Calgary
Herald
February 9, 1980
Jazz guitarist sues Scientologists
LOS ANGELES
(AP) - Jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo has filed a $21 million lawsuit
against the Church of Scientology, accusing the organization of
embezzling his money, kidnapping him and forcing him to undergo a
Scientology "Life Repair Course."
In a
36-page complaint, Szabo's lawyer listed accusations which included
Scientology's alleged takeover of the musician's career after he sought
help in the church's drug-treatment program.
Szabo,
born in Budapest in 1936, is best known for his worked with Lena
Horne. During the late '60s and early '70s he was a regular at the
Monterey and Newport jazz festivals. His most popular tune is
Mizrab which came out in the late '70s.
Szabo
contends the church induced him to sign a personal management contract
with Artists International, a company he said is an arm of the Church of
Scientology. He said the firm was inept in artist management
and more concerned with using his name to win converts to Scientology.
He
said the company charged a fee of 26 percent of his gross income for its
services but did not pass on or account for the thousands of dollars he
earned while they managed him. Szabo accused Scientology and
Artists International of embezzling at least $15,000 from him.
The
church's minister of public affairs, Heber Jentzsch, denied all
allegations and said Szabo has been given a full refund of his money
"and has signed documents to that effect."
Szabo
says he was induced to sign a release and accept the money after a long
period of harassment.
He
said Scientologists told him he was a "pts" or "potential
trouble source" because he could not fully commit himself to the
teachings and principles of Scientology.
He
said he was ordered to travel to Florida to undergo Scientology's Life
Repair Course, a program which cost $12,000.
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