Has BFG Lost His Case?

[masonj]

I found this link. IANAL but when I read this judgment, from the sound of it, it looks like BFG lost his case:

Marc Headley v. Church of Scientology International

[Dulloldfart]

IANAL either, but it seems to me that all he lost is the chance to have a big part of it decided in his favour without arguing the case back and forth in court (summary judgment).

Paul

[comgud]

I believe that's just a motion for a summary judgement that was denied. i.e. they won't skip the trial and just find CSI at fault. IANAL either tho'.

[Feral]

I found this link. IANAL but when I read this judgment, from the sound of it, it looks like BFG lost his case:

Marc Headley v. Church of Scientology International

I'm sure you know that it's going before a jury.

What do you think will happen to the human trafficking case when they hear the following;

That the cult illegally employs minors, enforces abortions at the rate of nearly 100 per year, has it's own gulag, keeps it's staff under guard behind razor wire and 'off loads' them when they become ill or infirmed, makes them work over 100 hours per week and if they leave gets them to sign one sided waivers that they will never mention any of the crimes that were committed against them as well as excommunicating them from their loved ones through the mechanism of SP declares. Then serves them with an enormous bill for the services they received?

For all that they get fed beans and rice and paid enough to buy the shampoo, razors and vitamins they need.

Do you really think BFG will lose when it gets to that point?....Or are you just trolling again?

This is the death knell for the abuse that the cult has perpetrated, soon, when all this comes out it will be the subject of endless documentaries and current affairs spots. Then surely main stream media will prick up their ears and follow every arrest and charge leveled at the church internationally with that they will feed the general public's hunger for news of bizarre, ritualized abuse.

The more the spotlight is shone on the cults abuses the more the public and official outrage will demand more action until it eats the Sea Org up, then it will be a sad joke like the Moonies and Jonestown.

So, take that back to your masters MasonJ and have them tell you it's all some ones deluded reality springing from their evil purposes or just another NCG failed case ranting, eh?.

[Iknowtoomuch]

The allegations are harsh to hear for someone that knows nothing about Scientology.
I pray they present the facts perfectly. Otherwise they will lose credibility fast.
Some of that will be tough to prove or even show.

[Lohan2008]

[QUOTE=masonj;307062] it looks like BFG lost his case: QUOTE]

The court ruled that BFG was not an employee, and NOT covered under Fair Labour Laws.... Marc can still press his claims for compensation.

FAIL, masonj.... RESTART !

[skollie]

I found this link. IANAL but when I read this judgment, from the sound of it, it looks like BFG lost his case:

Marc Headley v. Church of Scientology International

At the very bottom of the page:

Because the Court finds on this record, there are genuine issues of fact as to whether Golden Era's work constitutes "ordinary commercial activities", it need not assess the other issues raised by the parties in their briefing. Defendants motion to strike Headley's declaration is denied as moot.

[Megalomaniac]

Could anyone post the contents of this, for us Flash-challenged folks?

[Kha Khan]

Could anyone post the contents of this, for us Flash-challenged folks?

The Court Order (need PACER account to access link) is below::

Proceedings: (In Chambers) Order DENYING Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary
Adjudication of Facts and Conclusions of Law (Docket No. 14)

The Court deems this matter appropriate for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 78; Local Rule 7-15. The hearing set for September 28, 2009 is removed from the Court’s calendar. The stipulation to continue the hearing is denied as moot.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

In about 1989, Headley, who was still in high school, applied to join the Sea Org. (Defs.’ Statement of Genuine Issues at ¶ 74.) The Sea Org is a religious order of the Church of Scientology International (“CSI”) that requires its members to commit themselves to one billion years of service to the CSI. (Id. at ¶ 30.) On May 31, 1990, Headley signed the Sea Org’s covenant of religious commitment and started to work at Golden Era, a division of CSI that produces films, music, tapes, cassettes and CDs about the CSI. (Id. at ¶¶ 1, 51) Headley worked at Golden Era from 1990 until January 3, 2005 in a variety of different capacities. (Id. at ¶¶ 1, 86-105.) He alleges that he worked an average of 100 hours per week, and that CSI paid him an average of $0.39 per hour. (Id. at ¶19.) He also alleges that Golden Era was run with the intent to maximize profits. (Headley Supp. Decl. at ¶¶ 9-18.)

II. LEGAL STANDARDS

Summary judgment shall be granted where “the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). The moving party has the burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of fact for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256 (1986). Because the moving party has the burden of proof at trial, he must establish “beyond controversy every essential element” of his claim. So. Cal. Gas Co. v. City of Santa Ana, 336 F.3d 885, 888 (9th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks omitted) (adopting the district court’s opinion).

III. DISCUSSION

The Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) provides a variety of labor protections to covered “employees,” including minimum wage and overtime protections. See, generally, 29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq. The FLSA “reaches only the ‘ordinary commercial activities’ of religious organizations, 29 CFR § 779.214 (1984), and only those who engage in those activities in expectation of compensation.” Tony and Susan Alamo Found. v. Sec’y of Labor, 471 U.S. 290, 302 (1985) (“Alamo”). A church-run business that “serve[s] the general public in competition with ordinary commercial enterprises” is covered by the FLSA; otherwise church-run businesses would have an unfair competitive edge over their non-religious affiliated competitors. Id. at 299. Whether a church-run business is engaged in “ordinary commercial activities” is a factual issue. Id. at 298-99. The Parties agree the scope of the FLSA’s coverage for similarly situated workers is the same as California labor law.1 (Pl.’s Mot. at 14-16); (Defs.’ Opp. at 10-11.)

Plaintiff’s Motion fails because he has not established beyond controversy that Golden Era’s business activities constitute “ordinary commercial activities.” Although Plaintiff has put forward evidence that Golden Era had the intent to maximize profits, Plaintiff did not allege that any other business enterprise competes with Golden Era in the marketplace. Moreover, there is no evidence that Golden Era competes with other entities in disseminating multimedia products about the CSI. Cf. Alamo, 471 U.S. at 292 (finding FLSA covers employees who work at the service stations, retail clothing and grocery outlets, farms, construction companies, a record keeping company, a motel, and candy companies of a religious non-profit foundation). Without such evidence, Alamo’s rationale cannot be applied here. Plaintiff’s Motion fails.2

IV. CONCLUSION

The Court DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

*********************************
1 Plaintiff appears to backtrack from this agreement in his Reply, but -- as in his Motion – he relies on Bureerong v. Uvawas, 922 F. Supp. 1450 (C.D. Cal. 1996), to define the scope of California’s labor laws. (Pl.’s Reply at 4); see also Bureerong, 922 F. Supp. at 1470 (“the Court finds that the California courts would likely adopt the federal FLSA’s broad definition of ‘employment.’”). Moreover, Plaintiff does not cite to any authority suggesting that the scope of California’s labor laws is greater than federal labor law for people who are similarly situated. (Pl.’s Reply at 3-5.); Bldg. Material and Constr. Teamsters’ Union, Local 216 v. Farrell, 41 Cal. 3d 651, 658-59 (1986) (“Federal decisions have frequently guided our interpretation of state labor provisions” unless California’s state labor protections are more extensive in a particular area than federal law). Regardless, the Court “need not consider arguments raised for the first time in a reply brief.” Zamani v. Carnes, 491 F.3d 990, 997 (9th Cir. 2007).

2 Because the Court finds that, on this record, there are genuine issues of fact as to whether Golden Era’s work constitutes “ordinary commercial activities,” it need not assess the other issues raised by the parties in their briefing. Defendants’ motion to strike Headley’s declaration is denied as moot.

This does NOT mean that BFG lost his case. What it means is that his attempt to have a specific issue determined in his favor prior to trial was denied. As a result, as of now that issue and all other issues will be decided at a trial before a jury.

[Kha Khan]

Deleting accidental double post.