Lisa McPherson
1052329
223791786
2008-07-05T20:48:15Z
68.223.4.113
/* See also */
{{Infobox Person
| name = Lisa McPherson
| image = Lisa McPherson profile.gif
| image_size = 150px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1959|2|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[United States]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|12|5|1959|2|10|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Clearwater, Florida]], <br>[[United States]]
| occupation =
| spouse =
}}
'''Lisa McPherson''' ([[February 10]] [[1959]] – [[December 5]] [[1995]]) was a member of the [[Church of Scientology]] who died of a [[pulmonary embolism]] while under the care of the [[Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc.|Flag Service Organization]] (FSO), a branch of the Church of Scientology [[corporation]].<ref name="Church member's death now called accident">[http://www.sptimes.com/News/022300/TampaBay/Church_member_s_death.shtml Church member's death now called accident], St. Petersburg Times, February 23, 2000</ref> Following her death, the Church of Scientology was [[indicted]] on two [[felony]] charges, "abuse and/or neglect of a disabled adult" and "practicing medicine without a license."
The charges against the Church of Scientology were dropped after the state's [[Coroner|medical examiner]] changed the cause of death from "undetermined" to an "accident" on June 13, 2000. A [[Lawsuit|civil suit]] brought by her family against the Church was settled on [[May 28]], [[2004]].
==Background==
In 1994, Lisa McPherson, who became a Scientology adherent at age 18,<ref>[http://www.lisafiles.com/police/interviews/283.html Police interview with Fannie McPherson, Lisa's mother]</ref> moved from [[Dallas, Texas]], to [[Clearwater, Florida]], with her employer, AMC Publishing, at that time owned by [[Bennetta Slaughter]] and operated and staffed primarily by Scientologists. During June 1995, the church placed Lisa in an [[Introspection Rundown]] due to perceived mental instability. Lisa completed the rundown, and she attested to the state of [[Clear (Scientology)|Clear]] in September.<ref name="timeline">{{cite news|
title=State Drops Charges Against Scientology|
date=2000-06-13|
work=St. Petersburg Times|
page=6A|
url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/55114382.html?FMT=FT|accessdate=2008-03-18}}</ref>
On [[November 18]] McPherson was involved in a minor car accident. Paramedics initially left her alone because she was ambulatory, but after she began to remove her clothes, the paramedics decided to take her to the hospital. At one point she remarked that she had taken off her clothes in hopes of obtaining counseling.<ref name="publiceye">{{cite interview|first=Bonnie|last=Portlano|interviewer=Kristin Jeannette-Meyers|program=CBS Public Eye|date=1998-01-07}}</ref> Hospital staff agreed that she was unharmed, but recommended keeping her overnight for observation. Following intervention by fellow Scientologists, McPherson refused [[Psychiatry|psychiatric]] observation or admission at the hospital and checked herself out after a short evaluation.<ref name=NYTDeath/>
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Frank Quesada concluded:<ref name="Scores round">[http://www.sptimes.com/News/062201/TampaBay/Church_scores_round_i.shtml Church scores round in death suit] ROBERT FARLEY, St. Petersburg Times, June 22, 2001</ref>
{{quote|Lisa McPherson refused psychiatric observation or admission at the hospital; she expressly stated her desire to receive the [[Religion|religious]] care and assistance from her fellow congregants that she and they wanted her to have.}}
McPherson was then taken to the Flag Land Base for "rest and relaxation" according to the Church of Scientology,<ref name="coscharged">[http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/111498/Scientology_charged_i.html Scientology charged in member's death] (Thomas C. Tobin, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 14 Nov 1998</ref> but sworn statements demonstrate that McPherson was brought there for another Introspection Rundown.<ref name="Lisa McPherson Files - Sworn Statement of Brian J.Anderson , pg 19">[http://lisatrust.bogie.nl/legal/lisa-criminal/cpd-cd/3159.htm Lisa McPherson Files - Sworn Statement of Brian J.Anderson , pg 19]</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/111498/Scientology_charged_i.html Scientology charged in member's death] (Thomas C. Tobin, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 14 Nov 1998)</ref>
Mark McGarry, an [[Attorney at law|attorney]] with the Florida Office of the State Attorney, characterized Lisa's stay at the FSO as an "isolation watch":<ref name="Lisa McPherson Files - Sworn Statement of Brian J.Anderson , pg 19"/>
{{quote|My understanding now is, from talking to many, many witnesses, the purpose of her being there in the Church, correct me if I'm wrong, she was experiencing some mental problems, and you guys were going to stabilize her through an isolation watch. And after that watch occurred, there was going to be a procedure run on her, and the procedure was an [[Introspection Rundown]].}}
The church accommodated McPherson in a [[Cabana (structure)|cabana]] and kept a "24 hours watch" over her. Detailed logs were kept on McPherson’s day-to-day care. These logs were handwritten on plain white paper.<ref name="Affidavits & Documents Lisa McPherson">[http://www.scientology-kills.org/affidavits_docs/mcpherson_logs.htm Affidavits & Documents | Lisa McPherson]</ref> Most of these logs were kept but the logs for the last three days were summarized from the originals and the originals shredded. Brian J. Anderson, the then Commanding Officer of the Church's [[Office of Special Affairs]](OSA) in Clearwater, said in his sworn statement:<ref>[http://lisatrust.bogie.nl/legal/lisa-criminal/cpd-cd/3159.htm Lisa McPherson Files - Sworn Statement of Brian J. Anderson] pg 85</ref>
{{quote|I saw the handwritten notes, gave a cursory look to see if the summary -- see if they matched and matched, and I threw the handwritten reports in my shred basket, and I had the report, kept the report.}}
McPherson’s "care logs" narrate the last 17 days of her life:
McPherson was incoherent and sometimes violent, her nails were cut so she wouldn’t scratch herself or the staff, she [[bruise]]d her fists and feet while hitting the wall. She had trouble sleeping and was being given natural supplements and the drug [[chloral hydrate]] to help her sleep. She looked sick and developed sores; "She looked ill like [[measles]] or [[chicken pox]] on her face." On repeated occasions she refused food and protein shakes that the staff offered. On the 26th, 30th, 3rd and 4th the staff attempted to force feed her, noting that she spat the food out. She was noted to be very weak, not standing up nor on some days moving at all.<ref name="Affidavits & Documents Lisa McPherson"/> Scientologists who questioned this handling were told to "butt out".<ref name="New Tack"/>
On [[December 5]], [[1995]], the Church staffers contacted David Minkoff, a Scientologist [[Physician|medical doctor]] who twice prescribed drugs ([[Valium]] and [[chloral hydrate]]) for McPherson without seeing her.<ref name="Doctor suspended">{{cite news |first = Thomas C. |last = Tobin |coauthors = Ulferts, Alisa |url = http://www.sptimes.com/News/080401/TampaBay/Doctor_in_Lisa_McPher.shtml |title = Doctor in Lisa McPherson case suspended |work = [[St. Petersburg Times]] |date = [[2001-08-04]] |accessdate = 2007-04-22}}</ref> They requested for him to prescribe an [[antibiotic]] to McPherson because she seemed to have an [[infection]]. Minkoff refused and stated that McPherson should be taken to a hospital and he needed to see her before prescribing anything.<ref>[http://www.scientology-kills.org/affidavits_docs/mcpherson_logs.htm Affidavits & Documents | Lisa McPherson]</ref> They objected, expressing fear that McPherson would be put under psychiatric care.<ref name="Doctor suspended"/> Janice Johnson stated that Lisa had been gasping and had labored breathing while en route. However they passed a total of four hospitals along the way to their ultimate destination. When they arrived at Minkoff's hospital 45 minutes north of Clearwater McPherson arrived without vital signs. They worked on her for about 20 minutes trying to resuscitate her, giving her [[CPR]] and [[antibiotic]]s, but to no avail. She was then declared dead.<ref name=NYTDeath>{{cite news |last=Frantz |first=Douglas| title = Death of a Scientologist Heightens Suspicions in a Florida Town |work = [[New York Times]] |page = A16 |date = [[1997-12-01]] |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E2DE1F3AF932A35751C1A961958260&sec=health&pagewanted=4| accessdate=2007-04-22}}</ref><ref>[http://www.lisamcpherson.org/ Lisa McPherson Memorial Page: Killed by the Church of Scientology]</ref><ref>[http://www.lisamcpherson.com/ LISA McPHERSON.com] (documentation of civil suit)</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = McPherson Case: "Scientologist's death now ruled accidental"
| work = Press revue from the CESNUR
| date = [[2000-02-23]]
| publisher = [[Associated Press]] and [[St. Petersburg Times]]
| url = http://www.cesnur.org/testi/McPherson.htm#Anchor-McPherson-35882
| accessdate = 2006-10-07}}</ref><ref>[http://www.whyaretheydead.net/room174.html Fort Harrison Hotel — Room 174: Death of scientologist Lisa McPherson] (Why Are They Dead)</ref><ref>[http://www.lisafiles.com/ LisaFiles.com] The Clearwater Police Department Investigation into Lisa McPherson's Death</ref><ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/36255094.html?dids=36255094:36255094&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+23%2C+1998&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=State+takes+middle+road+against+Scientology State takes middle road against Scientology], Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, November 23, 1998</ref><ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/46984794.html?dids=46984794:46984794&FMT=FT&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Dec+8%2C+1999&author=HOWARD+TROXLER&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=When+can+a+church+be+accused+of+a+crime%3F When can a church be accused of a crime?], HOWARD TROXLER, St. Petersburg Times, December 8, 1999</ref>
Scientologists called McPherson’s family to say that she’d died of [[meningitis]] or a [[blood clot]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Plunkett |first=John |url=http://www.lisamcpherson.org/mcphtrb2.htm |title=Scientologist's death: A family hunts for answers |publisher=The Tampa Tribune|date=1996-12-22 |accessdate=2007-05-13}}</ref> on December 5, 1995 while at Fort Murray for “rest and relaxation”.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/111498/Scientology_charged_i.html Tampabay: Scientology charged in member's death]</ref> A suspicious death investigation began the next day and an [[autopsy]] was performed. A year later, in response to a Clearwater Police Department website request for information on her death, Clearwater media began speculating<ref>[http://www.lisamcpherson.org/mcphtrib.htm Mystery surrounds Scientologist's death]</ref> about the causes of McPherson’s death.<ref>[http://www.lisamcpherson.org/cwdeath.htm Police: Clearwater police needs your help!]</ref>
The controversy included regular [[Demonstration (people)|pickets]] outside Scientology offices on or around the anniversary of her death.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/120901/NorthPinellas/Church_loads_up_for_o.shtml Church loads up for one last fight], DEBORAH O'NEIL, St. Petersburg Times, December 1, 2001</ref>
==Coroner's report and review==
===First coroner's report===
In the original report the state’s [[coroner]] [[Joan Wood]] stated that the autopsy showed McPherson had deteriorated slowly, going without fluids for five to 10 days, was underweight, had several [[bruise]]s and [[bedsore]]s. They also showed she had been unconscious for up to 48 hours before her death and had dark brown [[lesions]] consistent with "insect/animal bites" in the right lower arm just above the wrist.<ref>[The Death of Lisa McPherson: Coroner's Report]</ref><ref>[http://whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/autopsy/autopsy_03/ Autopsy Photos - Lisa McPherson] (Caution: Disturbing photos)</ref> Wood said that McPherson had probably been bitten by [[cockroach]]es.<ref name="Church sues medical examiner">[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/16997614.html?dids=16997614:16997614&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+29%2C+1997&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Church+sues+medical+examiner Church sues medical examiner], Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, Jan 29, 1997</ref><ref>[http://whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/bugs/index.html McPherson Estate's Memorandum on Cockroach Feeding Sites] 26 March 2002</ref> Joan Wood concluded that Lisa McPherson died of a [[pulmonary embolism]] caused by [[bed rest]] and severe [[dehydration]]. Scientology responded by stating that Wood was lying and sued Wood for [[defamation]].<ref name="Church sues medical examiner"/>
===Independent opinion===
The ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' contacted five medical experts for their opinions about the report, and they confirmed it. The Church of Scientology responded that the five doctors should have been given the entire autopsy report, not just the [[vitreous fluid]] tests, which pathologists use to determine the composition of blood at the time before death.<ref>{{cite book |last=Di Maio |first=Vincent J. M. | coauthors= Di Maio, Dominick J. | title=Forensic Pathology |origyear=2001 | url= http://books.google.ca/books?id=XyG3802xSdwC&dq=what+is+vitreous+fluid+pathology&pg=RA11-PA511&ots=cT3R7xlHrl&sig=h9BeEVqOV2FQUGRinBC6YhqjLvQ&prev=http://www.google.ca/search%3Fhl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%253Aen-US%253Aofficial%26hs%3DXVb%26q%3Dwhat%2Bis%2Bvitreous%2Bfluid%2Bpathology%26btnG%3DSearch%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PRA11-PA511,M1 |publisher= CRC Press |location= |language= english | isbn=084930072X | pages=511 | chapter=Collection of Tests}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Thomas C. | last = Tobin | title = Five doctors agree with examiner in Scientology death | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/17005810.html?dids=17005810:17005810&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT | work = [[St. Petersburg Times]] | publisher = | date = [[1997-03-09]] | accessdate = 2007-05-07}}</ref>
===The Church hires forensic pathologists===
The Church hired its own team to oppose Wood’s findings, including two nationally known [[Forensic pathology|forensic pathologists]]: Dr. [[Michael Baden]], a former Chief [[Coroner|Medical Examiner]] for the City of [[New York City|New York]], and Dr. [[Cyril Wecht]], a county coroner from Pittsburgh. Dr's. Baden and Wecht concluded that McPherson, 36, died suddenly and unpredictably of a [[Thrombus|blood clot]] in her left lung that originated from a knee bruise she suffered in a minor [[automobile]] accident 17 days earlier.<ref name="Doctors paid by church give defense"> [http://www.sptimes.com/News/030700/TampaBay/Doctors_paid_by_churc.shtml Doctors paid by church give defense], Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, Jan 29, 1997</ref>
This scientific evidence was then sent to Joan Wood for review.<ref name="Scientology prompts review of death case"> [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/46632804.html?dids=46632804:46632804&FMT=FT&FMTS=CITE:FT&date=Nov+24%2C+1999&author=THOMAS+C.+TOBIN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Scientology+prompts+review+of+death+case Scientology prompts review of death case], Thomas C. Tobin, St. Petersburg Times, Nov 24, 1999 </ref> The scientific evidence sent to Wood included:
*Research on compounds known as [[ketones]], which people produce when they are dehydrated, starving or even fasting. Tests of McPherson's bodily fluids showed no ketones.<ref name="Church member's death now called accident"/>
*Findings from a body measurement expert hired by the church. The expert compared autopsy photos of McPherson with those taken in happier times, shortly before the accident. The expert concluded from the photographs there was "no appreciable weight loss," countering the prosecution's view that McPherson lost 20 to 40 pounds while in Scientology's care.<ref name="Church member's death now called accident"/>
*A report by a Morton Plant Hospital doctor who saw McPherson just before she entered Scientology's Fort Harrison Hotel, McPherson already was thin with protruding cheek bones.<ref name="record">[http://www.sptimes.com/News/032600/TampaBay/Records_outline_Scien.shtml Records outline Scientology case], THOMAS C. TOBIN, St. Petersburg Times, March 26, 2000</ref>
*A report by Robert D. Davis, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy for Wood's office, concluded McPherson's body was of average nutritional status.<ref name="record"/>
* Medical literature and sworn testimony that it says proves the eye fluid samples were improperly handled by Wood's office, incompetently tested at an independent lab and ultimately contaminated.<ref name="record"/>
Also notable was that Wood did not do McPherson's autopsy personally but assigned it to Robert Davis, an employee who later was asked to resign and was a witness for the defendant (Scientology). He disputed Wood's conclusions and testified that she did not speak to him about her findings before signing his autopsy after he had resigned.<ref name="Drops charges">{{cite news |first=Thomas C. |last=Tobin |title=State drops charges against Scientology |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/061300/TampaBay/State_drops_charges_a.shtml |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=[[2000-06-13]] |accessdate=2007-04-22}}</ref>
The plaintiff's response was that that the [[chain of custody]] of evidence was not broken (also corroborated by Crow's memo<ref>[http://lisatrust.freewinds.cx/legal/lisa-criminal/crow-drop.htm Douglas Crow recommends dropping the Lisa McPherson criminal case]</ref>) {{quote|They simply argue that the McPherson postmortem test results of fluid,... cannot be relied upon.... They apparently ignore the testimony of Robert Davis, M.D., Joan Wood, M.D., David Minkoff, M.D., Janice Johnson, M.D., attendant staffer Rita Boykin, attendant staffer Heather Hof Petzold, the ER personnel, and the two autopsy technicians, Stodgell and Daerr.}} Due to the vitreous fluid tests, they maintained that she was dehydrated. Chemical pathologists Calvin Bandt and Spitz concurred with the initial coroner's report in their affidavits.<ref>[http://www.holysmoke.org/lm/lm242.htm Bandt and Spitz affidavits in Lisa wrongful death suit]</ref> Referring to Dr. Minkoff's affirmative testimony of McPherson described with "hollowed-out eyes ... thin skin ... and did she look dehydrated, yes", plaintiff said even still the abovementioned Scientology experts "opine Lisa McPherson was not dehydrated in appearance and therefore it is error to look at the post mortem chemistries." Plaintiff witness Dr. Alan Wu also testified that ketones need not be present for dehydration in a special case like McPherson where she was fed proteins and therefore didn't create measurable ketones.<ref>[http://www.whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/summary.htm Opposition to Summary Judgment]</ref> The plaintiffs maintained that Lisa did lose water weight to result in 108 lbs with respect to the vitreous fluid.<ref>[http://www.lisamcpherson.org/dandar_01.htm Lisa McPherson case - Response to Frye Hearing]</ref>
===Second coroner's report===
After the review Wood changed the cause of death from "undetermined" to an "accident". Wood traced McPherson's [[pulmonary embolism]] to her psychosis and a minor auto accident as major factors.<ref name="Church member's death now called accident"/> This garnered controversy as described in Assistant State Attorney Douglas Crow's memo in which he recommends dropping the criminal case.<ref>[http://lisatrust.freewinds.cx/legal/lisa-criminal/crow-drop.htm Douglas Crow recommends dropping the McPhearson criminal case]</ref>
They and the plaintiffs stated,
{{quote|Even after changing her opinion, Dr. Wood states she is ambivalent as to whether Lisa's death is medical neglect or homicide. (Appendix "2", p35 of June 1, 2000 sworn interview to the state attorney)."<ref>[http://www.whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/summary.htm Opposition to summary judgement]</ref><ref>[http://www.whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/Aff_Spitz_990820.html Affidavit of Werner Spitz, M.D., in Lisa McPherson wrongful death suit] 20 August 1999</ref>}}
and that Woods
{{quote|initially changed [the death certificate] to read the death was an "accident" not caused by dehydration, Crow said. She then reconsidered, he said, deciding to re-insert dehydration as a cause of death and list the death as a homicide. The next morning, she changed her mind once again and finalized the changes.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20050628004928/http://www.razormagazine.com/feature1203a.php A Church's Lethal Contract]</ref>}}
Crow's memo and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement alleged she had been under constant surveillance of private investigators and that "several factors may have impacted the quality of her judgment...citing Wood's vulnerability to litigation in the case and a suggestion by Scientology that it could reveal information extremely damaging to Wood's office and her career."<ref name="Drops charges" /> Wood also resigned that year due to prosecutors and defense attorneys attacking her credibility based on this report and the handling of the case.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/061300/TampaBay/McPherson_case_expect.shtml McPherson case expected to haunt medical examiner]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/022300/TampaBay/Church_member_s_death.shtml Church member's death now called accident] (Thomas C. Tobin, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 23 Feb 2000)</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/030700/TampaBay/Doctors_paid_by_churc.shtml Doctors paid by church give defense] (Thomas C. Tobin, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 07 Mar 2000)</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/032600/TampaBay/Records_outline_Scien.shtml Records outline Scientology case] (Thomas C. Tobin, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 26 Mar 2000)</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/040400/TampaBay/Scientology_to_argue_.2.shtml Scientology to argue for dismissal of case] (Thomas C. Tobin, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 4 April 2000)</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/040700/TampaBay/Scientology_s_defense.shtml Scientology's defense impresses judge] (Thomas C. Tobin, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 7 April 2000)</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/News/062201/TampaBay/Church_scores_round_i.shtml Church scores round in death suit] (Robert Farley, ''St. Petersburg Times'', 22 Jun 2001)</ref>
==Criminal and civil cases over McPherson's death==
{{proseline}}
On [[February 19]], [[1997]], the family of Lisa McPherson sued the Church of Scientology and the individuals involved for wrongful death, while the Church claimed it did nothing wrong toward McPherson.<ref>[http://www.whyaretheydead.net/temp/tt970220.htm Suit accuses Scientologists of negligence in death], Tampa Tribune, February 20, 1997 (convenience link)</ref>
On [[September 15]], [[1998]], Dr. David Minkoff settled his portion of the wrongful death suit by having his malpractice insurance pay $100,000 to the estate.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/34092171.html?dids=34092171:34092171&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+15%2C+1998&author=LUCY+MORGAN&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Doctor+settles+his+part+of+lawsuit+in+death+of+Scientologist Doctor settles his part of lawsuit in death of Scientologist] LUCY MORGAN, St. Petersburg Times, Sep 15, 1998</ref>
On [[November 13]], [[1998]], the Church was indicted on two [[felony]] charges in McPherson's death; abuse or neglect of a disabled adult, a second-degree felony, and unauthorized practice of medicine, a third-degree felony; the first criminal charges ever filed in the United States against the Church of Scientology.<ref name="Drops charges" /> These charges were brought against the Church as a corporation, not against any individuals, and the maximum penalty, had the charges been pursued and the Church found guilty, would have been a $15,000 fine plus costs.<ref name="New Tack">[http://www.sptimes.com/Commentary/112098/Scientology_s_new_tac.html Scientology's new tack], St. Petersburg Times, November 20, 1998</ref>
On [[December 6]], [[1999]], Florida State Attorney Bernie McCabe presented a response to Scientology's attempt to get the case dismissed.<ref>[http://www.lisamcpherson.org/mccabe.htm criminal accusations and response to defense attempt to dismiss] December 1999</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010406212511/www.freedommag.org/english/cw/sea1/page06.htm Lawyer Solicits Distant Relative In Money-Grab Plot] (Church of Scientology ''Freedom'' Magazine, February 1998)</ref>
On [[February 23]], [[2000]], Medical examiner Joan Wood changed the cause of death of Lisa McPherson to an "accident." "Gone from the new report is the original reference to the bed rest and dehydration. Wood still traces the death to a blood clot behind McPherson's knee. But she lists McPherson's psychosis and a minor auto accident as major factors."<ref name="Church member's death now called accident"/>
On [[March 8]], [[2000]], a group of more than 200 Scientologists moved to have the criminal case dismissed on the claim that it had "chilled the religious rights of every Scientologist" and that other Scientologists were now being treated with concern, suspicion or ridicule by non-Scientologists. A central point of the motion was that McPherson had undergone the Introspection Rundown, which the brief putting forth the motion called an "entirely religious" practice.<ref>{{cite news |first = Thomas C. |last = Tobin |title= Scientologists decry toll of criminal case |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/030900/TampaBay/Scientologists_decry_.shtml |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=[[2000-03-09]] |accessdate=2007-04-08}}</ref>
On [[April 4]], [[2000]], Scientology moved to have the entire case dismissed. "The entire basis for the state's prosecution of this case has now collapsed," begins one of the many Scientology legal briefs arguing the case should be dismissed.<ref>{{cite news |first=Thomas C. |last=Tobin |title= Scientology to argue for dismissal of case |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/040400/TampaBay/Scientology_to_argue_.2.shtml |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=[[2000-04-04]] |accessdate=2007-04-22 }}</ref>
On [[June 12]], [[2000]], on the advice of Assistant State Attorney Douglas Crow, State Attorney Bernie McCabe dropped the criminal charges against the Church. According to a memo by Crow, medical examiner Joan Wood could not be counted on to confidently testify:
{{quote|Her inability to logically explain her opinions makes it clear that she cannot withstand cross-examination in this case. The actions and testimony of Dr. Wood, a forensic witness essential to the state's case, has so muddled the equities and underlying facts in this case, however that it has undermined what began as a strong legal position. ... our ability to establish these necessary facts beyond a reasonable doubt has clearly been compromised.<ref name="Drops charges"/>}}
Later State Attorney Bernie McCabe stated:
{{quote|Number one, the practice-of-medicine charge was never going to fly on its own, it needed to be there with something else. And the abuse case was predicated almost completely on the dehydration, leading to embolism, leading to death. If you can't establish that, there is nothing to support the abuse charge.<ref>{{cite news |first=Howard |last=Troxler |title= A case so different from all the others |url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/061400/TampaBay/A_case_so_different_f.shtml |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |date=[[2000-06-14]] |accessdate=2007-04-22 }}</ref>}}
Scientologist "[[Operating Thetan|OT 8]]" Dr. David I. Minkoff had his license suspended on [[August 3]], [[2001]] for one year and was fined $10,000 for prescribing medicine to McPherson at the request of her FSO caretakers without having ever seen her.<ref name="Doctor suspended"/>
On [[April 29]], [[2002]], the church accused McPherson attorney Ken Dandar of professional misconduct and perjury and tried to get him removed from the case.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2002/04/29/TampaBay/Church_targets_lawsui.shtml Church targets lawsuit attorney] DEBORAH O'NEIL, St. Petersburg Times, April 29, 2002</ref>
On [[June 22]], [[2002]], Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Frank Quesada dismissed the count alleging that McPherson was falsely imprisoned on the McPherson's civil suit.
{{quote|Based on the undisputed facts of this case, plaintiff has not made and cannot make a showing that Lisa McPherson was unlawfully restrained "against her will' by the defendants." "In fact, all of the evidence indicates the opposite. Lisa McPherson refused psychiatric observation or admission at the hospital; she expressly stated her desire to receive the religious care and assistance from her fellow congregants that she and they wanted her to have.<ref name="Scores round" />}}
Scientology conducted a survey in the Clearwater area which showed that four out of five residents have a negative opinion of Scientology.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/23/Tampabay/Church_requests_that_.shtml Church requests that trial be moved], St. Petersburg Times, May 23, 2003</ref> They tried to use this as a reason for a change of venue, then withdrew the request.<ref>[http://www.whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/spt030611.html Church drops venue change], St. Petersburg Times, June 11, 2003</ref>
Scientology sued attorney Ken Dandar for breach of contract, for having added [[David Miscavige]] to the wrongful death lawsuit despite a mutual agreement not to add additional defendants. In a 2003 jury trial, Scientology asked for over two million dollars in damages, but received only $4,500 in attorney fees and no punitive damages.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/20/Tampabay/Scientology_seeks_mil.shtml Scientology seeks millions as punishment] ROBERT FARLEY, St. Petersburg Times, Aug 20, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/21/Tampabay/Scientology_wanted_mi.shtml Scientology wanted millions, gets $4,500] ROBERT FARLEY, St. Petersburg Times, Aug 21, 2003</ref>
The civil suit was settled out of court on [[May 28]], [[2004]], under terms undisclosed to the public.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/29/Tampabay/Scientologists_settle.shtml Scientologists settle death suit] ROBERT FARLEY, St. Petersburg Times, May 29, 2004</ref><ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/06/Northpinellas/Church_settlement_bri.shtml Church settlement brings relief], ROBERT FARLEY, St. Petersburg Times, June 6, 2004</ref>
The Church of Scientology now makes members sign a waiver specifically against suing the Church over the Introspection Rundown.<ref>[http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/%7Edst/Scientology/ReleaseForms/Introspection.html The Lisa McPherson Clause: Scientology Moving to Secure Its 'Right' to Kill Again ] </ref>
During the civil suit against the Church of Scientology brought by McPherson's family members, an injunction was sought and obtained to keep the Scientology-critical film ''[[The Profit]]'' from being shown to avoid prejudicing the jury pool against Scientology.<ref>[http://www.theprofit.org/faq.html FAQ], theprofit.org</ref> A group of Scientology critics led by [[Bob Minton]] named the short-lived [[Lisa McPherson trust]] after her. Bob Minton later became a witness for the Church of Scientology, confessing to perjury in the wrongful death lawsuit.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/132723221.html?dids=132723221:132723221&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT How Scientology turned its biggest critic] July 7, 2002</ref>
==See also==
*[[Project Chanology]] -- worldwide protests held against Scientology on February 10, 2008, Lisa McPherson's birthday.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.lisamcpherson.org Lisa McPherson Memorial website] Created by long time critic of Scientology, Jeff Jacobsen
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