The Church of Scientology: A Latham & Watkins Client?
The law firm of Latham & Watkins has lots of things going for it: eye-popping profits, ample prestige, and a promise of no layoffs. What more could you ask for?
How about…. a powerful and glamorous client, with deep connections in Hollywood? Reported over at Radar Online:
Recently, Radar reported on Scientology’s short-lived attempt to beat its Guy Fawkes mask-clad antagonists “Anonymous” at their own game: scary YouTube videos. A clip posted by a Sciento associate under the name “AnonymousFacts” displayed the names and personal information of several supposed Anonymous members and accused the group of violent threats and terrorism. YouTube quickly took the video down and suspended AnonymousFacts. But the hassle for at least one of the three men shown didn’t end there.A little more than a week ago, Jonathan (he asked his last name not be repeated again), who’d joined a Facebook group called “I Support Anonymous” and attended their protests, answered a knock at the door of his parents’ L.A.-area home, where he lives while attending community college. A mustachioed man in a suit and claiming to be from the law firm of Latham and Watkins was holding a “file” and asked to speak to Jonathan’s parents by name, he recently told Radar. He told the mystery man his parents weren’t available and offered to take the package for them. “No,” the man said. “I can’t legally give this to you.” Jonathan shrugged and told him to come back later. That’s when things got weird.
Later a friend of the family came over and said Mr. Mustachio was hanging out in front of the house and had asked her if she was Jonathan’s mom. When she said no, he waited until Jonathan’s parents did arrive, then handed them the file and said, “This is a courtesy letter. No charges are being filed yet. But your son may be involved in terrorist activity.” And then he left. Inside the package was a letter accusing Jonathan of terrorism and a DVD copy of the YouTube video, he says.
Sounds like a pretty fun assignment for a junior associate — anything to get out of the office. But the “Church” denies this ever happened:
A Church of Scientology spokesperson says the group does employ various lawyers across the country to deal with what she tells Radar are “acts of violence, terrorism, and death threats,” but adds, “It is not true that lawyers from any firm representing the Church have visited anyone. If anyone is suggesting otherwise, that is false.”
We’ve contacted Latham for comment. We’ll let you know if and when we hear back from them.
Update: We have our doubts about the firm’s involvement. Writes a commenter:
It is highly unlikely that the person hounding this kid is actually from Latham. Scientologists have a policy (called the “Fair Game” policy) that allows them to lie, cheat, impersonate, physically threaten/assault, etc. if it will further the aims of the “church”. Although that policy was ostensibly cancelled at some point (in name only), scientologists continue to live by it in practice. It’s pretty much guaranteed that the man with the file was not from Latham but was instead a scientology poser.Seriously—would an associate from Latham actually serve papers on anyone? F**k, no. We use process servers!!
We feel bad for Latham. Some imposter is going around making it look like they represent the Church of Scientology. And their lawyers have mustaches.
Further Update: Or maybe Latham DOES represent the Church of Scientology? See here. (Gavel bang: commenter.)
We have reiterated our inquiry to Latham concerning whether or not the firm represents the Church of Scientology. We’ll let you know what we find out. (They did not respond to an earlier request for comment on this subject.)
Final Update: Read more in this update.
‘Anonymous’ Kid Outed by Scientologists Gets House Call [Fresh Intelligence: Radar Online]
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Comments
jeremiah wright - a Latham client as well??
Rising quickly on my most disfavored religion list.
Latham & Watkins to OT VII!
You'd think the cult of Scientology would go for a law firm with an equally cutlish culture -- Quinn, maybe Skadden.
I can finally say what I've been saying in the comments for months, and have it make nominally more sense than before.
...
Xenu is displeased.
Next they'll call on Cravath or S&C to make clients' problems 'disappear.'
I hope that if there as any wrongdoing by the firm, that the bar association takes the appropriate actions against those involved. I didn't understand why the scientology protestors were going to great lengths to protect their identity. If this actually happened, it is despicable.
2:14--nice! If you weren't so clearly out ethics, I would definitely like to mock up a 2D with you.
So now Latham is the Schmuck-o-tology stooge du jour?
Prestige, indeed.
So now Latham is the Schmuck-o-tology stooge du jour?
Prestige, indeed.
2:15: they were (they are mostly "Anonymous", after all) -- this time, however, one was IDed with the above results.
More on the bar association front. There has been some suggestion that Latham is violating bar rules:
http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/8751/bar2sy9.jpg
How long before Lat gets harassed by Scientology goons?
It is highly unlikely that the person hounding this kid is actually from Latham. Scientologists have a policy (called the "Fair Game" policy) that allows them to lie, cheat, impersonate, physically threaten/assault, etc. if it will further the aims of the "church". Although that policy was ostensibly cancelled at some point (in name only), scientologists continue to live by it in practice. It's pretty much guaranteed that the man with the file was not from Latham but was instead a scientology poser. Seriously--would an associate from Latham actually serve papers on anyone? Fuck, no. We use process servers!!
Mustachio is most likely a poser. I think the real question is whether or not it's a good or bad thing that a scientology goon would choose L&W, of all firms, as his cover.
Heh. I love watching the fools at CoS shoot themselves in the foot. My experience litigating against CoS found them full of bluster & braggadocio. Lots of threats, lots of words. Logic & smarts, not so much. Nice to see they haven't changed.
Hmm... wonder if any of those anonymous people are in Boston? I've been kind of spoiling for a knock-down fight.
-- ET!
(who was going to say that CoS went down in my case like a high school prom queen, but who really doesn't want jack-booted thetans kicking down his door)
Next...
Latham sues church of scientology. :)
i can't believe you're not all over the fishman story.
"Seriously--would an associate from Latham actually serve papers on anyone? Fuck, no. We use process servers!!"
Look up the difference between service of process and "courtesy letters."
This was clearly meant to threaten the kid, not to give him fair notice of an upcoming lawsuit.
I'm not seeing this on Facebook. Did it get taken down or is this story inaccurate?
Cash Money Millionaire's Clique to 190!!!
Whenever I see the word "mustachioed" I picture someone with a big fluffy mustache and a bowler hat, which made this story much funnier.
I seem to recall that the firm does do some work for the COS -- tax work, I think. When I was there, I remembered seeing a C/M number for the COS.
This is absolute nonsense. Come on Lat, how about some real news, or at least something interesting based on more than the unsubstantiated story of "Jonathon". No legit lawfirm, much less Latham, would ever send an associate to someone's house in this fashion.
Lat, I expect very little from this site, but this "story" doesn't even all most live up to it.
meant "almost." sorry - quite drunk right now
"You'd think the cult of Scientology would go for a law firm with an equally cutlish culture -- Quinn, maybe Skadden."
Skadden would be good. I believe Fred T. Goldberg is there now. Used to be with LW and was involved with the shady IRS deal.
Note that the man never claimed to be a lawyer from LW, he just said he was FROM LW. The scilon spokesperson said that NO LAWYER had ever been sent. Those scilons are slippery suckers.
Latham definitely appears to be representing Xenu et al:
http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=document0001uu1.jpg
I'm going to take a stab and say this is unprestigious.
"Hmm... wonder if any of those anonymous people are in Boston? I've been kind of spoiling for a knock-down fight." <<< Yes, and YES!!!
tom cruise and i: both short, both gay [TOM - KIDDING]. so i guess it was inevitable we'd have this in common too.
This case (and others like it) are being discussed at enturbulation.org There are few self-professed law types in there trying to guide the herd of cats (anonymous) that are busy on gathering data from online research. Further guidance would be much appreciated.
@2:59
a testament to prestife for sure.
The other lawyer group that seems to be doing a bit of Sci-friendly stuff are "Pope Bokor, Ruppel & Burn. LLP"
They were named on the batshit-insane injunction against anonymous which can be read here
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/12/images/Scientologyinjunction.pdf
The injunction reads like the ramblings of an unmedicated paranoid.
The other lawyer group that seems to be doing a bit of Sci-friendly stuff are "Pope Bokor, Ruppel & Burn. LLP"
They were named on the totally insane injunction against anonymous which can be read here
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/12/images/Scientologyinjunction.pdf
The injunction reads like the ramblings of an unmedicated paranoid.
its great to see lawyers saying this is fishy as much as people on enturb are. Its being heavily thrown around that this is a breach of bar law.
There certainly is Scientology action in Boston. In fact, an Anonymous protestor is being summoned on a criminal complaint for trespass and criminal harassment because he stood on the steps of the church and left before being asked to leave. The church has a nasty habit of using the legal system to harass critics, and this guy had the bad luck of being the one to apply for the protest permit this month.
They knew his name, so he became a target. The story's here: http://forums.enturbulation.org/showthread.php?t=6240
There certainly is Scientology action in Boston. In fact, an Anonymous protestor is being summoned on a criminal complaint for trespass and criminal harassment because he stood on the steps of the church and left before being asked to leave. The church has a nasty habit of using the legal system to harass critics, and this guy had the bad luck of being the one to apply for the protest permit this month.
They knew his name, so he became a target. The story's here: http://forums.enturbulation.org/showthread.php?t=6240
Actually the Church of Scientology's primary outside counsel is Rabinowitz Boudin, whose other big client is the government of Cuba. Strange bedfellows, indeed.
http://www.rbskl.com
what is this you Anonymous people speak, is that english? What is a scilon/enturb? I want to read more about mustaches!
Scilon = Scientology Member
Enturb = Enturbulation.org - One of the planning areas for people.
Anonymous are just people doing what they can, because they know its right.
"Scilon" is Anonymous' affectionate pet name for Scientologists. "Enturbulation" is a word L.Ron Hubbard made up that is used by scilons to describe the sensation of getting f'd with. It is also the name of a website Anonymous people discuss the scilons on ("enterb" for short). The Guy Falks masks Anonymous wears to conceal thier identies have mustaches on them!
this happened to me too... My letter SAYS "Church of Scientology" right on it! How can they say they aren't associated?
L. Ron Hubbard is the final cylon.
GREAT! Here I am reading about some lawyers dissing one of the larger firms and then someoen ruins season four of Battlestar Galactica for me before it even starts.
Maybe this Anonymous versus L Ron Hubbard campaign was just an elaborate sci fi channel viral marketing piece gone awry.
the lawyer from boston? there is an anon that's been arrested.
if you're willing to represent this young man? could you go to www.enturbulation.org and register and leave a message in the thread about him? it'll be the threads about gregg.
thanks,
AnonMomAnon
They should keep a camera phone on them, take a picture of suspicious people who accost or harrass them, and if need be post it on the web.
B O S T O N ___ L A W Y E R
Yes, there has been an anonymous served in Bostom for Harrasment and Criminal Trespass. He has video evidence that completely refutes these claims.
The only thing this guy did was get the permits for the 2/10 and 3/15 protests; that's how Scientolgoy got his name. They've filed serveral criminal complaints against him and all were refused, except this last one they finally let it go through. Please read this thread:
http://forums.enturbulation.org/showthread.php?t=6240
You will be doing a good, moral thing if you can help him out. Thanks!
5:45 :
THIS STORY IS NOT FAKE.
http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=document0001uu1.jpg
http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=document0002fk4.jpg
People really HAVE been given these notices. I can't say if they actually came from the law firm or if they were faked, but these really have been delivered to several anonymous now.
It would be interesting to get a comment from Latham as to their authenticity.
Wow: Lat, 11:58's links showed this story has legs. You should update with links to the pics -- it seems L&W **does** represent Xenu.
I have seen one of these letters in person, and would verify what others have said above. They most certainly are representing Scientology, and are sending these letters out to any name they can get their hands on they think is associated with Anonymous.
Hell, when they tried to stop the protests one of the people they named as a member of the 'terrorist organisation anonymous' was just a girl that was working in the local cafe that day, and hed her licence plate run.
Scientology is a master of intimidation, and of bullying critics into silence. They hope to make examples of those who stood up and were named by applying for protest permits.
They have built an empire on litigation, be it of the IRS to get tax exemptions no other churches in the US have or simple peaceful protesters. They get away with it because people simply dont know its happening.
You might enjoy this image: [img]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/sadhu77/1Anon3-1.jpg[/img]
The lawyer from L&W that sent the letter (David J. Schindler) apparently is also the former LA AUSA that convicted Kevin Mitnick.
Profile here:
http://www.lw.com/Attorneys.aspx?page=AttorneyBio&attno=01745
He's got experience going after computer-folks.
Of note here is that the people who were sent threatening legal letters were people who had their plate numbers run. However. From what we can see, law requires that if a civilian look up a plate number, the person being looked up must be informed that they are being looked up. Organisations don't have to, however, they have strict guidelines about abuse of this power. Do law firms have this ability to run plates without informing people? Halp lawyers!
Hi all, and thanks for the information. Our Boston friend can, if he wants, contact me at my username at yahoo. Actually, this sounds like something one of my friends over at the ACLU might be interested in too.
-- ET!
Jeepers Creepers. What is so wrong if L&W does represent the Church of Scientology?
Numerous references describe David Schindler of LW as a "Scientology attorney." See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_Slatkin
Jeepers Creepers Kern, been living under a rock? I know I wouldn't want to be associated.
My understanding is that Latham isn't the only prestige shop that may have Scientology ties. Williams and Connoly does too, through its partner William Feffer
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion.scientology/browse_thread/thread/9e5c12392ba0ffc9
http://www.wc.com/attorney.cfm?attorney_id=122
If you look around the net, you'll find some really odd stuff on this.
http://forums.enturbulation.org/showpost.php?p=119201&postcount=119
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6106/combinedletterzj5.jpg
http://img358.imageshack.us/my.php?image=barjournalthreatenjy5.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2734/cornellth9.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/8486/bar2sy9rp7.jpg
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4912/backtb9.png
hey, let's see how long it takes L&W to reply to this in the morning. It took less than 30 min for an official release on the fishman controversy.
Two letter recipients now claim to have spoken with Latham & Watkins via telephone. Both Confirm it is legit.
http://forums.enturbulation.org/showpost.php?p=119796&postcount=98
i sure do want to hear what L&W have to say about this matter. is this what you got into law for? to facilitate criminals in suppressing free speech? this is over the top.
What a surprise. Great PR guys.
I worked in the legal department of a large ISP back when I was in law school. I used to deal with these jokers (the scientologists, I mean, not LW) all the time. Invariably, there was a website or posting critical of the COS that they wanted removed. Their counsel of record was a firm called Moxin & Kobrin. They appeared to be a small firm, with one client: COS. They may have even been in house - I mentioned the word "Xenu" on a telephone call with them once (I had no idea what it meant, and was trying to figure out what was defamatory on the website they were upset about) and the attorney got a bit rattled & taken aback when I said it. She asked me to "please not use that word."
And if you're interested, fish around for "Operation Clambake." They shouldn't be too hard to find, and are one of the more comprehensive anti-COS sites out there.
Finally, it would seem to me that this would be a textbook case for a SLAPP suit (at least in Cali). Any 1st Amendment types care to weigh in on that?
8:40 - Do you REALLY not see the problem for a large, supposedly reputable firm to send threat letters on behalf of a cult to people who attended a registered protest, after looking up those people's license plates?
REALLY?
here's some more info from radaronline. i would love to hear what LW have to say about using threatening letters to silence free speech. has abovethelaw done any follow-up on this situation?
http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/03/anonymous-scientology-legal-letters-gregg-latham-watkins.php
So, David J. Schindler is the lawyer resposible for sending out these letters? I wonder who else is on "Schindler's list?"
any updates on this?