Bonnie Woods Wins Scientology Damages

In 1992, a former Scientologist named Bonnie Woods and her husband began running a telephone helpline in England for families negatively affected by Scientology. The Church of Scientology declared Woods a "suppressive person," placed her family under surveillance, picketed her home, and distributed leaflets around East Grinstead calling her a "hate campaigner." Woods sued the Church for libel, and it responded with three lawsuits, triggering six years of litigation and 25 court appearances. In 1999, the Church admitted that its allegations were false and agreed to pay 55,000 pounds in damages and cover legal costs estimated at 100,000 pounds.

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