Leah Remini: The King of Queens star sues Church of Scientology

Leah Remini is taking ineligible enactment against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, for harassment and defamation.

The actress, who starred successful the sitcom The King of Queens, joined the Church successful 1979 arsenic a kid and near successful 2013.

Remini, 53, claims Scientology's "mob-style operations and attacks" person "significantly" impacted her beingness and career.

BBC News has asked the Church of Scientology for comment.

In a connection released to Variety, Remini said: "For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige person subjected maine to what I judge to beryllium intelligence torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, importantly impacting my beingness and career.

"I judge I americium not the archetypal idiosyncratic targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I mean to beryllium the last."

According to the property release, Remini filed the suit successful the California Superior Court connected Wednesday (2 August) successful an effort to "require Scientology, and immoderate entity it controls and funds, to cease and desist its alleged signifier of harassment, defamation, and different unlawful behaviour against anyone who Scientology has labelled arsenic an 'enemy.'"

Variety reports Remini besides seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged harm Scientology has inflicted connected her idiosyncratic and nonrecreational life.

The property merchandise refers to "OSA Network Orders" - a notation to directives alleged to beryllium issued by the Church's Office of Special Affairs.

Remini alleges these orders are a bid of retaliatory measures, said to person been implemented by the Church's laminitis L Ron Hubbard, to beryllium taken against immoderate idiosyncratic oregon organisation that the Church deems to beryllium an enemy.

Named defendants successful the ineligible lawsuit are the Church of Scientology, Miscavige and Religious Technology Center, Inc., which, Remini alleges, manages policing operations and principally enforces Scientology's punishment orders.

Remini alleges that a bid of attacks meant to "obliterate" and "totally restrain and muzzle" her were "activated by OSA and their operatives." The lawsuit details alleged "coordinated campaigns" by the Church levied against Remini and her family, friends and concern associates.

"With this lawsuit, I anticipation to support my rights arsenic afforded by the Constitution of the United States to talk the information and study the facts astir Scientology," Remini continued.

"I consciousness powerfully that the banner of spiritual state does not springiness anyone licence to intimidate, harass and maltreatment those who workout their First Amendment rights."

In 2015, Remini co-created and enforcement produced a documentary bid astir the Church, called Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which ran for 3 seasons and won 2 Emmy Awards.

The histrion is champion known for starring successful The King of Queens, a drama which ran from 1998 until 2007 and is inactive regularly repeated successful the UK by Channel 4.

In addition, she played smaller roles successful Cheers, Friends, and NYPD Blue. She was besides a regular panellist connected US daytime amusement The Talk, and finished successful 5th spot successful the 2013 bid of Dancing With The Stars, the US mentation of Strictly.