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Ninth Circuit Rules Against Scientology Ministers' Forced-Labor Claims In Headley V. Church Of Scientology International, Jeffrey W. Tye

Golden Gate University Law Review

In Headley v. Church of Scientology International, the Ninth Circuit faced a particularly sensitive question involving the limits of the TVPA and the application of the ministerial exception. In Headley, former ministers brought TVPA forced-labor claims against the Church of Scientology (the “Church”). The Church argued before the district court that the plaintiffs’ labor was not forced, and that the ministerial exception applied to effectively bar the plaintiffs’ claims. The district court agreed, holding that the instances of physical abuse alleged did not raise a triable issue of fact as to the Headleys’ forced-labor claims. The court also …

Authority Of The Attorney General To Investigate Religious Corporations, Assembly Committee On Judiciary, Senate Committee On Judiciary

California Joint Committees

Hearings of Nov. 17, 1980 and Nov. 25, 1980.

The subject of today's joint hearing of the Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees is the authority of the Attorney General to investigate and bring actions against religious corporations. Earlier this year, the Legislature enacted SB 1493 which will become operative on June 1, 1981 and which will narrow the AG's powers in this area. The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether, under the new law, the AG will retain adequate powers relative to religious corporations or if further legislation is needed.