Legal Opinion
Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology
California Court of Appeal
Decided July 18, 1989No. B023193PublishedCited by 10 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion
JOHNSON, J.
This appeal arises after a jury awarded $30 million in compensatory and punitive damages to a former member of the Church of Scientology of California (the Church or Scientology). The complaint al leged appellant intentionally and negligently inflicted severe emotional injury on respondent through certain practices, including “auditing,” “disconnect,” and “fair game.” Since the trial court granted summary adjudication that Scientology is a religion and “auditing” is a religious practice, the trial proceeded under the assumption it was. We conclude there was substantial…
2Cases cited61 opinions
- New York Times Co. v. SullivanSupreme Court of the United States · 1964
- Cantwell v. ConnecticutSupreme Court of the United States · 1940
- Lemon v. KurtzmanSupreme Court of the United States · 1971
- Wisconsin v. YoderSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Sherbert v. VernerSupreme Court of the United States · 1963
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3Cited by10 opinions
- Naoko Ohno v. Yuko YasumaCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 2013
- Church of Scientology v. WollersheimCalifornia Court of Appeal · 1996
- Bihun v. AT & T Information Systems, Inc.California Court of Appeal · 1993
- Weller v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.California Court of Appeal · 1991
- Stansfield v. StarkeyCalifornia Court of Appeal · 1990
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