Scientology Settles with Debbie Cook

[Terril park]

Where we live everyone catches their own water, kills their own meat and many aren't connected to power. Solar and batteries do most things with a back up generator. The big wattage thing is heating and cooking, so they have old fashioned wood stoves that heat the water through a "donkey". House heating is the same, with endless supplies of fire wood it's pretty cheap. If you go hard you can cut around 4 tonnes of good wood in a day.

Solar has come along in leaps and bounds. In the UK one gets subsidies that make it a great investment.

Mick majors on good conversation and Pizza. Sadly there are no trees there. :(

[LA SCN]

Where we live everyone catches their own water, kills their own meat and many aren't connected to power. Solar and batteries do most things with a back up generator. The big wattage thing is heating and cooking, so they have old fashioned wood stoves that heat the water through a "donkey". House heating is the same, with endless supplies of fire wood it's pretty cheap. If you go hard you can cut around 4 tonnes of good wood in a day.

Good stuff that. I once lived in a cold winter area and used wood heat exclusively. A thermostatically controlled damper wood stove gave excellent heat through the house - one time it hit 30 below outside yet it maintained 70 inside. Woodcutting got me out in the woods which I loved.

[Man de la Mancha]

Is it an established fact that Cook is getting money, or is this all just speculation?

[Ogsonofgroo]

Is it an established fact that Cook is getting money, or is this all just speculation?

It is not.

Yes it is.

Read the village voice article and comments from a couple of the legal-eagles, and following comments, it'll put things into good perspective with very little room for speculation.
My opinion.

[Lone Star]

Is it an established fact that Cook is getting money, or is this all just speculation?

Speculation. Although LA SCN has presented the best case in support of her getting money, I remain skeptical.

I think many don't want to believe that she didn't get paid off.

[Mark A. Baker]

Speculation. Although LA SCN has presented the best case in support of her getting money, I remain skeptical.

I think many don't want to believe that she didn't get paid off.

Agreed. Even if she did receive a cash payment I doubt very much that it would have gone much beyond her breaking even on the experience, if even so far as that. The talk of millions is pure marsh gas. She's lucky to be out of it.


Mark A. Baker

[Mimsey Borogrove]

He f**king kidnapped her! Imprisoned her! Physically abused her! That point keeps getting over looked - he could have done time in the slammer for that stunt. Ray made a big point of making sure that s**t got rubbed in Davie's nose. Between her statements in court, her statements to the papers, her interview on national TV, the list of "is licking floors part of Scientology religion" questions, Ray made quite sure Dave got the message: Drag this out and you can expect more "entheta". He paid. My bet is big time.

Mimsey

[Lone Star]

Ray made quite sure Dave got the message: Drag this out and you can expect more "entheta". He paid. My bet is big time.

Mimsey

Speculation. I'm sorry but that's the truth. Her testimony wasn't enough in and of itself to win the case. It wasn't guaranteed that anyone would corroborate her testimony. There was still a good chance that the judge would've ruled, "I'm sorry if you went through hell Ms. Cook, but I see a video of you calmly signing the agreement that you violated. Judgement goes to the plaintiff."

Ray did a good job of ending this quickly before it got potentially ugly for his client. Part of that strategy was having her testify about her experiences. It ended the first round of the fight. His role was not about making a stand against DM. His job was to represent his client. Period. Not to be a crusader for the Indys or the critics.

But, all said and done, the cult lost in the court of public opinion.

[Mark A. Baker]

He f**king kidnapped her! Imprisoned her! Physically abused her! That point keeps getting over looked - he could have done time in the slammer for that stunt. ...

Got evidence?

Didn't think so.

This was a civil trial NOT a criminal one. Criminal penalties weren't on the agenda and had nothing to do with the case. They require a higher standard of evidence.


Mark A. Baker

[Mimsey Borogrove]

You are missing the point - I know it is a civil trial, and unless she files a claim with the Riverside PD, it is moot. I also know the instant case is about the NDA and the alleged violation. However that may be, David has a serious PR problem if this case goes forward. It is in his best interest to make it go away. If you look at all of the steps Ray has taken, what he had her reveal in court, etc. etc. and think about why he did it, the answer becomes really obvious.

The point was never whether Ray could win the case of the NDA in court or not, it was doing a quick Tactical PR blitz to give Dave a taste of what he could expect if he went forward with the suit. Dave has big time image problems. What would happen if it went to court, after Ray tore into Dave's witnesses in depositions, with help from M&M to make sure his questions hit home and dug up a bunch of crap. Data on who is on the hole, how long, what sort of security she was under in FL, on and on - it is a PR nightmare.

As soon as Dave got the message, he unlocked his piggy bank. Just look at the obvious. Look at each of the steps Ray did and ask your self: Why did he do that? Why the quick media blitz that shut off almost as quickly as it started? Why release the "do you still beat your wife" questions to the VV? And, why those specific questions? What is their intent? Why release the bit about the surveillance of his offices? Why have her testify she was in a barrel of cold water while being abused? Why testify she was in a lock-down situation? Why have her testify she would have signed anything to get out of there? Why testify Wayne didn't take his check?

Each action he did for a reason. Every word she said he authorized. It wasn't for the hell of it. Why did he do them? Remember that old saw: Actions speak louder than words.

Sorry if I come across as antago - I have a hard time believing it isn't obvious what went down in Texas.

Mimsey