JUDGE DISMISSES SCIENTOLOGY'S LIBEL SUIT AGAINST MAGAZINE - 1996-07-17
JUDGE DISMISSES SCIENTOLOGY'S LIBEL SUIT AGAINST MAGAZINE July 17, 1996,
A federal judge today dismissed a libel suit brought by the Church of Scientology International against Time magazine over a 1991 article that described Scientology as "a hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner."
U.S. District Judge Peter Leisure threw out the suit, which sought $416 million in damages for a cover story titled "Scientology: The Cult of Greed." Last year the court dismissed most of the case but heard new arguments on a remaining issue.
The article charged that Scientology, rather than being a bona fide religion, is organized for the purpose of making money by both legitimate and illegitimate means. It was written by then-Time staffer Richard Behar, who now works for Time Inc.'s Fortune magazine.
