The actress, who was famous for her role on the sitcom The King of Queens, joined the Church as a kid in 1979 and left in 2013.
Remini, who is 53 years old, says that “mob-style operations and attacks” by Scientology have “significantly” changed her life and work.
The claims were called “pure lunacy” by the Church of Scientology.
In a statement, they said, “Remini’s latest act of harassment and attempt to stop honest free speech has not scared the Church.”
In a statement to Variety, Remini said, “For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have put me through what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, which has had a big effect on my life and career.”
“I don’t think I’m the first person Scientology and its operations have gone after, but I plan to be the last.”
According to the press release, Remini filed the lawsuit in the California Superior Court on Wednesday, August 2, to “require Scientology and any entity it controls and funds to stop and desist its alleged practice of harassment, defamation, and other illegal behavior against anyone Scientology has called a “enemy.”
The news says Remini is also asking for damages to make up for the harm she says Scientology has done to her personal and business life.
The news release talks about “OSA Network Orders,” which are supposed to be orders from the Office of Special Affairs of the Church.
Remini says that these orders are a set of revenge steps that the Church’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard, set up to be taken against anyone or any group that the Church considers to be an enemy.
In the lawsuit, the Church of Scientology, Miscavige, and Religious Technology Center, Inc. are all named as defendants. Remini says that Religious Technology Center, Inc. is in charge of police activities and mostly carries out Scientology’s punishment orders.
Remini says that “OSA and their operatives” set up a series of attacks on her to “obliterate” and “totally restrain and silence” her. The case is about what the Church is said to have done in “coordinated campaigns” against Remini and her family, friends, and business partners.
“By filing this lawsuit, I hope to protect my rights under the Constitution of the United States to tell the truth about Scientology and report the facts,” Remini said.
“I strongly believe that the flag of religious freedom does not give anyone the right to threaten, harass, or hurt people who use their First Amendment rights.”
In answer, the Church of Scientology put out a statement that said, “This lawsuit is ridiculous and the accusations are nonsense.”
“Remini has been spreading hate and lies for a decade, and now she is offended when people use their right to free speech. This shows that she is a bigot who doesn’t like free speech.”
The Church said in a statement that Remini was “obsessed with attacking her former religion by spreading lies and hate speech.” The statement also said that Remini had made money by talking about the Church in books, podcasts, and on TV.
It went on to say, “Remini has completely lost control by filing a frivolous case to stop free speech from exposing her lies. Remini’s ten years of being bullied and making up stories are all coming back to hurt her.
“If Remini can’t find a job anymore, she only has herself to blame. Everyone in Hollywood now knows what we already knew, which is that Remini is a terrible person who makes people sick when they have to be around her.
In 2015, Remini co-created and oversaw the making of a documentary series called Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. It was about the Church, and it ran for three seasons and won two Emmy Awards.
The actress is best known for her role in The King of Queens, a comedy that ran from 1998 to 2007 and is still often shown on Channel 4 in the UK.
She also had small parts in the TV shows Cheers, Friends, and NYPD Blue. She was also a regular panelist on the US daytime show The Talk. In 2013, she came in fifth place on the US version of Strictly, called Dancing With the Stars.