was very upset about them contacting his other partner in South Africa whose name was Selman. And Bob Minton was disturbed over the fact that he knew that there was corruption itself in Nigeria, and if you paid enough money around, you could kind of get any kind of trouble started you wanted.
Q Are you aware of any kind of trouble that was started with Nigeria in reference to the Swiss government?
A I know that certain allegations were brought in Nigeria. And the private investigator working on Scientology’s behalf did go to Switzerland, talked to prosecutors, talked to law enforcement, and to use whatever sway or ability that they had to try to get charges brought against Bob in —
MR. WEINBERG: Can we just identify the source of your information?
THE WITNESS: Of which — which —
MR. WEINBERG: You just said that investigators and all this did this in Switzerland. And I just
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would — I ask, your Honor, for the source of it.
THE WITNESS: Oh, I’m sorry. Bob Minton.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And did Bob Minton —
THE COURT: It’s all in Stacy Brooks’ time line.
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
MR. WEINBERG: I know.
THE COURT: I mean, it’s all in evidence already.
MR. DANDAR: But this man’s under oath.
THE COURT: Yeah. I know. And that’s why I’m allowing it. I mean, it’s all in evidence.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And did Mr. Minton — how did he react to a private investigator making contact with the Swiss prosecutor?
A He was shocked. He — his — his — you know, I think Mr. Minton approached at least some of his dealings with Scientology in a bit of a naive way. He couldn’t conceptualize the fact that this could possibly happen to him. He couldn’t conceptualize that somehow he would be fighting for his credibility, his standing in the different countries and communities that he had done successful business with, to now have to go back and — and kind of
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resolve things all over again.
Q What period of time was it when you or Mr. Minton first realized that there was a private investigator contacting the Swiss prosecutors?
A You know, from my recollection, I remember maybe late 2000, 2001, early 2001, there was an incident where the prosecutors in Switzerland had been contacted. Bob hired an attorney or whoever to represent himself. The situation was sorted out. But then it came up again.
Q When?
A I think this is after the Howard University — either shortly before or right after, to the best of my recollection.
Q Is that 2001?
A Yes.
Q And was there anything else besides the Nigerian and the Swiss prosecutors — was there anything else that came to your attention concerning Bob Minton being — having a noisy investigation done of him by Scientology?
A Yes. There’s another instances of it. Bob had a interest or stock or something in a car dealership. I believe it was in Boston. And Scientology investigators went around and spoke to the principals at the car dealership. And at the end of that, they no longer wanted to do business with Mr. Minton. They didn’t feel
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like it was safe. It was putting the company in jeopardy to have investigators running around making these sorts of allegations. And so he lost that business venture.
Q That was a Lexus dealership, correct?
A Correct.
Q It wasn’t some old used car lot on the corner.
A No.
MR. WEINBERG: Just for the record, is all this based on conversations with Mr. Minton?
THE WITNESS: Yes. Yes, it is.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And how did Mr. Minton feel about losing his partnership in a Lexus dealership in New England?
A He just broke down and cried. He was like, how is it possible to live in a country like America and not be able to stop this, to turn this off in some way?
Q What about any other noisy investigations?
A I guess they went to his mother’s house and basically told his mother that he’s crazy and needed to be incarcerated, and to somehow get the family together to try to get some kind of incarceration going, or at least get that idea going something was seriously wrong with Bob.
Q Did you know that Mr. Minton’s father had placed him, I think when he was 16, for a few days in a mental institution of some kind?
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A Yes. He — he told me about that.
Q So how did Mr. Minton react to Scientology going to his mother and trying to get her and the family to put Mr. Minton incarcerated in a mental institution?
A He was very upset about that. He was — his viewpoint was, you know, “If they don’t like me, then talk to me, but don’t go to my family.” You know, I guess his mother’s in a rest home. She’s actually quite old and would probably never understand these things if you explained it to her for 10 years. And he didn’t see the — it was just pure harassment, intimidation.
Q Did he just get mad about it or did he get excited about it or did he get depressed about it?
A Well, Bob would consult attorneys. He would — I mean, I’ve met almost as many attorneys with Bob as I did with Scientology. I mean, it was always having — Helen Dorr (phonetic), when he would go up there, “This is what they’ve done now. They’ve gone to my mother. They’ve done this. They’ve done that. Is there anything else I can do? Can law enforcement somehow become involved? Will someone open up an investigation to –” and of course, nothing.
So Bob’s answer to do something was to picket.He’s like, “Okay. They keep doing this stuff, they want to do this stuff, I’m going to picket. I’m going to picket. I’m going to make a sign.” Because that was his last line
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of defense. That was the last thing that he could legally do to say, “Hey, look, I don’t like what you’re doing and I’m showing it.”
Q Did Bob Minton — how long have you known Bob Minton?
A Since the summer of 1998.
Q Okay. Since the summer of 1998 until today, has Bob Minton ever picketed and told you or anyone in your hearing, “Let’s go picket so we can help Ken Dandar win the Lisa McPherson death case”?
A No. Bob — no. When he — a lot of — often –more often than not when he would get on these things that he wanted to picket, it was in response to something that was specifically — that he perceived was being done against him by Scientology.
Q How did Bob Minton react when his daughters were followed back to or from school in boston?
MR. WEINBERG: Objection to the form of the question. Mr. Dandar is testifying.
THE COURT: Sustained.
MR. DANDAR: Sustained. I agree with that, Judge.
THE COURT: Well, good. I’m glad you do.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did you ever hear about Bob Minton expressing any
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statement concerning his daughters being followed?
A Yes. He told me that his — his daughters and his wife had gone out, I think, to the theater or something or — or some school event or something, and they were followed. And when they came home, their neighborhood was papered with fliers that were distributed about him having some —
THE COURT: You know, I’m wondering why we are hearing this hearsay. A lot of this just confirms what Mr. Minton has already testified to.
MR. DANDAR: Oh, Mr. Minton said he would just get angry; he wasn’t afraid; he wasn’t concerned; he wasn’t depressed.
THE COURT: Okay. Well, then, how he responded — we don’t need to have Mr. Prince relate what Mr. Minton has already related.
MR. DANDAR: Okay. All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q How did Mr. Minton respond —
THE COURT: At least I don’t think. Now, obviously, you can bring in hearsay for impeachment if Mr. Minton told him something different from what he said in court.
MR. DANDAR: That’s what —
THE COURT: But I think much of what we’ve gone
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over here is stuff that Mr. Minton has said the same thing.
MR. DANDAR: My intention is to see if there’s something different, what he told Mr. Prince compared to what he told you.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: And I’m trying to — I’ll do it quicker, though.
THE COURT: Well, I hope you know — and if, you know, you don’t really have to let me hear it all. Just let me hear what’s different if there is anything different.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay. Did Mr. Minton express to you that he was concerned when his one daughter was followed to a girlfriend’s house in Long Island?
MR. WEINBERG: It’s the same objection.
A Yes, he did.
MR. WEINBERG: He’s testifying again. You know, “When — such — such and such happened.” I mean, that’s just testifying.
MR. DANDAR: I’m trying to make it a little faster.
THE COURT: Yeah. I’m going to —
MR. WEINBERG: He can ask him what his reaction
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was to whatever it was that he told you.
MR. DANDAR: All right. Well, then, I’ll ask more questions so this will go longer. But okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did Mr. Minton tell you about his daughter being followed to Long Island?
A Yes, he did.
Q And how did Mr. Minton — did he tell you how — what he thought about that?
A He — he called me on the phone and he said, “Jesse, you won’t believe what they’re doing now. They’re going after my daughters.” “Oh. What happened?” “Well, she was followed,” or, “They papered the neighborhood,” or, you know, “They’re passing leaflets out. They’re talking to their friends,” his daughter’s associates, parents, or different people, you know, and just kind of doing their noisy investigation. And this was apparently quite upsetting to his wife, Therese, who would always — Bob said she would ask, “Well, what are you going to do about it? Well, this can’t happen. How do you make this stop?”
Q So —
A So he had a lot of pressure.
Q Okay. Did he ever — after all of these noisy investigations, did Bob Minton ever appear to you to be a tough guy about it or not a tough guy?
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A Well, in the beginning he seemed to be quite a tough guy. But as it — as it progressed — I mean, that — that time track that was submitted as an — as an exhibit, those were instances where we actually could find some type of documentation that proved what the time track said.
There are many instances where things happened where we couldn’t have or find the documentation. So for anyone to — to have that much done to them, I mean, even in my time I have never seen such a concerted effort to destroy an individual.
Q That time line, did you help put it together?
A I — I have — yes, I did.
Q Okay. And have you read the entire time line?
A I’m sure I have at some point.
Q And when you read the time line, was it accurate?
A Yes, it was.
Q Now, go back to Exhibit 109 —
MR. WEINBERG: Objection to that. Accurate based on conversations with somebody? He just said this time line, which we all know was —
THE COURT: Very, very thick.
MR. WEINBERG: — exaggerated —
THE COURT: Yeah. Most of that would have been through hearsay information.
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BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Was it — was it accurate through what Mr. Minton told you?
A Well — well, again, I will just state for the record that the information that was put in that time line was information that could be substantiated in other ways. So there is many things that couldn’t be substantiated. Therefore, it’s not there. But everything that was there, the intent was to be able to substantiate everything there with documentation.
Q So Mr. Minton told you there are more things that happened to him that are not in the time line?
A Sure. I mean, and I’ve witnessed it myself.
Q Like what?
A One time he invited me to New Hampshire — I think it was maybe the 4th of July. The 4th of July. We were up there; myself, Mr. Minton, his wife, Therese, his children. We were having a barbecue in the back. Scientologists came in their cars, started picketing and screaming from the road, “Where’s Stacy?” You know, this is one thing that they really liked to do; tell — make sure that Bob’s wife knew that he was having an affair with Stacy Brooks.
Q Well, she knew, didn’t she?
A Yes, she did.
Q So they’re yelling this in front of the children.
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A Correct.
Q What else would they yell besides, “Where’s Stacy?”
A That he was crazy.
There came a point in time where somehow they were able to get some of his psychiatric information from his psychiatrists and speak to him about that. And I mean at first Mr. Minton was just amazed that these could even happen; that it was even possible for an organization or an individual or any — for this to be able to happen to a citizen in America. But then again, as time went on, he wore down more and more and more, I guess. The threat became — I mean, he was just spending so much money defending himself in, you know, three or four countries at one time.
Q Now, let me — since you mentioned psychiatric records, let me jump — let me jump to August — well, June — August of 2001. Do you recall Mr. Minton being upset about records that were put on the Internet, with his wife, his children and himself?
A Yes.
Q What type of records?
A His counseling records from seeing a psychiatrist; I guess information about what kind of medication he had been taking and this kind of thing.
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Q And did you talk to him about that?
A Yes, I did.
Q And was he scheduled to appear in a deposition in Clearwater the next day?
A I think we’re talking about two separate incidents.
Q Okay. Which one are you talking about?
A Something that preceded the hearing that had to happen in Clearwater.
Q Okay. I’m talking about a deposition —
A Okay.
Q — all right?
Are you aware that he was ordered to appear, in the breach case in Clearwater, for deposition taken by Mr. Rosen?
A Yes.
Q All right. Are you aware that he did — he failed to appear?
A Yes.
Q All right. Did he tell you why he failed to appear?
A Yes, he did.
Q And what did he say?
A Mr. Minton didn’t have a lot of confidence in the justice system as it was being administered in Florida here.
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He felt that as far as discovery was concerned, that they were able to pretty much get away with murder. And he knew that Scientology was not going to stop until he was completely eliminated as an — as an individual. I mean, part of their policy is to, if possible, of course, ruin the person utterly.
THE COURT: Was he concerned —
MR. WEINBERG: Excuse me, your Honor?
THE COURT: — about that or was he concerned about the fact that the discovery was going to uncover the fact that he had illegal — or he had bank accounts outside of this country and money that was coming into this country that he wasn’t paying taxes on?
THE WITNESS: Your Honor, he may have had that as a consideration, but it wasn’t anything that I was personally aware of.
THE COURT: Well, what was it about the fact that the church was going to find this out or that the fact that the — that the courts were allowing the church to pursue discovery based on their allegations in the counterclaim that had Mr. Minton so upset?
THE WITNESS: Mr. Minton said that he felt that if he came to Florida, that he was going to go to
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jail. He had been being told that he was going to jail. He — he —
THE COURT: It was because he was the one that was thumbing his nose at the justice system in the state of Florida, wasn’t it?
THE WITNESS: Yes. Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: It’s because he was the one coming down here and saying that — he was just acting like a jerk in his discovery depositions, flaunting himself at the justice system, taking the Fifth Amendment when he’d already published it on the Internet, and expecting, I suppose, that we were so stupid that we wouldn’t know enough that he’d waived it. And then, of course, when the judges said that he had indeed waived it and he could no longer hide behind the Fifth Amendment, that he started getting real worried, didn’t he?
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Yeah.
THE WITNESS: He became —
THE COURT: Because the church and therefore the courts were going to get pretty knowledgeable about what he had, moneywise —
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: — overseas.
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THE WITNESS: Correct. And here in the United States.
He was concerned that if Scientology was allowed to have access to his different bank accounts, that he would end up fighting another war with Scientology as he did with the John Fashanu fiasco, and he was just tired of it.
THE COURT: Did he talk to you about — it wasn’t any — it wasn’t any secret, was it, that Mr. Minton was a multi-millionaire?
THE WITNESS: No.
THE COURT: Everybody knew that.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: He doled out millions of dollars to fight Scientology.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Came into court pretty proud, throwing out over $10 million. And everybody knew that, right?
THE WITNESS: Well, I didn’t know that it had been that much, your Honor, myself.
THE COURT: Okay. But I mean, he had doled out —
THE WITNESS: Millions.
THE COURT: — millions.
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THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: And everybody knew he had doled out millions.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: So the fact that this Church of Scientology was getting ready to find out that he had doled out millions —
THE WITNESS: Well, you know, there’s another aspect to this, your Honor. And the aspect is this: Bob Minton, in his mind, always tried to keep his family separate from his activities. He was ready to exhaust every personal resource that he had for himself to keep the fight going, but he was not willing to risk that for his wife and his children.
And so when the wife and children became a factor I guess something happened.
THE COURT: I don’t have any qualms about your talking about the fact that Mr. Minton was upset about his medical records being put on the Internet; I don’t have any qualms about your saying Mr. Minton was upset about his children being followed, about his business associates being contacted and what have you. I have no doubt that he was upset about that and what have you.
But as far as his being upset with the justice
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system in the state of Florida, the reason I’m upset about that is because Mr. Minton himself is what caused many of his own problems, right?
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: And then when it looked like they were going to find out some stuff that was really going to get him in a problem, then he had a problem with the justice system.
THE WITNESS: I assume that, yes.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did he ever —
THE COURT: But before he had problems with the justice system, he was plenty happy to play with it, jerk us around, come when he felt like it, answer what questions he felt like, right?
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Until people in the justice system here in the state of Florida said, “Bob Minton, you’re not going to play with our justice system here. We’re in charge,” right?
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: That caused him a great deal of concern.
THE WITNESS: And I guess that he was mainly concerned because he knew that he would not answer
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specific questions. And he felt that if he came into court and he was asked those questions that he had made a conviction that he wasn’t going to answer, that he wasn’t going to answer them anyway, and he was just going to go to jail.
THE COURT: And he could rest assured on that; that if this court or any other court that I’m aware of in my circuit told him to answer a question and he said no, he would have gone to jail until he answered it. And there is no question about that. And I am sure that any inquiry that Mr. Minton asked, he was told that.
THE WITNESS: Correct.
THE COURT: Right.
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: No wonder he was upset with the justice system here, the way — and the games that he was playing.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Did he talk to you about trying to figure out a way not to come to court when he was ordered to appear for deposition?
A I think I may have had that conversation with Stacy Brooks.
Q Okay. What did she tell you? ‘Cause she’s also a
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witness in this case.
A She told me that —
MR. WEINBERG: Just for the record, I’m objecting to hearsay, but — I understand what the judge’s rulings have been, but at this —
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: All this testimony is hearsay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q What did she tell you?
A She told me that Bob was extremely upset; that he was kind of in a — a state — a mental state like — I don’t know — having a breakdown of some sort, and she wanted him to go see a professional. I guess something had happened at that time where the — again, something happened with the children when he was supposed to come down. I think the neighborhood got leafletted again or something happened with the kids again. And the questions themselves, that he became very distraught. Stacy mentioned having him go see a professional, a psychologist or a psychiatrist or something, and he — he didn’t really want to do that. He didn’t want to do that. So — so that was Stacy’s angle of, like, “Okay, well, we need to get him to a professional and get him excused from coming to the deposition.”
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Q And did Diane Palermo’s name come up in that conversation?
A Yes, it did.
Q And was Diane Palermo, as far as you know, a mental health therapist?
A No, she is not.
Q What is she?
A As far as I knew, a social worker.
Q And was she ever Mr. Minton’s social worker?
A Not that I’m aware of. I kind of doubt it.
Q And are you aware, from speaking with Bob Minton or Stacy Brooks, what Stacy Brooks had tried to get Diane Palermo to do?
A Yes. Stacy Brooks tried to get Diane Palermo to do some kind of an analysis of Bob Minton’s mental state and — and give him advice that would preclude him from coming to the deposition.
Q And did Diane Palermo agree to do that?
A No. Not at all.
Q And so what did Stacy Brooks do next to try to get an excuse —
THE COURT: I know the answer to that and so does everybody in this courtroom. We don’t need to hear it again.
THE WITNESS: Okay.
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MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: This is in Stacy Brooks’ affidavit?
MR. DANDAR: Pardon me?
THE COURT: Is it in Stacy Brooks’ affidavit?
MR. DANDAR: I don’t think it’s in there. Not this way.
MR. WEINBERG: She testified about it and Mr. Minton testified about it. I think it’s all over the place.
MR. DANDAR: They’re calling her a mental health therapist who told him not to travel.
THE COURT: You already got that out. He said she’s not a mental health therapist.
MR. DANDAR: All right.
THE COURT: But Stacy Brooks filed something before Judge Baird.
MR. DANDAR: Yes, she did. That affidavit.
THE COURT: That affidavit is what I’m talking about. God, I know this case good, don’t I?
MR. DANDAR: Yes, you do.
MR. WEINBERG: Better than —
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And did you see that Stacy Brooks affidavit about trying to make an excuse for Mr. Minton?
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A No, sir. I did not.
Q Okay. Do you know that Stacy Brooks called Steve Hassan?
A Steve Hassan? Yes.
Q And tried to get him to write an excuse letter?
A Yes.
Q Even though he’s never talked to Bob Minton about —
MR. WEINBERG: Excuse me, your Honor. Again, this is all based on conversations with Stacy Brooks. I mean, we’re —
THE COURT: But this is kind of impeachment, so this is what you got to do. In other words, if Stacy Brooks comes in to court and says one thing in front of me and this — she’s told something different to this man —
MR. WEINBERG: I don’t think she told anything different —
THE COURT: Yes, she did, about that.
MR. WEINBERG: About —
THE COURT: Overruled.
MR. WEINBERG: All right.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q And did she ask Steve Hassan to write a letter?
A She asked Steve Hassan to become involved, and he
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declined, based on the fact that Bob was not a patient of his. Bob — they had no prior history or discussions about — you know, Bob hadn’t mentioned to him about anything. And of course I think it was kind of obvious that this was a last-ditch effort to — for Bob not to come down for the deposition.
Q But Bob Minton in truth was really, really emotionally upset about what he saw on the Internet.
A Yes. He was crying —
THE COURT: Bob Minton didn’t come down for the deposition, did he?
THE WITNESS: I don’t believe he did. No, he didn’t.
THE COURT: Then I guess —
THE WITNESS: No. He went to the hospital because he —
Okay. Now — okay. I’m remembering this.
THE COURT: Isn’t this what Judge Baird found him in contempt for?
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Why Lord have mercy, why a judge, why, imagine that; this justice system, when Mr. Minton flaunted a demand and a command and an order from a court to come here and he didn’t come, I guess he had every right to be upset at our system
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of justice because some judge took great offense and held him in contempt. Dear, dear.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q All right. Let me — let me go and look at Exhibit 109 —
A But you know, Bob ended up going to the hospital. He was — he started having chest pains or something, and he was in the hospital for a couple three days —
Q Okay.
A — under observation by a doctor. And I do believe that on the day that he was supposed to appear for contempt that he was in the hospital.
Q All right. Let me have you look back at 109 again.
A Okay.
Q You identified the first page. What about the second page entitled —
A — Intelligence Actions.
Q Yes.
A Yes.
Q Are you familiar with that?
A Yes, I am.
This is kind of a routine that happens in intelligence in Scientology on any — anything that’s a threat or — or an attack on Scientology. This policy kind
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of comes into play, where you investigate, you do your ODC, overt data collection; CDC, covert data collection. You do your noisy investigation. You find some skeleton. And if you can’t find it, you manufacture something. And you use that to sue for peace.
Q Is there something in here that talks about manufacturing a skeleton if you can’t find it?
A Not in this particular one. But you were — I think the one that you’re referring to, as far as manufacturing information against an individual, would lie in the department of government affairs for which you just have one page of.
Q Yeah. I see we’ve got two pages of the same thing.
A Yeah. But if I turn one — two pages back and I go to what’s listed here —
THE WITNESS: And I think it’s very hard to see, your Honor. It goes from page 484 in this statement packet — two pages away from government affairs —
THE COURT: Okay.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Government affairs —
Wait. Let me just correct it now.
A No, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
150
Q All right.
THE COURT: Isn’t this something; they’re just fussing with each other?
MR. DANDAR: You can see we rehearsed all this.
THE WITNESS: See, I’ll show you. Okay. I’ll find it for you.
THE COURT: You find it.
THE WITNESS: I’ll find it for you.
Here’s the department of government affairs.
THE COURT: Okay.
THE WITNESS: And this is page 483. And then this is put in there and this is put in there. But then we get back to page 484, where it says right here,
“If attacked on some vulnerable point by anyone or anything or any organization, always find or manufacture enough threat against them to cause them to sue for peace.”
THE COURT: Okay. This is page —
This is not in order, Mr. Dandar.
MR. DANDAR: I’m going to fix it. I’d like to fix it now.
THE COURT: Well, maybe you could fix it before you introduce it.
MR. DANDAR: I will.
THE COURT: If there is going to be Exhibit 409
151
(sic), you better have this 409-A, B —
MR. DANDAR: 109.
THE COURT: I’m sorry. 109.
MR. DANDAR: That’s what I’ll do. I’ll label them.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: I can see where the extra pages —
MR. WEINBERG: I’m lost.
THE COURT: It’s page 484, which is not after page 483. It’s about four pages back.
MR. WEINBERG: Okay.
THE COURT: It says, if you will look —
Well, where was that?
MR. DANDAR: Exhibit 4 is in there twice.
THE WITNESS: Let me see. It’s in the third paragraph.
THE COURT: Show me where you’re reading from.
MR. WEINBERG: I see it. It’s the third paragraph.
THE COURT: Okay.
“If attacked on some vulnerable point by anyone or anything or any organization, always find or manufacture enough threat against them to cause them to sue for peace.”
What is this?
THE WITNESS: This is a policy letter, your
152
Honor. This is a church policy letter that is a policy letter for the department of government affairs, which is a department or a section or a unit within the Scientology organization, that basically talks about — you know, things having to do with tax matters, legal activities, whatever, for an organization.
THE COURT: What does the term “sue for peace” mean?
THE WITNESS: To my knowledge, it means basically that a person just wants to end what’s-ever happening and let’s just settle it and all walk away as happy as possible.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Like a disengagement?
A Yes.
MR. DANDAR: Judge, I’ve marked mine, and I’d like to mark the clerk’s copy with the letters.
THE WITNESS: And you see we — I think — I can help you put this in order here, because you got the pages —
MR. WEINBERG: What I did was I eliminated the — the Intelligence Action, second page, it looked like the same thing that was —
THE COURT: Yeah. The second Intelligence
153
Actions, right?
MR. WEINBERG: I threw that one out. They were the same as the first one. And then I reordered, what you did, 483, 484, 485. And I assume everything else is the same.
THE WITNESS: I’ve — so this is the whole document right there, these three pages.
BY MR. DANDAR:
Q Okay. Look at the next part, where it’s previously marked in another deposition, as Exhibit 6, about “make sure that’s all in order.”
A Okay.
Q First of all, do you identify that document?
A Yes. This is also a document that’s relevant to PR, legal intelligence.
Q And what is that called?
A Public Investigations Section.
Q Public investigation.
A Correct.
Q What’s that?
A This would be investigating individuals outside of Scientology using outside agencies. I have to take a moment to look at this.
Q All right.
THE COURT: I’ll tell you what. This looks
154
like something too long to read here to have any meaningful talk. Let’s quit for the day. I’m tired.
MR. WEINBERG: I’m tired.
MR. DANDAR: Okay.
THE COURT: It’s quarter to 5. If you will read this over tonight, and we’ll continue on. In the meantime, have these marked by the clerk as 109-A, B, C, D, so we know what you’re referring to.
THE WITNESS: Okay. And I have — I have the clerk’s copies here.
THE COURT: Okay. If you’ll — do you have a copy for your witness to look at?
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
THE COURT: All right. Mr. Prince, while you are on the witness stand, you are in rather a unique position. You not only are under the rule, which means that you can’t talk to any other witness about your testimony —
THE WITNESS: Right.
THE COURT: — nor can they talk to you about theirs, but while you are on the witness stand, you are not permitted to speak to anyone about the case, including Mr. Dandar or counsel for the other side,
155
all right?
THE WITNESS: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Now, I may, if I’m gone and Mr. Prince isn’t done and I’m gone for two weeks, let him out from under that, just like I did other people when it was going to be, like, long weekends or what have you. But not for tonight.
THE WITNESS: Yes, ma’am.
THE COURT: And I really think, Mr. Dandar, that you ought to be able to get through this a little faster. We don’t need — you can go quickly through those things that your experts have already testified to. And I presume his testimony would be the same.
MR. DANDAR: Yes.
I’m going to go through the PC folders and –which is I gave him that affidavit that you haven’t seen apparently before.
THE WITNESS: But this is the clerk’s. This has to go back to her.
MR. DANDAR: And I’ll show him that as well.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. DANDAR: Exhibit 108.
And then we’re going to talk about Mr. Minton, the LMT, and what transpired in 2002.
156
THE COURT: You’re never going to finish tomorrow, I’ll bet you, but —
MR. WEINBERG: Plus he’s got Mr. Haney set in the morning.
MR. DANDAR: I have Mr. Haney in the morning.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. WEINBERG: So we’re obviously not going to.
MR. DANDAR: And he should be short.
MR. WEINBERG: But I will not necessarily be brief with Mr. Prince, but I don’t know yet.
THE COURT: Well, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t think he’s going to be brief either.
MR. WEINBERG: Right.
THE COURT: Because we’ve got a lot of ground to cover with Mr. Prince. And frankly, we’re not to any of the issues.
MR. WEINBERG: No.
THE COURT: But thank you, sir. You may step down, remembering the rule I just gave you about while you’re a witness on the stand.
THE WITNESS: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: If you will remind me Wednesday afternoon when we break for over two weeks, Mr. Dandar, better yet — I shouldn’t have to rely on this witness — if you will remind me, since he
157
is an expert of yours or a consulting witness or whatever he is, I may allow you to have some discussions with him since we’re going to be in recess on this hearing for two weeks.
MR. DANDAR: Thank you, Judge.
THE COURT: But you’re going to have to remind me so I can decide that.
MR. WEINBERG: We would like to speak to that particular issue.
THE COURT: Okay.
(An overnight recess was taken at 4:50 p.m.)
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REPORTER’S CERTIFICATE
STATE OF FLORIDA )
COUNTY OF PINELLAS )
I, Donna M. Kanabay, RMR, CRR, certify that I was authorized to and did stenographically report the proceedings herein, and that the transcript is a true and complete record of my stenographic notes.
I further certify that I am not a relative, employee, attorney or counsel of any of the parties, nor am I a relative or employee of any of the parties’ attorney or counsel connected with the action, nor am I financially interested in the action.
WITNESS my hand and official seal this 19th day of June, 2002.
______________________________
DONNA M. KANABAY, RMR, CRR
Notes
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