Over the weekend in mailed the following in slight variations to several newspapers in the US who carried the AP article. Sadly it was not picked up but I believe it contains information that should be known. So here goes:

Dear Sirs, this is in reference to an error in your article "Lawyer ordered to pay Church of Scientology for tactics in wrongful death suit" as published on August 20, 2003.

It is true that the jury awarded just $4,500 towards the Church of Scientology, but it has to be paid by the Estate of Lisa McPherson and not its lawyer Ken Dandar, as was erroneously printed. That amount is a fraction of the $50,000 wanted for legal bills by Scientology for a one hour hearing.

The millions wanted were punitive damages against both Ken Dandar and the law firm Dandar & Dandar P.A. In both instances Scientology asked 4 million dollars and they got zero. So too they wanted Dell Liebreich found to have tortiously interfered with the contract she as Personal Representative for the Estate of Lisa McPherson entered into with Scientology. That was not awarded as well.

If the Estate offered to settle for more than $4,500 and the court file does reflect that an offer was made and not accepted, the Church of Scientology will now have to pay the Estate, Dell Leibreich and Ken Dandar all of their attorney fees and costs for four years of vexatious litigation which could run close to a million dollars.

Regards,
Mike Gormez
Hogeweg 11-I
1098BV AMSTERDAM
The Netherlands

Phone: +31-628795690