Scientology has an extensive and complex history with the law in many countries, involving criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, regulatory actions, and cases concerning religious recognition. Scientology spokespeople state that its litigation is intended to protect its religious freedom and intellectual property, while critics and some courts have described its use of the legal system as abusive and overly aggressive.

Overview

The Church of Scientology and its related organizations has been involved in numerous court disputes across the world. In some cases, when the Church has initiated the dispute, questions have been raised as to its motives. The Church of Scientology says that its use of the legal system is necessary to protect its intellectual property and its right to freedom of religion. Critics say that most of the organization's legal claims are designed to harass those who criticize it and its manipulative business practices.

In the years since its inception, the Church of Scientology's lawsuits have numbered in the thousands—filed against newspapers, magazines, government agencies (including the United States tax collecting unit, the IRS), and many individuals. In 1991, Time magazine estimated that the Church spends an average of about $20 million per year on various legal actions, and it is the exclusive client of several law firms. According to a U.S. District Court Memorandum of Decision in 1993, Religious Technology Center had "abused the federal court system by using it, inter alia, to destroy their opponents, rather than to resolve an actual dispute over trademark law or any other legal matter. This constitutes 'extraordinary, malicious, wanton, and oppressive conduct.' ... It is abundantly clear that plaintiffs sought to harass the individual defendants and destroy the church defendants through massive over-litigation and other highly questionable litigation tactics. The Special Master has never seen a more glaring example of bad faith litigation than this."RTC v. Robin Scott, U. S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 85-711-JMI (Bx) 85-7197-JMI (Bx), January 20, 1993, Memorandum of Decision Rulings such as this have classified the Church of Scientology as a chronically vexatious litigant. Legal disputes initiated by Scientology against its former members, the media or others include the following: Religious discrimination cases, including recognition as a religious organization. Copyright infringement cases. Scientology's religious documents are copyrighted, and many are available only to members who pay for higher levels of courses and auditing. Libel and slander cases.

In the past, the Church has been the defendant in criminal cases (for example, in United States v. Hubbard), and increasingly, lawsuits are being brought by former Church members against the Church, such as: human trafficking and forced labor (Claire and Mark Headley v. Church of Scientology International) fraud and misrepresentation libel (e.g. Hill v Church of Scientology of Toronto).

Criminal prosecutions

1978 — France: Hubbard illegal practices conviction

In 1978, L. Ron Hubbard, creator of Scientology, was convicted for illegal business practices, namely, making false claims about his ability to cure physical illnesses. He was sentenced in absentia to four years in prison, which was never served.

1979 — US: senior officials, government-infiltration convictions

In a 1979 criminal case against 11 high-ranking Church officials regarding Operation Snow White, the largest then-known program of domestic espionage in U.S. history, all were convicted.

1988–2002 — Spain: arrest and trial of international president

1992 — Canada: fraud and public-trust breach

In R v Church of Scientology of Toronto (1992), the Church of Scientology was convicted on two charges of breaching the public trust and fined $250,000, and seven members were convicted on various charges. The case was brought to light after the USA FBI raids in the 1970s on Church of Scientology properties resulted in the discovery of stolen Canadian records, followed by a Canadian raid on the Toronto property and the discovery of 250,000 documents in more than 900 boxes.

This prosecution later gave rise to the civil libel action Hill v Church of Scientology of Toronto (1995), in which Justice Casey Hill successfully sued the organization for defamatory statements made during the course of the criminal proceedings.

1996 — France: fraud and involuntary homicide

In 1996, Jean-Jacques Mazier, then head of the Church of Scientology of Lyons, was convicted of fraud and involuntary homicide, and sentenced to 18 months in prison plus 18 months suspended and fined $100,000. Fourteen of 22 others charged with frauds were also convicted. The manslaughter charge was in connection with the 1988 death of Patrice Vic, who killed himself by jumping from a 12th-floor apartment after being pressured to borrow money to pay for yet another Scientology service. The victim's widow said her husband had been "subjected to psychological torture". Related to this trial, two other Scientologists were convicted in Toulon for threatening a psychiatrist and expert witness in the trial.

1996–2000 — Florida: death of Lisa McPherson

When the Church was charged with a felony count of practicing medicine without a license in the 1996 case in connection with the 1995 death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, Florida asked for damages of approximately $15,000 to be awarded against the organization. The Church hired law firms and medical specialists at an estimated cost of over $1 million, waging a defense that eventually resulted in the criminal charges being dismissed due to lack of credible evidence. In a separate civil case, the Church paid an undisclosed amount to settle a wrongful death suit brought on behalf of McPherson's estate.

1997 — France: fraud

In a case in Lyons in 1997, six Scientologists were given suspended prison sentences for fraud.

1998 — Switzerland: fraud and usury

In 1998, three Scientologists were convicted and jailed on fraud and usury charges after conning a member out of $80,000 for courses.

1999 — France: fraud

In 1999, a Marseille court found five senior officials of the Church of Scientology guilty of fraud for "sham purification treatments" in Nice and Marseille. Xavier Delamare was sentenced to two years, partially deferred, and received a fine. Four others received suspended sentences of six months to two years, and two more were found not guilty.

2009 — France: organized fraud

In 2009, a case went to trial in France, after a woman claims to have been pressured into paying €21,000 ($29,400) to the Church of Scientology for lessons, books and medicines for her poor mental state, accusing the Church of Scientology of "organised fraud". Her lawyers argue that the Church systematically seeks to make money through mental pressure and use scientifically dubious cures."Scientology on trial in France", BBC News, May 25, 2009 Coincidentally, a large scale simplification of the laws in France occurred just prior to the beginning of the trial. Suspicion was raised as the new law revision forbids the dissolution of a legal entity, an unadvertised change among hundreds of others. Dissolution was the main sentence requested by the prosecutor against the Church of Scientology in this trial, becoming unlawful as the law changed. On October 27, 2009, a verdict was rendered: six members of the CoS in France, and the Church itself, were convicted of fraud. Four of these, including Alain Rosenberg, were given suspended prison sentences. The Scientology Celebrity Center in Paris, a Scientology bookstore, and all six individual convicts were ordered to pay fines. The plaintiff's request for dissolution of the Church was not fulfilled.

Civil lawsuits against Scientology

1993–1999 — England: Bonnie Woods libel litigation

1995 — Canada: Hill v Church of Scientology of Toronto

In Hill v Church of Scientology of Toronto (1995), Justice Casey Hill, at that time a Crown attorney involved in the R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto case, sued and won CAD$1,600,000 for libel, the largest libel damage award in Canadian history. During the case, it was shown that a file had been kept on him as an "Enemy Canada". In their decision, the Supreme Court of Canada found:

1997–2004 — Florida: wrongful death of Lisa McPherson

On May 29, 2004, the Church paid an undisclosed amount to settle a wrongful death suit brought on behalf of McPherson's estate. This was separate from the criminal case filed against the Church of Scientology by the State of Florida. In an article on the civil suit, it describes legal attacks made by Scientology's attorneys:

1980–2002 — Larry Wollersheim litigation

In the case of Wollersheim vs. Church of Scientology (1980), former member Larry Wollersheim sued the organization for mental distress, and was awarded $30 million in damages. On appeal, the award was reduced to $2.5 million.Wikisource:Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology In 1996, Wollersheim was awarded an additional $130,506.71 in attorney's fees incurred while defending against a church lawsuit that was dismissed for violating a California law prohibiting strategic lawsuits against public participation. The Church vowed not to pay the award, and the case dragged through the courts for 22 years, including two separate appeals to the Supreme Court of the United States and two additional appeals to the Supreme Court of California. In early 2002, the case was finally settled, with the Church of Scientology paying Larry Wollersheim $8,674,643.

1984–2004 — Gerry Armstrong litigation

In 1984, the Church began a legal battle with Gerry Armstrong that spanned two decades. The Church sued Armstrong for providing confidential documents about L. Ron Hubbard to his own attorney. The court found that Armstrong's actions were justifiable and affirmed this conclusion in Church of Scientology v. Gerald Armstrong.Wikisource:Church of Scientology v. Armstrong Armstrong settled his counter-claims with the Church in December 1986 for $800,000 in exchange for his agreement to keep confidential his experience with the Church. The Church sued Armstrong for $10.5 million in 1995 and 2002 for allegedly violating the confidentiality agreement in 131 instances. A California appellate court awarded the Church $321,923 in damages and $334,671.75 in attorneys fees in 1995, and $500,000 in damages in 2004. The court noted that "Armstrong makes no claim that he has complied, or will ever comply, with the injunction" and that Armstrong claims to now reside in Canada.Church of Scientology v. Superior Court, not reported in Cal.Rptr.3d (Cal.App. 1 Dist.), ¶¶2–7 s:Church of Scientology International v. Superior Court

2009–2018 — DeCrescenzo forced-abortion and child-labor suit

In DeCrescenzo v. Church of Scientology International, Laura DeCrescenzo sued the organization in 2009 for forcing her to illegally work 14 hour days at age 12 and coercing her to get an abortion at age 17. In 2018, Scientology settled with DeCrescenzo three weeks before the case went to trial.

2013–2017 — Garcia fraud and arbitration dispute