Monique Rathbun in court as appeals panel considers proposed David Miscavige deposition - 2014-04-09

Monique Rathbun in court as appeals panel considers proposed David Miscavige deposition April 9, 2014, Tony Ortega, Underground Bunker

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Monique Rathbun's harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, moves to a new venue today as oral arguments are heard at the Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin.

We'll have several observers on hand as the proceedings begin at 1:30 pm, local time. At issue today is Comal County Judge Dib Waldrip's decision that Monique Rathbun should get to depose Miscavige for jurisdictional reasons (Miscavige is arguing that he shouldn't be a party to the lawsuit because, he claims, he does no business in Texas and had nothing to do with Scientology's surveillance of Monique and her husband Marty Rathbun over the last several years).

In December, Waldrip decided that Miscavige could be questioned about his connection to the surveillance of the Rathbuns and his connection to Texas. But Scientology petitioned the Third Court of Appeals for a writ of mandamus, arguing that Waldrip abused his discretion when he made that decision. Monique's lawyers fired back that Scientology is trying to confuse the court with arguments about religion and free speech, when this is a case about harassment — harassment the Rathbuns believe Miscavige personally oversaw.

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{{cite news | author = Tony Ortega | title = Monique Rathbun in court as appeals panel considers proposed David Miscavige deposition | url = https://tonyortega.org/2014/04/09/monique-rathbun-in-court-as-appeals-court-considers-proposed-david-miscavige-deposition/ | work = Underground Bunker | date = April 9, 2014 | accessdate = August 21, 2017 }}