EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTS: Former Scientologist Accuses Church Of Slave Labor And Negligence
May 28 2018, Updated 10:15 a.m. ET
Daniel Montalvo, a former Scientologist, is suing the Church and it's offshoot, Sea Org, for damages exceeding $25k for Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Negligence.
EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTS: Former Scientology Member Suing Church
In the lawsuit, exclusively obtained by Breaking Celebrity News, Montalvo alleges Sea Org engaged in slave labor practices - forcing him to work over 100 hours per week when he was a minor for between $25-$50 per week.
He also alleges negligence, claiming that he only went to school one day a week while under the organization's care, and that he lost a finger while working for the Church.
In addition to the Church of Scientology, Montalvo is also suing his parents, Luis & Veronica Montalvo and several church employees.
Daniel claims his troubles began in 1996 when his parents became members of the Sea Org, handing their young son's care over to the church's representatives.
The lawsuit states: "Sea Org members adopt a paramilitary lifestyle in which they wear navy-style uniforms and hold ranks such as captain, lieutenant, and ensign. Pursuant to Sea Org policy, which prohibits Sea Org members from raising their children, in or about 1996, Luis and Veronica ceded custody of Daniel to Cadet Org, a children's division of the Sea Org.
"At the age of six, Daniel was first made to sign a purported billion year contract binding him to the Sea Org. At the age of twelve, Daniel joined the Sea Org, signing a second purported billion year contract."
Daniel says that while he was in Sea Org, he wasn't allowed to watch the news, or have any Internet access, and that he only went to school one day a week.
"Daniel's school attendance was generally not enforced," the documents state. "Rather, Daniel was permitted to attend school for approximately one day a week if his school schedule permitted and if he chose to do so rather than having precious free time (i.e., not working)."
The documents claim: "When Daniel's teachers attempted to enforce attendance requirements, they were generally overruled by Daniel's Sea Org superiors."
Daniel says he regularly worked 40 hours per week - but often it was more than 100 hours of work - and that he was paid only $25.00-$50.00 per week, and that he didn't have a work permit, something that is required for a minor.
He goes on to state that he "was ordered by his Sea Org superior to do construction work for one of it's agents and alter-egos, The Pacific Estates Project Force... In this job Daniel, then fifteen years old, operated scissor lifts and other heavy equipment, and at times was required to work continuously for days without sleep. During this time he was paid $25.00 per week."
Then, it is claimed that when he was sixteen, while he was working at B