Declaration of Stephen A. Kent, PhD
CSI v. Gerald Armstrong, Robert Minton, Lisa McPherson Trust
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SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF MARIN
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Plaintiff, vs. GERALD ARMSTRONG, et al., Defendants. |
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Case No. CV 021632 DECLARATION OF STEPHEN A. KENT, PhD |
DECLARATION OF STEPHEN A. KENT, PH.D.
I, Stephen A. Kent, PhD, declare as follows:
1. I have personal knowledge of the facts set forth below and, if called upon to testify concerning these facts I would and could do so competently.
2. I am a Professor at the University of Alberta in the Department of Sociology.
3. In June 2002, while in southern California after making a presentation to clergy about Scientology, I was hand served with a letter to me dated June 3, 2002 from an Elliot J. Abelson, whom I know to be a lawyer for the Scientology organization. In his letter, a true and correct copy of which is appended hereto as Exhibit A, Mr. Abelson states that he is writing to me on behalf of Church of Scientology International, plaintiff in the above-referenced case.
4. In his letter, Mr. Abelson avers that I made trips to Europe where Gerry Armstrong and I appeared together at various public gatherings, all with the same anti-religious agenda. I have never been in Europe with Mr. Armstrong. I have never appeared together with Mr. Armstrong at any public gathering in Europe, or at any public gathering anywhere else in the world. I have never appeared at any public gathering in Europe or anywhere else in the world with the same anti-religious agenda, or any anti-religious agenda whatsoever.
5. Mr. Abelson avers that in public statements or appearances I have made I have acted in concert with Mr. Armstrong, that an injunction issued by the Marin Superior Court against Mr.
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Armstrong and persons acting on concert with him applies to me, and that I am bound by its terms. I do not believe that such an injunction, as Mr. Abelson is interpreting it, is lawful, and I believe that Mr. Abelson’s threat is unlawful. I have continued to make public statements and appearances in my professional work as I did before receiving Mr. Abelson’s threatening letter, and I will continue to make such public statements and appearances.
I declare under penalty of perjury pursuant to the laws of Canada, the United States of America and the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed this 23rd day of September 2003 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
[Signed] Stephen A. Kent
Stephen A. Kent, PhD