In the court papers filed by the actress' lawyers, they cite a 2009 case in which a couple failed to sue the Church of Scientology for forced labor.
- Dec 31, 2018
AceShowbiz - Allison Mack and her lawyers are reportedly planning to use Scientology to defend her in her sex cult case. According to reports, the "Smallville" alum argues that if the Church of Scientology isn't guilty of the same charge, then neither is she.
Along with NXIVM leader Keith Raniere, Mack, who is known for her role as Chloe Sullivan on The WB series, was accused of using the photos and statements to get free work. She also allegedly used the photos to force sex with Raniere.
In court papers filed in Brooklyn Federal Court on Friday, December 28, the actress' lawyers insist that blackmailing people in order to keep them tethered to a sex cult wasn't a crime. They believe that their client's threat to release naked photos and disparaging statements made by cult members against their relatives doesn't rise to the threat of "serious harm" required to prove someone engaged in forced labor. In addition, the lawyers argue that it's not serious harm under the statute although the collateral might be embarassing.
"The government argues that Ms. Mack obtained forced labor through 'threats of serious harm,' with serious harm being the embarrassment that would result from the exposure of one's collateral," the court filing states. "Courts have found, however, that such an outcome, albeit embarrassing, does not amount to serious harm under the statute."
The filing goes on citing a 2009 case in which a couple failed to sue the Church of Scientology for forced labor. "The court did not find that plaintiffs were compelled to remain in the organization even though, if they chose to leave, they would be 'excommunicated' from their friends and family and labeled a 'dissenter,' " the lawyers say in the argument. "The threat of reputational damage and isolation from loved ones therefore did not qualify as serious harm."
The actress was arrested back in April alongside Raneire on charges of sex trafficking, sex trafficking conspiracy, and forced labor conspiracy. While Raneire was the leader of the cult, it was said that Mack was "one of the women in the first level of the pyramid immediately below Raniere."
Mack is currently out on a $5 million bond. If she is convicted, she will be facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
