Report: Tom Cruise Named In $250M Lawsuit Against Church of Scientology

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Tom Cruise,Lawsuits,Courts,Celebrities
 
 

FIRST PUBLISHED: July 31, 2008 11:13 AM EDT
LAST UPDATED: July 31, 2008 12:44 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Tom Cruise has been named in a federal lawsuit against the Church of Scientology for $250 million dollars, Access Hollywood has learned.

Using the RICO statute, former Scientologist Peter Letteres filed a lawsuit in the Southern District Court in Florida on July 15 against the church alleging harassment, according to the New York Daily News’ Rush & Molloy gossip columnists.

Letterese reportedly calls the Church of Scientology a “crime syndicate” in the suit and wants it dismantled under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization law.

Tom Cruise is said to be the “right-hand man” of church head, David Miscavage, according to Letterese.

”[Miscavage is] aided and abetted by the actions of Tom Cruise, his right-hand man for foreign and domestic promotion, as well as for foreign and domestic lobbying. He has assisted the syndicate in acquiring funds and [made] his own donations of money believed to be in the multiple tens of millions of dollars,” Letterese reportedly alleges in the suit.

Cruise’s lawyer could not be reached for comment when contacted by The Daily News.

A rep for the Church of Scientology told the newspaper, “This is a frivolous suit based on falsehoods.”

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
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