Judge Strikes Down Parts of Actress Leah Remini’s Lawsuit Against Scientology

Actress Leah Remini speaks onstage at the 'Family Tools' panel during the Disney/ABC Television Group portion of the 2012 Summer TCA Tour on July 27, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

An LA Superior Court judge has struck down large parts of Emmy award winner Leah Remini’s defamation and harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology; ruling that some of the controversial organization’s comments about her are protected under the First Amendment.

In a March 12 final ruling (pdf), Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Randolph Hammock struck down multiple parts of Ms. Remini’s complaint, finding that those claims are “conclusively time-barred” because they took place before Aug. 2, 2022, meaning it is now too late for her to sue over those specific claims.

The judge also struck down most of her defamation claims, finding that she had either not met the burden in proving the claims or that the comments made against her by the Church of Scientology were not likely to be taken literally by those who read them after they were shared in the public domain.

However, the judge also found the church cannot claim free-speech protection under the First Amendment for allegedly stalking and harassing Ms. Remini, as well as producers and staff members who worked on her podcast, “Scientology: Fair Game.”

The church had argued it had surveilled Ms. Remini in anticipation of her filing a lawsuit against them.

Church of Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw called the ruling “a resounding victory for the Church and free speech” in a statement to Courthouse News Sevice.

“The Church is entitled to its attorney fees and will be seeking them,” the spokesperson added.

‘Coordinated Campaign’ to Destroy

Ms. Remini, best known for her role as Carrie Heffernan in the 90s CBS sitcom “King of Queens,” was a member of the Church of Scientology for nearly 40 years until leaving in 2013.

Since her departure from the organization, the actress has become a vocal critic of Scientology, writing a memoir and hosting two seasons of the A&E docuseries, “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” which followed the actress and other high-level former Scientology executives and members, as they shared their stories of alleged abuse at the hands of the church once they parted ways.

In August 2023, Ms. Remini filed a lawsuit (pdf) against the religious movement and its leader, David Miscavige, for alleged stalking, harassment, and online attacks which she claimed took place over a decade in an attempt to “destroy” her after leaving the church.

“For the past ten years, Ms. Remini has been stalked, surveilled, harassed, threatened, intimidated, and, moreover, has been the victim of intentional malicious and fraudulent rumors via hundreds of Scientology-controlled and -coordinated social media accounts that exist solely to intimidate and spread misinformation,” the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit further argued the alleged stalking and harassment was part of a “coordinated campaign to follow long-held policy and destroy Ms. Remini.”

Statements ‘Could Only Be Deemed Parody’

“Defendants have caused Ms. Remini significant and ongoing economic harm and have forced her to endure a new but never-normal life in which Scientology’s surveillance, abuse, and lies are the punishing, inescapable, daily cost of exercising her First Amendment right and moral duty to speak out about Scientology’s conduct,” her lawsuit against the organization stated.

“Defendants have also incessantly harassed, threatened, intimidated, and embarrassed Ms. Remini’s family members, friends, colleagues, and business associates, causing her to lose personal relationships, business contracts, and other business opportunities,” the lawsuit added.

Lawyers working on behalf of Scientology had filed a motion to strike down most of Ms. Remini’s lawsuit under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which was enacted in 1992 and protects speech on matters that are in the public’s interest.

In that motion, the church’s legal team argued its members were simply responding to Ms. Remini’s public comments and allegations about the church.

Judge Hammock, in his ruling, said some of the comments made by the church—including sharing doctored photos of Ms. Remini shared online and branding her a “Nazi”—could only be deemed parody.

He also argued the plaintiff and defendant had at times provoked each other, prompting a response.

“By engaging in the back-and-forth, purposely public battle against each other, the parties have made the issue one of significant public interest,” the judge wrote.

Ms. Remini could not be reached for comment.

Carly Mayberry contributed to this report.