Scientology leader named defendant in suit - 1999-12-15

Scientology leader named defendant in suit December 15, 1999, Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times

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In a ruling Tuesday that stunned the Church of Scientology and its attorneys, a Hillsborough County judge allowed Scientology's worldwide leader, David Miscavige, to be named as a defendant in a lawsuit over the 1995 death of church member Lisa McPherson.

Miscavige's authority in Scientology is limited to ecclesiastical matters, according to church officials. But the lawsuit, filed by McPherson's family in 1997, has been amended to say that he "totally controls" and "micro-manages all of Scientology," and that his ecclesiastical role is part of an elaborate set-up to shield Scientology and its leaders from liability.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | first = Thomas C. | last = Tobin | title = Scientology leader named defendant in suit | url = http://www.sptimes.com/News/121599/TampaBay/Scientology_leader_na.shtml | work = St. Petersburg Times | date = December 15, 1999 | accessdate = January 14, 2017 }}