2/28/97 -- 1:24 AM
Scientologists can see some, not all, evidence
By CHERYL WALDRIP of The Tampa Tribune
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CLEARWATER - The Church of Scientology will get little of the
information it sought from the office that autopsied 36-year-old
Scientologist Lisa McPherson.
McPherson died in 1995. An autopsy by Pinellas-Pasco Medical
Examiner Joan Wood showed McPherson suffered from ``severe
dehydration.'' She also had bruises and bites that Wood said
likely were caused by cockroaches. In comments to reporters, Wood
said McPherson was comatose for 24 to 48 hours before a blood
clot killed her.
Scientology officials said Wood lied about the evidence. The
church sued, saying her statements caused her records on
McPherson to become public under the state's public records law.
Through her attorneys, Wood argued that the law's exemption for
records pertaining to an active criminal investigation applies in
this case.
McPherson's death is under investigation by the Clearwater Police
Department, the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office and the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement.McPherson's aunt also is
suing the church over the death.
Circuit Judge Bob Barker ruled Thursday that most of the material
is exempt, including physical samples such as McPherson's blood,
her medical records from two area hospitals and most of the
autopsy photographs.
However, he ruled that the church, as well as the public, is
entitled to drafts and notes taken during the autopsy, the
autopsy report, lab reports that document McPherson's hydration,
the length of her unconsciousness, the cause of death, the cause
of blood clotting, the appearance and cause of the insect bites,
photographs of the bites, material pertaining to consistency of
``chronic process,'' photocopies of certain slides and certain
lab reports regarding physical specimens.
Both sides claimed victory.
``The judge has concluded we were right,'' Scientology attorney
Morris Weinberg said. ``She [Wood] waived the exemption.''
``The decision issued [Thursday] by Judge Barker shows that the
church can rely on the courts for fairness and justice,'' said
Scientology attorney Elliot Abelson. ``It is a total vindication
for not only the church's position but for all those members of
the public that will now get the true facts.''
Wood's attorney, Patricia Fields Anderson, said the ``draft'' of
the autopsy is an unsigned copy of the report that already has
been released.
The rest of the material is either already contained in that
report or will yield no substantive information, she said.
``He upheld the active criminal investigation,'' Anderson said.
``He kept them away from the evidence. What they're going to get
are a half- dozen scraps of paper.''
Church can see some records
By THOMAS C. TOBIN
©St. Petersburg Times, published February 28, 1997
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CLEARWATER - In a ruling that has both sides of a court case
claiming victory, a judge will allow the Church of Scientology to
examine some records from the autopsy of one of its members.
The records will be opened today to the church and the public.
They concern Lisa McPherson, a 36-year-old Scientologist who
entered the church's downtown Clearwater retreat a healthy woman
and died 17 days later, on Dec. 5, 1995.
The church has objected to findings by Pinellas-Pasco Medical
Examiner Joan Wood, who says McPherson was unconscious when she
died and suffered from severe dehydration and insect bites.
This month Scientology filed a lawsuit seeking Wood's
confidential files in the case, including blood, fluid and tissue
samples from McPherson's body.
In his ruling Thursday, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Bob Barker
said those physical specimens were not public records and denied
access to the church. But he did allow public access to
laboratory reports about those specimens.
He also allowed public access to drafts of Wood's autopsy report,
notes she used in authoring the report, laboratory reports,
photos of insect bites on McPherson's body and photocopies of
tissue slides.
He denied access to hospital records in Wood's files, photos
showing the overall condition of McPherson's body, and records
documenting how Wood's office kept track of evidence in the case.
The medical examiner is involved in an investigation that
includes the Clearwater Police Department, the Florida Department
of Law Enforcement and the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's
Office.
The Church of Scientology says it has hired a team of nationally
renowned medical experts who will examine the evidence as part of
its own investigation. Lawyers for the church said the
information, while not all they asked for, would be of great use
to their medical team.
Church officials contend McPherson died of a staph infection.
Barker's decision "begins the process of allowing us to get
at the truth in this case," said Scientology attorney Sandy
Weinberg of Tampa. Regarding the records that remain closed,
Weinberg said the church was deciding whether to appeal or ask
Barker to reconsider.
Elliot Abelson, a Scientology attorney based in Los Angeles,
called Barker's ruling "a humiliating defeat" for Wood
and for the St. Petersburg law firm that defended her.
The firm, Rahdert Anderson McGowan & Steele, represents the
St. Petersburg Times on First Amendment issues.
Abelson noted that the case was a departure for the firm, which
usually opposes public officials and fights to keep records open.
He accused the Times of working against Scientology by
encouraging its attorneys to represent Wood.
"In any other case, the St. Petersburg Times would have been
on the other side," Abelson said. "And the fact that
they weren't shows their bias . . . Now the Times and their
lawyers have egg on their face and I hope it sticks."
He also accused the newspaper of working with the Clearwater
Police Department to discredit Scientology.
Paul Tash, executive editor of the Times, called the charges
ridiculous.
He said the law firm is known statewide for its expertise on
public records issues and represents many other clients besides
the Times. Tash said its lead attorney, George Rahdert, talked to
him before taking Wood's case. He said the situation presented
possible conflicts of interest for Wood and the firm, not the
newspaper.
He said the Times' only concern was whether the firm would be
available to represent the newspaper regarding the McPherson case
if it ever became necessary. He said Rahdert assured him the
firm's first priority was the Times.
Tash added: "Like the Church of Scientology, we will be very
interested in all the information as it is presented, and we will
be there tomorrow to review the records ourselves."
Patricia Anderson, another member of the firm, said Thursday that
the records Barker released come to about five pages. She said
Wood was pleased with the ruling and feels it won't jeopardize
the official investigation.
Wood maintained that all her records in the case were
confidential because of the active investigation.
But the church alleged in its lawsuit that Wood waived any right
to keep the records closed when she shared her conclusions about
the case with reporters.
Weinberg argued that when a public official shares key
information about a case, the "horse is out of the
barn" and all records on the case must be released.
But Barker said the issue was "how far out?" He opened
only those records that Wood made reference to in news
interviews.
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©Copyright 1997 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.