Editing Scientology controversies (section)

===Death of Noah Lottick===
Noah Lottick was an American student of [[Russia|Russian studies]] who died by suicide on May 11, 1990, by jumping from a 10th-floor hotel window, clutching his only remaining money in his hands.<ref name="Lottick Time" /> After his death, a controversy arose revolving around his parents' concern over his membership in the [[Church of Scientology]].

Noah Lottick had taken Scientology courses, for which he paid {{Currency|5000}}.<ref name="Lottick Time">[[Richard Behar]], "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070220082505/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972865,00.html Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power]", ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', May 6, 1991, see article: [[The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power]]</ref><ref name="lottick" /> Lottick's friends and family remarked that after taking these courses he began to act strangely. They stated to ''Time'' magazine that he told them that his Scientologist teachers were [[telepathy|telepathic]], and that his father's [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] was purely [[psychosomatic]].<ref name="Lottick Time" /> His parents said that he visited their home five days before his death, claiming they were spreading "false rumors" about him.<ref name="Lottick Time" />

Lottick's [[suicide]] was profiled in a ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' cover story that was highly critical of Scientology, "[[The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power]]", which received the [[Gerald Loeb Award]],<ref name="Lottick Time" /><ref name="dismissed" /> and later appeared in ''[[Reader's Digest]]''.<ref name="Lottick Reader's Digest">{{cite news |last1=Behar |first1=Richard |last2=Burton|first2=Thomas M. |title= A Dangerous Cult Goes Mainstream |work= [[Reader's Digest]] |date= October 1991 |pages=87–92 |url=http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/dancult.htm |type=reprint |via=skeptictank.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608084455/http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/dancult.htm |archive-date=June 8, 2011}}</ref>

Lottick's father, Dr. [[Edward Lottick]], stated that his initial impression of Scientology was that it was similar to [[Dale Carnegie]]'s techniques. However, after his son's death, his opinion was that the organization is a "school for [[psychopath]]s".<ref name="Lottick Time" /> He blamed Scientology for his son's death, although no direct connection was determined. After Dr. Lottick's remarks were published in the media, the Church of Scientology haggled with him over {{Currency|3000}} that Noah had allegedly paid to the Church and not utilized for services.<ref name="Lottick Time" /> The Church claimed Lottick had intended this to be a donation.

The [[Church of Scientology]] sued [[Richard Behar]] and ''Time'' magazine for $416 million. Dr. and Mrs. Lottick submitted [[affidavit]]s affirming "the accuracy of each statement in the article", and stating that Dr. Lottick had "concluded that Scientology therapies were manipulations". They said that no Scientology staff members attended the funeral of their son.<ref name="lottick">[http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/cyberlaw/scientology1.html ''Church of Scientology v. Time and Richard Behar''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107074250/http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/cyberlaw/scientology1.html |date=November 7, 2007 }}, 92 Civ. 3024 (PKL), Opinion and Order, Court TV library Web site., retrieved 1 October 2006.</ref> All counts against Behar and ''Time'' were later dismissed.<ref name="dismissed">[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_July_16/ai_18489022 "Judge Dismisses Church of Scientology's $416 Million Lawsuit Against Time Magazine"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050324093216/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_July_16/ai_18489022 |date=2005-03-24 }}, [[Business Wire]], July 16, 1996.</ref> Lottick's father cited his son's suicide as his motivation for researching [[cult]]s, in his article describing a survey of physicians that he presented to the Pennsylvania State Medical Society.<ref name="Lottick PSMS Survey">[http://www.csj.org/infoserv_articles/lottick_edward_physician_experience.htm Survey Reveals Physicians' Experience with Cults] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014957/http://www.csj.org/infoserv_articles/lottick_edward_physician_experience.htm |date=September 30, 2007 }}, Dr. Edward Lottick, ''[[Cultic Studies Review|Cult Observer]]'', Volume 10, Number 3, 1993.</ref>

The Church of Scientology issued a press release denying any responsibility for Lottick's suicide.<ref name="Lottick Petersburg">{{cite news |first=Lucy |last=Morgan |title=Scientology got blame for French suicide |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/26196184.html?dids=26196184:26196184&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109222226/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/26196184.html?dids=26196184:26196184&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT |archive-date=November 9, 2007 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=February 8, 1998}}</ref> Spokesperson [[Mike Rinder]] was quoted in the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' as saying that Lottick had an argument with his parents four days before his death.<ref name="Lottick Petersburg" /> Rinder stated, "I think Ed Lottick should look in the mirror ... I think Ed Lottick made his son's life intolerable."<ref name="Lottick Petersburg" />