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Lawyer tells judge: 'Only Scientology law applies' - Tampabay.com
3 February 2012, 7:49 pm
By Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin, Times Staff Writers

CLEARWATER — The Church of Scientology, defending itself against a $35,000 refund claim, told a Pinellas judge Friday that the courts cannot meddle in its religious affairs.

Citing the First Amendment as it has in numerous court cases, the church told Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge John A. Schaefer that two former parishioners from Seattle must submit to an internal Scientology arbitration procedure to get any money back.

Bert Schippers and Lynne Hoverson, long-time Scientologists who left the church in 2009, sued two of the church's Clearwater entities in November after they requested their money back and didn't receive it.

As is common in Scientology, Schippers left the money "on account" with the church to pay later for spiritual counseling. But he never used it.

more at http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/lawyer-tells-judge-only-scientology-law-applies/1213941