Subject: NEW LAWSUIT: Church of Scientology of Los Angeles v. Ashcroft et al UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (Washington DC) Church of Scientology of Los Angeles v. Ashcroft et al PLAINTIFF: Church of Scientology of Los Angeles DEFENDANT: Garcia, Michael, Acting Commissioner, US Immigration and Naturalization Service, in His Official Capacity; Coultice, Dona, Service Center Director, California Service Center, US Immigration and Naturalization Service, in Her Official Capacity; Ashcroft, John D, Attorney General, US Immigration and Naturalization Service, in His Official Capacity DOCKET CASE NUMBER: 1:03cv231 FILING DATE: 2/ 12/2003 JURISDICTION: U.S. Government Defendant JUDGE: Leon, Richard J NATURE OF SUIT: 890 Other Statutory Actions FILING TYPE: Civil CAUSE: Personal Injury 28 USC 1391 JURY DEMAND: None PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY(S): Oswald, Robert L [COR LD NTC] Noto & Oswald, PC 1850 M Street, NW Suite 920 Washington, DC, USA 20036-5830 (202) 331-2883 Fax : (202) 261-2835 Attorney to be Noticed Lead Attorney Best wishes, Andreas Heldal-Lund # home.online.no/~heldal # www.xenu.net --------------------------------------------------------------- "I started thinking, and I got carried away." - Dan Garvin when asked how he got free from Scientology --------------------------------------------------------------- From: ptsc Message-ID: Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:45:18 GMT I'll see if it gets out normally and web it if it hasn't propagated well on abs. For now, here's a rough (but probably pretty accurate) OCR of the contents. Anyone who wants can clean it up a bit. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF ) LOS ANGELES ) 4810 Sunset Boulevar ) Los Angeles, California 90027 ) ) Plaintiff ) V ) JOHN D. ASHCROFT, ) ATTORNEY GENERAL, ) U. S. IMMIGRATION AND ) NATURALIZATION SERVICE, IN HIS) OFFICIAL CAPACITY ) 425 Eye Street, NW ) Washington DC 20536 ) MICHAEL GARCIA, ) ACTING COMMISSIONER, ) U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, IN HIS) OFFICIAL CAPACITY ) 425 Eye Street, NW ) Washington DC 20536 ) DONA COULTICE, ) SERVICE CENTER DIRECTOR ) CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER ) U.S. IMMIGRATION AND ) NATURALIZATION SERVICE ) IN HER OFFICIAL CAPACITY ) 24000 Avila Road, 2nd Floor ) Laguna Niguel,California 92607) DEFENDANTS ) ) COMPLAINT FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS l. Plaintiff, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF LOS ANGELES, by and through the undersigned counsel,, files this FEB 1 2 2003 CASE NUMBER 1:03CV00231 JUDGE: Richard 3. Leon my, TYPE= General Civil DATE STAMP: 02/12/2003 Complaint for Mandamus seeking to compel the Defendants to adjudicate the Special Immigrant Religious Worker (1-360) petition they filed on behalf of Michael Pociej, a national of Poland. This petition was received by the California Service Center on July 26, 2001. JURISDICTION 2. This is a civil action, brought pursuant to 8 U.S.C. §1391 and 1361, to redress the rights, privileges, and immunities secured by Plaintiff, by which status jurisdiction is conferred, and to compel Defendants to perform a duty Defendants owe to the Plaintiff. VENUE 3. Venue is proper in this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(e), in that this is an action against officers of the United States in their official capacities, brought in the District where a Defendant John Ashcroft resides and where the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization conducts business. PARTIES 4. Plaintiff CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF LOS ANGELES is a religious corporation under the laws of the State of California. It is a subordinate organization of the Church of Scientology International. i 5. Defendant JOHN D. ASHCROFT is the U.S. Attorney General and is delegated administration of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service ("INS"), the federal agency within the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for the lawful administration and implementation of the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA"):. 6. Defendant MICHAEL GARCIA is the Acting Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and is appointed by the President and delegated by the U.S. Attorney General, the responsibility of ensuring the lawful administration and implementation of the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA"). 7. Defendant DONA COULTICE is the District Director of the California Service Center of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and is charged by law with statutory obligation to adjudicate Plaintiff's Petition for Special Immigrant Religious Worker ("1-360 Petition"). EXHAUSTION OF REMEDIES 8. Plaintiff has exhausted their administrative remedies. Plaintiff, has, submitted all the necessary requirements and additional documentation requested by the Service. I FACTUAL-ALLEGATIONS 9. On October 8, 1996, a Warrant of Arrest was issued for Michael Pociej for not appearing at his scheduled Deportation Hearing. Mr. Pociej never received this Notice of Hearing hence, he was not aware that he was being summoned by the Immigration Court. (Exhibit 1.) 10. On May 16, 1997, Mr. Pociej's counsel filed for a Motion to Reopen and Stay of Deportation based no the fact that Mr. Pociej was never served the Hearing notice. (Exhibit 5.) 11. On June 24, 1997, the Immigration Judge granted Mr. Pociej's Motion to Reopen and issued a hearing notice for September 5, 1997. (Exhibit 7.) 12. On June 12, 1998, the INS California Service Center received the Special Immigrant Religious Worker (I--360) petition filed by the Church of Scientologists in Los Angeles on behalf of Michael Pociej (Exhibit 10.) 13. Approximately six months (i.e., January 8, 1998) after the INS, received the 1-360 petition, a follow up letter was sent by the undersigned counsel's office to follow up the status (Exhibit 13.) 14. A year after the INS received the 1-360 petition (i.e., July 8, 1999), another follow up letter was sent by the undersigned counsel's staff to follow up its status (Exhibit 15.) 15. A year and a half from when the INS received the 1-360 petition (i.e., January 7, 2000), another follow up letter was sent to the CSC by the undersigned counsel's staff following up its status (Exhibit 17.) 16. Meanwhile, the deportation proceedings has had scheduled hearings between July 28, 1997 until July 8, 1999 17. On November 26, 2000, the undersigned counsel submitted to the California Service Center by Federal Express additional documentation after receiving a "live person" response from the Center requesting for additional information. (Exhibit 22,) 18. On June 27, 2001, another follow up letter was sent to the California Service Center regarding the June 12, 1997 1-360 petition. This time, the Service Center replied by indicating on the same cover page that the petition was denied due to "abandonment". (Exhibit 26.) 19. Sometime after June 27, 2001, we received a letter from the California Service Center dated August 10, 2000 indicating that they have denied the I360 petition in question since the Petitioners never responded to the additional evidence requested by the Service. Please note that neither the Plaintiff nor the undersigned counsel receive any Request for additional evidence. 20. On July 26, 2001, the Plaintiff filed its 2nd Petition for Special Immigrant Religious Worker (1-360) on behalf of Michael Pociej. (Exhibit 27.) 21. On February 2, 2002, the undersigned counsel received a Notice of Action requiring additional documentation regarding the 1-360 immigrant petition filed by the Church of Scientologists of Los Angeles. (Exhibit 29.) 22. On May 9, 2002, the undersigned counsel submitted to the California Service Center its Response to the February 2, 2002 Notice of Action. (Exhibit 30.) 23. The Beneficiary of this 1-360 petition, Mr. Michael Pociej, is scheduled for a hearing before the Los Angeles Immigration Court on February 27, 2003 to deliberate what other form of relief is available to him. COUNT I MANDAMUS AS AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS28 U.S.C. 9 1361 24. Plaintiff incorporates the allegations contained in ¶ 9 through 21 as if alleged herein. 25. The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any action in the nature of mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the United States or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to the Plaintiff. 28 U.S.C. § 1361. 26. Defendants are charged by law with the duty of adjudicating Plaintiff's Special Immigrant Religious Worker (1-360) petition. 27. Further delay in the adjudication of the Plaintiff's petition is unnecessary and unreasonable, as the Plaintiff has provided the California Service Center all the documentation and information supporting its petition. 28. The Church of Scientology, Los Angeles suffered harm due to the INS' delay in adjudicating their petition. They need the services of Mr. Pociej and they cannot hire him unless they are given authority by the INS to commence the employment. COUNT II ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COURT COSTS Equal Access to Justice Act 28 U.S.C. 2412 (d) (1) (A) 29. Plaintiff incorporates the allegations contained in Paragraphs 9 through 21 as if alleged herein. 30. Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, a court shall award to a prevailing party other than the United states fees and other expenses, in addition to any costs awarded pursuant to subsection (a), incurred by that party in any civil action (other than cases sounding in tort), including proceedings for judicial review of agency action, brought by or against the United States in any court having jurisdiction of that action, unless the court finds that the position of the United States was substantially justified or that special circumstances make an award unjust. 28 U.S.C. 2412 (d) (1) (A) . 31. Upon the issuance of a writ of mandamus against one or all Defendants, the Church of Scientology, Los Angeles will be a "prevailing party" and will be entitled to recover attorney's fees and costs of this Court for this action. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays that this Court: Compel the Defendants to perform their duty to adjudicate Plaintiff's Petition for Special Immigrant Religious Worker (1-360) Award attorney's fees and costs of Court; and, Award such other and further relief that thisCourt deems proper under the circumstances. Respectfully submitted, Robert L. Oswald D.C. Bar 364446 Counsel for Plaintiff NOTO & OSWALD, PC 1850 M Street, NW, Suite 920 Washington DC 20036-5830 Tel (202) 331-2883 Fax: (202) 261-2835 ctorralba@noto-oswald.com CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY OF LOS ANGELES LIST OF EXHIBITS 1 10/08/96 Warrant of Arrest issued for Michael Pociej by the INS and order to Show Cause and Notice of Hearing 2 1/08/96 Order from IJ Harry L. Gastley Deporting Mr. Pociej for not appearing at the scheduled Deportation Hearing. 3 1/22/96 Notice of Country too which Deportation has been directed (Form 1-294) signed by the District Director 4 04/23/97 Bag and Baggage letter instructing Mr. Pociej that he should depart from the United States on May 19, 1997 from Los Angeles, California. 5 05/16/97 Respondent's counsel filed a Motion to Reopen and Stay of Deportation. 6 05/29/97 Government's Response to Motion filed by the Respondent's Counsel. 7 06/24/97 Motion to reopen granted (handwritten confirmation on upper right side of page) 8 07/28/97 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled form September 5, 1997 @8:30 am 9 03/09/98 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled on June 24, 1998 10 06/12/98 Copy of 1-360 Petition filed by the Church of Scientology, Los Angeles on behalf of Michael Pociej and subsequent Receipt Notice issued by the California Service Center. Please note that the Receipt Notice was dated June 12, 1998. 11 06/24/98 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled on September 25, 1998 12 09/25/98 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled on January 29, 1999 13 01/08/99 January 8, 1999 letter to the Western Service Center following up the status of the 1-360 14 01/29/99 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled for March 15, 2000 15 07/08/99 July 8, 1999 follow up letter to Western Service Center re: Plaintiff's 1-360 petition received by the Service Center on June 12, 1998 16 07/08/99 July 8, 1999 letter to the US Department of Labor following up status on Alien Labor Certification application filed on behalf of Mr. Pociej 17 01/07/00 January 7, 2000 letter to Victor Sanchez, Duty Officer at the California. Service Center sent by facsimile 18 02/23/00 transmission following up 1-360 petition received by the Service on June 12, 1998 February 23, 2000 follow up letter to the California Service Center re: 1-360 filed and received by the Center on June 12, 1998. 19 03/02/00 Undersigned counsel filed a Motion to Continue the March 16, 2000 hearing 20 08/02/00 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled on December 15, 2000 21 08/10/00 August 10, 2000 letter from the California Service Center denying the Special Immigrant Religious Worker (I- 360) petition filed by the Church of Scientology, Los Angeles on behalf of Michael Pociej. The Service Center cited the reason that the petitioner "abandoned" the petition since it did not respond to a Notice of Action. A copy of this letter never reached our office until after July of 2001. 22 11/16/00 November 16, 2000 letter to California Service Center wherein the undersigned counsel forwarded additional documents the INS requested in a rare person-to person response to the following up of the 1-360 petition. 23 11/17/00 Motion to Continue hearing scheduled for December 15, 2000 24 11/29/00 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled for July 27, 2001 25 12/29/00 Notice of Master Hearing scheduled for July 27, 2001 26 06/27/01 June 27, 2001 follow up on the 1-360 petition filed and received by the California Service Center on June 12, 1998. Same facsimile cover page came back indicating that the petition has been denied. 27 07/26/01 Copy of the 21 Special Immigrant Religious Worker (1-360) petition by the Church of Scientology, Los Angeles on behalf of Michael. Pociej dated July 17, 2,001 and subsequently received by the California Service Center on July 26, 2001. 28 07/27/01 Notice of individual Hearing scheduled for February 3, 2003. 29 02/21/02 February 21, 2002 Notice of Action - Request for Additional Documents by the California Service Center re: 1-360 petition they received on July 26, 2001. 30 05/09/02 Response to Notice of Action -- Liberty is better served by presenting a clear target to one's opponents than by joining with them in an insincere and useless brotherliness. -Benedetto Croce From: ptsc Message-ID: Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 04:02:00 GMT On Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:45:18 GMT, ptsc wrote: Here's the dude's spam page. Name: Michael Pociej URL: www.myhomepage.org/michaelpociej/index.htm Picture: None Myself: Hello, my name is Michael Pociej, and here is a little bit about myself: My name is Michael Pociej and I came to America from Poland to start a new life in 1989. I am married and have two children who are in Poland currently. I am self-employed as a handyman. In my spare time, I study Scientology. I am a Telecommunication Engineer and a swimming coach. One of my students attended the Olympic Games in Moscow which was a great win for me. Success: The first win I had in Scientology was when I delivered counseling to my friend on Dianetics and he had such huge wins from it I realized Ok, this is not a scam - it's for real. I then sat down and received the counseling and realized such huge realizations about my spirituality that I knew I had found what I had been looking for. This was it for me - I knew what I wanted and I started working very hard and reorganized my whole life towards learning more about this wonderful subject. I have been working and practicing Scientology ever since. The amazing part of this is I am a Russian and had to learn English - which I did - in order to learn Scientology which was in English. In over eight years in Scientology I see all the changes I have made for the better and how much more at cause I am in life.