Welcome to "SMACKDOWN ON THE BENCH!"
Tonight's bout features, for the State of Florida, retired Judge Beach. For the Feds, Federal Judge Merryday, whose bench power is twice that of Judge Beach.
Judge Beach, at the behest of Scientology, tried to impose an injunction which would prohibit attorney Kennan Dandar from representing his client, whose son Kyle committed suicide while under the care of his Scientologist father.
Unfortunately for Judge Beach, this case is a federal one. He holds no jurisdiction over federal court. So let the games begin!
It started with the tragic death of Kyle Brennan, a young man who was being treated for depression and under psychiatric care with his mother's support.
According to the lawsuit, Kyle went to Tampa to visit his Scientologist father, Tom Brennan. While there, Kyle was deprived of his medication by his father, who locked them in the glove box of his truck. He allegedly consulted fellow Scientologists before confiscating Kyle's pills. The three planned to sign Kyle in to a Narconon facility, a Scientology-style detoxification program involving saunas, "touch assists," toxic vitamin doses and plenty of study from Scientology volumes.
Kyle was subsequently left home alone with access to a loaded handgun and committed suicide in his father's house.
In February, 2009, the St. Petersburg Times reported that Kyle Brennan's mother, Victoria Britton, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Church of Scientology, their Flag Service Organization, and three individuals; father Tom Brennan, Denise and Gerald Gentile. (Denise Miscavige Gentile is current Scientology leader David Miscavige's twin sister)
http://www.tampabay.com/...
After his son's death, Tom Brennan fled to the west coast, where he attracted attention with his handyman services offer on craigslist San Diego. He was subsequently served.
Victoria Britton chose well when she hired attorney Ken Dandar. He is well-experienced with Scientology court tactics, having represented the plaintiff in another wrongful death case, that of Lisa McPherson.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Part of the settlement agreement was that Mr. Dandar would never again represent a client against the Scientology organization.
He is now representing another client who is suing Scientology, but in Federal court. That didn't stop Judge Beach from overstepping his authority to demand Dandar withdraw from the case. Mr. Dandar tried to comply, but the federal court denied his request, stating that he was obligated in the best interest of his client. The client had written to the court, stating how difficult it would be to find another lawyer, as most of them decline the case when they hear Scientology is involved.
Judge Beach then smacked Mr. Dandar with a jaw-dropping punitive fine. If he continued to represent Ms. Britton, Judge Beach would impose a $50,000 fine, and $1000 a day for every day he continued to represent his client.
http://www.tampabay.com/...
At this point in time, Scientology watchers worldwide were wondering how Beach could impose his state level authority over a federal case. The answer was not long in coming, when U. S. District Court Judge Stephen Merryday bench-slapped Judge Beach into last Tuesday, ruling that he had exceeded his authority and enjoined both Beach and Scientology entities from bringing this up again.
It is certain that this case is causing a bit of enturbulation over at Scientology headquarters. Scientology PR guy Peter Mansell offered an opinion piece published by the SP Times:
http://www2.tbo.com/...
In this self-serving piece, Mansell repeatedly denies any Scientology involvement,
The young man was never a Scientologist, never in the care of church members, never set foot inside a church property and tragically took his life when he was alone in a private residence.
Of course, he was staying with his Scientologist father in his house. Yes, it was a private residence, but what's that got to do with the price of beans?
Contrary to the claim of the Tribune that the father deprived his son of his "prescribed psychotropic medication," the undisputed record, supported by sworn testimony from law enforcement agents and others, shows the young man had stopped taking the medication by his own choice, for his own reasons (which had nothing to do with Scientology) and without any discussion or consultation with his father, before he ever arrived in Clearwater.
This is another red herring meant to divert your attention away from the issue of Scientology involvement. Kyle's mother says he was taking his medication when he went up to visit his father. The fact that Kyle had the pills with him gives the mother's account more weight. Who carries around pills they're not taking? And, whether he was taking his meds or not, what gives the Scientologists authority to confiscate them and lock them away?
Scientology beliefs spawn Scientology acts. They are virulently anti-"psych drug" to the point of rabidity. Combine that misguided certainty with an overweening sense of entitlement and authority, and their behavior becomes more understandable, if not acceptable.
In his order, Judge Merryday wrote, "A judge should not undertake, directly or indirectly, overtly or through a surrogate, to compel an act by another judge, especially in a different jurisdiction."
A judge also should not take legal advice from attorneys representing totalitarian cults, imo.