A civil lawsuit against actor Danny Masterson will have to be arbitrated through the Church of Scientology, according to Variety.
The suit was initially filed in August 2019 by Chrissie Carnell Bixler; her husband, Cedric Bixler-Zavala; Marie Bobette Riales; and two Jane Does. It claims that agents working for the church stalked and intimidated them after they reported assault allegations against Masterson to the police. According to Variety, Judge Steven Kleifield ruled in Los Angeles County Superior Court this past Wednesday that the civil complaints must be resolved through “religious arbitration” due to an existing arbitration agreement among the involved parties. It’s a ruling that Masterson’s attorney Andrew Brettler is very pleased with, telling Variety, “This was absolutely the correct result. We look forward to arbitrating the claims, as the Court directed.”
Carnell Bixler claims in the lawsuit that Masterson sexually assaulted her multiple times while they were dating in 2001 and 2002. After she reported the assault to the police, her husband alleges in the suit, “agents of the defendants” poisoned their dogs, assaulted them with cars, and made harassing phone calls. Jane Doe #1 also said she experienced retribution for reporting her alleged rape to the police in the form of property damage, violent threats, assaults, and sexual harassment. Jane Doe #2 additionally claimed the defendants inflicted emotional distress, stalking, and invasion of privacy. The judge’s ruling will not apply to plaintiff Bobette Riales as she was not a member of the Church of Scientology.
This civil lawsuit is a separate proceeding from the ongoing criminal charges against Masterson, who was accused in June of raping three women in incidents that transpired between 2001 and 2003. The prosecution has said that all the alleged crimes occurred at Masterson’s home, People noted. The actor has an arraignment scheduled for January 6 and has denied all of the allegations. If found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.
A representative for the Church of Scientology was not immediately available for comment.
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