Editing David Miscavige (section)

===Abuse lawsuits===
In 2019, a then-unnamed female individual, who was raised as a Scientologist and joined the Sea Org as Miscavige's steward at age 15, filed suit against Miscavige and Scientology.<ref name=Rio19>{{cite news |last1=Riotta |first1=Chris |title=Church of Scientology accused of child abuse and human trafficking in new lawsuit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/scientology-church-abuse-scandal-lawsuit-human-trafficking-forced-labour-leah-reminisce-david-miscavige-a8968051.html|location=London|work=[[The Independent]] |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |date=June 20, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Joh19>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Alex |title=Ex-Scientologist sues church and its leader alleging abuse, human trafficking|location=Los Angeles|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/ex-scientology-member-sues-church-its-leader-alleging-abuse-human-n1019506 |work=[[NBC News]] |publisher=NBCUniversal |date=June 20, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Dic19>{{cite magazine |last1=Dickson |first1=E. J. |title=Church of Scientology Lawsuit Alleges Abuse and Human Trafficking|location=New York|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/scientology-lawsuit-abuse-human-trafficking-david-miscavige-851047/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=June 21, 2019}}</ref> The lawsuit also alleged [[kidnapping]], [[stalking]], libel, [[slander]], constructive [[Expectation of privacy (United States)|invasion of privacy]] and intentional infliction of emotional distress.<ref name=Rad19>{{cite news |title=Ex-Scientologist Accuses Church Of Trafficking & Starving Children In Scathing Lawsuit|location=New York|url=https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/10/ex-scientologist-valerie-haney-accuses-church-child-trafficking-lawsuit/ |work=RadarOnline |publisher=American Media, Inc. |date=October 1, 2019}}</ref> Lawyers for Scientology convinced a judge to move the case to internal church arbitration in January 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/valerie-haney-scientology-escape-car-trunk-religious-arbitration-david-miscavige-tom-cruise-elisabeth-moss-1234703982/ |title=She Escaped Scientology in the Trunk of a Car. Her Nightmare Is Far From Over |date=March 27, 2023 |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |website=RollingStone |access-date=June 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name=McMa20>{{cite news |last1=McManus |first1=Tracey|location=St.{{nbsp}}Petersburg,{{nbsp}}FL|title=Clearwater woman drops lawsuit against Scientology alleging child sexual abuse |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2020/06/11/clearwater-woman-drops-lawsuit-against-scientology-alleging-child-sexual-abuse/ |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]] |date=June 11, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Miscavige is named in a lawsuit involving a series of rapes by Scientologist [[Danny Masterson]], and subsequent efforts by the Scientology organization to harass Masterson's victims.<ref name=Abc21>{{cite news |last1=Abcarian |first1=Robin |title=How the Church of Scientology hopes to quash a lawsuit by Danny Masterson's accusers |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-05-29/column-how-the-church-of-scientology-tried-to-keep-alleged-victims-of-danny-masterson |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> Scientology's lawyers had tried to force the case into internal church arbitration, similar to the case in 2020, but this failed following a three-judge ruling in January 2022.<ref name=Madd22>{{cite news |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |title=Danny Masterson's Accusers Do Not Have to Go to Scientology Arbitration |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/danny-masterson-scientology-arbitration-appeals-ruling-1235158495/|location=Los Angeles|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |date=January 20, 2022}}</ref><ref name=Netb22>{{cite news |last1=Netburn |first1=Deborah |title=Appeals court says accusers' case against Church of Scientology can proceed |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-20/appeals-court-says-former-scientologists-can-take-the-church-to-court |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> 

Three former Scientology workers filed a lawsuit for human trafficking, and [[peonage]] of children as young as six years old, against Miscavige and Scientology in April 2022.<ref name=McMa22>{{cite news |last1=McManus |first1=Tracey |title=3 former Scientology workers sue, saying they were trafficked as children|location=St.{{nbsp}}Petersburg,{{nbsp}}FL|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2022/04/28/3-former-scientology-workers-sue-saying-they-were-trafficked-as-children/ |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]] |date=April 28, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Schn22>{{cite news |last1=Schneiders |first1=Ben|location=Sydney|title=Scientology accused of child trafficking, forced labour of Australians |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/scientology-accused-of-child-trafficking-forced-labour-of-australians-20220427-p5aghi.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment]] |date=April 28, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Bol22>{{cite news |last1=Bolado |first1=Carolina |title=Ex-Scientologists Sue Church Claiming Forced Labor, Abuse - Law360 |url=https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/articles/1488360/ex-scientologists-sue-church-claiming-forced-labor-abuse |work=[[Law360]] |publisher=[[LexisNexis]]|location=New York|date=May 2, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The lawsuit also alleges repeated [[sexual assault]] of children by senior members of the Sea Org, of which Miscavige was leader at the time and remains so to the present.<ref name=McMa22/><ref name=Bol22/> The court overseeing the case was told by counsel for the plaintiffs that Miscavige was evading service in the case over a period of months, with at least fourteen attempts being made to serve the [[summons]]. The evasion included Miscavige ordering the security team at his house to prevent the summons from being delivered. The court found the allegations sufficiently credible that it ordered that Miscavige be served through the office of the [[Secretary of State of Florida]].<ref name=Schn22b>{{cite news |last1=Schneiders |first1=Ben |title=Scientology leader evades legal service in Australian trafficking case |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/scientology-leader-evades-legal-service-in-australian-trafficking-case-20220916-p5bim7.html|location=Sydney|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=Nine Group |date=September 17, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=July 2025}}