What’s it like to try and serve Scientology leader David Miscavige with a lawsuit? We now have a pretty good idea.Back in May, the National Association of Forensic Counselors filed a lawsuit against 82 defendants, including Miscavige, as well as various entities and people associated with Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon.The lawsuit accuses Scientology of conspiring to misuse the NAFC’s logo and trademarks in order to make Narconon appear more legitimate than it is, and ultimately to draw more people into Scientology itself.
Wasn’t it just yesterday we made the point that Scientology is incapable of evolving into a more benign form?For you connoisseurs of classic Scientology legal chicanery, you’re going to love the full body and complex flavors of this vintage.Yesterday, the National Association of Forensic Counselors filed a pointed response to Scientology leader David Miscavige’s motion to dismiss himself from the NAFC’s massive 82-defendant federal lawsuit against the church and its drug rehab network, Narconon.As we told you earlier, Miscavige’s motion had been written by one of Scientology’s most colorful legal voices, Jeffrey K. Riffer, who made a name for himself writing bombastic, over-the-top letters to Vanity Fair and CNN in which he made his client, Miscavige, sound more holy than the saints in heaven. And the motion also contained a smeary attack on the NAFC’s president, Karla Taylor, which we expected NAFC attorney David Keesling to answer rather forcefully.He did do that, but in his response, Keesling also referred to a stunning new development: On October 6, Clark Carr, the president of Narconon International (pictured above and characterized as a “Miscavige lackey” by Keesling), quietly filed a class action lawsuit against the NAFC and Taylor in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming fraud and alleging that his fellow (unnamed) victims number in the untold hundreds.
Funny Narconon would cite the Pennsylvania case.16. In 2002, the state of Pennsylvania denied the petition of Taylor and 5 Deisler to be recognized to certify drug and alcohol counselors. Most importantly, they 6 falsely stated that NAFC certificates were recognized by the state of California.From http://caselaw.findlaw.com/pa-commonwealth-court/1163422.htmlDr. Deisler further testified that Petitioner is approved in the States of California, Oregon, Washington and Alabama as a certifying body for alcohol and drug abuse counselors. In addition, Petitioner certifies the drug abuse counselors in the United States Army and is the only certification body for the United States Coast Guard's family advocacy program for addictions counselors and domestic violence. Petitioner also certifies the Federal Bureau of Probation and Parole and a number of other State probation and parole departments. Dr. Deisler also noted that the State of Indiana, which is where Petitioner is based, recognized Petitioner for the purposes of “grandfathering” in the licenses of mental health counselors.
David Keesling tells us there’s a fascinating bit of sleight of hand going on here. He says that Carr is mischaracterizing the NAFC’s status in California — though Keesling did acknowledge that the NAFC fell off of a particular list of recommended credentialing organizations assembled by the state. The reason? Because of the NAFC’s association with Scientology.Many of our readers will be familiar with Nanette Asimov’s epic 2004 series about Narconon in the San Francisco Chronicle which motivated the state of California to take a hard look at the drug rehab network. The state didn’t like what it saw, and as a result, the NAFC was dropped from a list of approved organizations. Here, we’ll let Keesling give a more complete version of it in a statement he sent us yesterday…Quote In 2005, the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (CA ADP) adopted regulations mandating certain requirements for alcohol and other drug addiction counselors (AODA). Included in these regulations was a list of certifying bodies that were approved by the CA ADP for AODA counselor certification in the State of California. Prior to the adoption of these regulations, the CA ADP did not “recognize” or “approve” any certifying body; however, they maintained a “Directory of Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Certifying Organizations” which stated, in part, “California does not regulate the credentialing or certification of treatment and recovery counselors, nor does it accredit organizations that provide certification services…However, the AOD field has developed a variety of private sector counselor credentialing and certifying organizations in order to meet the need for specialized counselors …You are encouraged to contact these organizations to obtain additional information regarding their certification requirements and services.” The NAFC and the NBAE were included in this Directory. In January of 2005, the California Department of Education released a report on the Narconon Drug Abuse Prevention Program (NDAP) conducted by the California Healthy Kids Resource Center. The NDAP was found to be “inaccurate,” contained “misleading drug-related information,” and “does not reflect accurate, widely accepted medical and scientific evidence…” Consequently, it was found that the NDAP was not appropriate and should not be presented to students in the California school system. Contained within the NADP High School Curriculum were the following false statements regarding the credentialing of Narconon presenters by the NAFC/NBAE: • Why Narconon Drug Education in Our Schools?…Use of Trained Certified Chemical Dependency Counselors with Years of Experience Working with High School Student. • Most of the Narconon presenters have a wealth of experience:…have worked professionally in the drug rehab field and are CCDCs (Certified Chemical Dependency Counselors) Within a few months of this report on the NDAP, the NAFC was excluded from the opportunity to be included on the new list of approved certifying bodies. The NAFC was not even given the opportunity to apply for inclusion on this new list developed for the newly adopted regulations, even though the NAFC had been previously included in the California Directory and met and/or exceeded the new requirements for approval of certifying organizations.So, here’s the upshot. Keesling is saying that it was its association with Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon, that got the NAFC caught up in a bureaucratic roadblock in California. But now the president of Scientology’s Narconon International is suing the NAFC, claiming that the NAFC’s complications with California are an example of the NAFC’s fraud. Do you see the circularity of that?Keesling tells us that yesterday, he had Carr’s class action lawsuit removed to federal court, and he says he’s confident that the NAFC will succeed in getting it dismissed.
In 2005, the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (CA ADP) adopted regulations mandating certain requirements for alcohol and other drug addiction counselors (AODA). Included in these regulations was a list of certifying bodies that were approved by the CA ADP for AODA counselor certification in the State of California. Prior to the adoption of these regulations, the CA ADP did not “recognize” or “approve” any certifying body; however, they maintained a “Directory of Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor Certifying Organizations” which stated, in part, “California does not regulate the credentialing or certification of treatment and recovery counselors, nor does it accredit organizations that provide certification services…However, the AOD field has developed a variety of private sector counselor credentialing and certifying organizations in order to meet the need for specialized counselors …You are encouraged to contact these organizations to obtain additional information regarding their certification requirements and services.” The NAFC and the NBAE were included in this Directory. In January of 2005, the California Department of Education released a report on the Narconon Drug Abuse Prevention Program (NDAP) conducted by the California Healthy Kids Resource Center. The NDAP was found to be “inaccurate,” contained “misleading drug-related information,” and “does not reflect accurate, widely accepted medical and scientific evidence…” Consequently, it was found that the NDAP was not appropriate and should not be presented to students in the California school system. Contained within the NADP High School Curriculum were the following false statements regarding the credentialing of Narconon presenters by the NAFC/NBAE: • Why Narconon Drug Education in Our Schools?…Use of Trained Certified Chemical Dependency Counselors with Years of Experience Working with High School Student. • Most of the Narconon presenters have a wealth of experience:…have worked professionally in the drug rehab field and are CCDCs (Certified Chemical Dependency Counselors) Within a few months of this report on the NDAP, the NAFC was excluded from the opportunity to be included on the new list of approved certifying bodies. The NAFC was not even given the opportunity to apply for inclusion on this new list developed for the newly adopted regulations, even though the NAFC had been previously included in the California Directory and met and/or exceeded the new requirements for approval of certifying organizations.
LANSING — A repeat rapist who lied on his state application has been a licensed psychologist in Michigan for more than 20 years, the State of Michigan says in a complaint laying the groundwork to remove his license.Francis John Deisler, who is based in Indiana but has also worked in Michigan under a limited license, has convictions for rape in Wisconsin in 1973 and 1974, plus a 1973 conviction for armed robbery and multiple 1974 convictions for burglary and attempted burglary, according to an administrative complaint filed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on May 7.In his 1993 application for a Michigan psychologist's license, Deisler, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, said he had never been convicted of a crime and provided an inaccurate birth date and social security number, the complaint alleges.Deisler could not be reached for comment, but an attorney representing an association Deisler founded said Deisler has always presented himself as a product of rehabilitation and has not tried to hide his criminal past.
I sent the reporter a little email.:-)
Michigan seeks to pull rapist's psychologist license - Detroit Free PressBy Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press May 27, 2015QuoteLANSING — A repeat rapist who lied on his state application has been a licensed psychologist in Michigan for more than 20 years, the State of Michigan says in a complaint laying the groundwork to remove his license.Francis John Deisler, who is based in Indiana but has also worked in Michigan under a limited license, has convictions for rape in Wisconsin in 1973 and 1974, plus a 1973 conviction for armed robbery and multiple 1974 convictions for burglary and attempted burglary, according to an administrative complaint filed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on May 7.In his 1993 application for a Michigan psychologist's license, Deisler, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, said he had never been convicted of a crime and provided an inaccurate birth date and social security number, the complaint alleges.Deisler could not be reached for comment, but an attorney representing an association Deisler founded said Deisler has always presented himself as a product of rehabilitation and has not tried to hide his criminal past.more at http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/05/27/repeat-rapist-held-michigan-psychologist-license-years/28004433/
Francis Deisler came to Wisconsin in the early 1970s with a lengthy criminal résumé but a chance at a fresh start, having helped authorities bust New York mobsters.But Deisler soon returned to crime.He raped several women while their husbands were at work. He robbed a Milwaukee bank and burglarized homes. And he kidnapped and raped a 14-year-old girl.Deisler was convicted and spent a decade behind bars. He got out and became a licensed social worker and therapist in Wisconsin and two other states, specializing in treating addicts and sex offenders. After moving to Indiana, he launched several social service businesses and founded a national social worker training and accreditation organization.
Unfortunately, there is more:A Journal Sentinel Watchdog ReportSocial worker obtained state licenses despite criminal past - Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal SentinalBy John Diedrich and Cary Spivak of the Journal Sentinel June 13, 2015QuoteFrancis Deisler came to Wisconsin in the early 1970s with a lengthy criminal résumé but a chance at a fresh start, having helped authorities bust New York mobsters.But Deisler soon returned to crime.He raped several women while their husbands were at work. He robbed a Milwaukee bank and burglarized homes. And he kidnapped and raped a 14-year-old girl.Deisler was convicted and spent a decade behind bars. He got out and became a licensed social worker and therapist in Wisconsin and two other states, specializing in treating addicts and sex offenders. After moving to Indiana, he launched several social service businesses and founded a national social worker training and accreditation organization.More at http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/social-worker-obtained-state-licenses-despite-criminal-past-b99512228z1-307274191.html
I'm sure someone from the "church" fed them the news story.
Michigan now does background checks on applicants for psychologist licenses but that practice didn't start until 2008, said Jason Moon, a spokesman for the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. There had been no complaints against Deisler until a recent one that led to the state complaint, he said.
As promised, the National Association of Forensic Counselors refiled its massive lawsuit alleging trademark violations against Scientology, its leader David Miscavige, and 38 other defendants.This is the lawsuit, you’ll remember, that accuses Scientology and its drug rehab network, Narconon, of misusing the NAFC’s logo and making false claims that its employees had received NAFC certifications in order to convince the public that Narconon’s employees are properly licensed as drug counselors.The NAFC and its president, Karla Taylor, had originally filed its lawsuit against 82 defendants in Oklahoma, because that’s where Scientology has its flagship rehab facility, Narconon Arrowhead. But Miscavige successfully argued that he should be dropped from the lawsuit because he lives and works primarily in California, and the NAFC is in Indiana, so he should not be a party to a lawsuit filed in a third, and unrelated state, Oklahoma.So now, NAFC has refiled against Miscavige in its home state of Indiana, and with the help of the Indianapolis law firm of Saeed and Little. That name should be familiar — Jonathan Little handles numerous lawsuits against Narconon, and was featured in yesterday’s blog post.
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Topic: National Association of Forensic Counselors, Inc. v. Narconon International (Read 30277 times)