Paul Morantz Explained

Paul Morantz
Birth Name:Paul Robert Morantz[1]
Birth Date:August 16, 1945
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Paul Robert Morantz (August 16, 1945 – October 23, 2022) was an American attorney and investigative journalist. He was known for taking legal cases alleging brainwashing by cults and self-help groups and for sexual misconduct by psychotherapists.[2] [3] [4] His successful prosecution of Synanon led to an attempt against his life by means of a rattlesnake placed in his mailbox.[2] [5] [6] [7]

Early life and career

Morantz was born and raised in Southern California. After high school, he served in the United States Army in 1963 for six months as a reservist. He then attended Santa Monica City College and the University of Southern California (USC) as a journalism major.[8] Morantz became a sportswriter for the USC school newspaper the Daily Trojan. In 1967, he interviewed O. J. Simpson. Later that year he became co-sports editor of the Daily Trojan along with Lance Spiegel.[9]

In 1968, the Los Angeles Times offered Morantz a job as a sportswriter but he chose to go to law school instead. While in law school, Morantz took a position writing for the Pigskin Review. He played for USC Law School in the basketball intramural league.[10]

After graduation, Morantz became a Los Angeles public defender. He left the public defender's office in 1973 and worked part-time as both a lawyer and writer. During this time, he developed his feature-length article on surf singers Jan and Dean that was later published in Rolling Stone magazine and wrote the story for the made-for-television movie.[11] [12]

Litigation history

Nursing home kidnappings

In 1974, Morantz uncovered a criminal conspiracy to kidnap homeless alcoholics and place them in nursing homes where they were kept sedated with Thorazine while the state was billed through Medical/Medicare and their social security checks taken. Los Angeles County supervisors called for a four-point probe on January 23, 1975 after hearing testimony that patients were often sedated, their ability to communicate with anyone outside the institution restricted, and were detained in facilities behind locked gates and barbed wire if they tried to leave.[13] [14] Morantz filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the former patients, testified on nursing home abuses during the public hearings and aided in the creation of a district attorney task force on nursing home crimes.[15] [16]

Synanon

In 1977, Morantz investigated the drug rehabilitation institution Synanon, which had a reputation as a seemingly successful program for rehabilitating drug addicts where existing traditional hospitals had failed. Its founder, Charles Dederich, a former alcoholic, established Synanon in 1958 as a non-medical self-help program that included the "Game", a session in which participants acted out hostilities and sought the truth about themselves while not being bound by the truth in making critical attacks on each other. Synanon claimed it had cured thousands but by 1967, Dederich turned the organization into a "lifestyle" by recruiting non-addicts ("Squares") and building cities in Marin County, Tulare County and eventually Lake Havasu.

In 1974, Synanon declared itself a religion and centered on middle-class searching for utopia rather than addiction curing. By then Synanon's assets, including real estate, ten aircraft, 400 cars, trucks, and motorcycles, totaled around $33 million. Its advertising and specialty-gifts business netted $2.4 million in 1976, while donations and other income added another $5.5 million. Rules were passed mandating non-smoking, dieting, exercise programs, group marriages, shaved heads, vasectomies, abortions, and exchanging mates. Approximately 200 couples "changed partners". Members were trained in "Syndo" (martial arts) with the elite placed in the Imperial Marines, who were trained to commit violence against their enemies.[17] [18] [19]

By 1977, Morantz was warning government authorities Dederich was mandating violence against its enemies ("a reign of terror") and filing lawsuits on behalf of ex-members and victims.[20] [21] Morantz would later state in 1985 that he was among 50 victims of a Synanon "reign of terror" from 1975 to 1978.[22]

Rattlesnake attack

Synanon members began to exhibit violent behavior, which culminated in 1978 when Dederich inspired followers to try to kill Morantz.[23] Three weeks earlier, Morantz had won a $300,000 judgment against Synanon on behalf of a married couple. The couple claimed the wife had been held captive by Synanon, and during her stay, leaders at Synanon attempted to brainwash her.

On October 10, 1978, Morantz was bitten by a rattlesnake placed in his mailbox, at his home in Pacific Palisades. A neighbor applied a tourniquet to save Morantz's life and called paramedics, who killed the snake. Police discovered the rattlesnake's rattles had been removed so the snake could attack without warning. Morantz was hospitalized for six days.[24]

Werner Erhard and est

In May 1978, Werner Erhard and est officials offered to train the entire city of Parlier, located in the San Joaquin Valley, for free. Two city councilmen who had taken training endorsed it but many town members dropped out after training started and a controversy over est's presence in the community arose. Morantz came to Parlier to help the town. Morantz called the free training offer an attempt to use the tools of coercive persuasion on an entire community. "The whole thing I saw there scared me", said Morantz. "It really was one of the scarier things I've ever seen."[25]

Morantz then went to Deputy Chief Barry Wade of the Los Angeles Police Department and the LAPD police union in effort to stop est from providing free est trainings for LAPD officers. After Morantz's contact and warnings, LAPD and its Union ended associations and training with est after one session had taken place.[26]

The Center for Feeling Therapy

Morantz represented approximately forty ex-members of the Center for Feeling Therapy who, after nine years, rebelled against the Center, leading to its closure in 1980. Many of its former members later sued the founding therapists in what was then the largest psychology malpractice lawsuit in California history.[27] [28] The Center, a product of the Human Potential Movement, splintered from Primal Therapy and was led by Richard "Riggs" Corriere and Joseph Hart who referred to themselves as the "Butch Cassidy and Sundance kid of Psychotherapy" and as the "New Freuds". It also resulted in the removal of many of their therapists’ licenses.[29] [30] [31]

During the course of litigation, the California Court of Appeals in Rains v. Superior Court (Center for Feeling Therapy Psychological Corp.) ruled in Morantz's favor that the Center's use of physical punching ("Sluggo therapy") could be the basis for a battery claim despite patient consent to being hit.[32]

Seven years after the therapeutic community ended, Corriere and Hart's licenses were removed. Four psychologists were found guilty of acts of gross negligence, incompetence, patient abuse, aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of psychology, and false advertising after a 94-day hearing before Administrative Law Judge Robert A. Neher.[33]

Molko v. Holy Spirit Ass'n for the Unification of World Christianity

See main article: Molko v. Holy Spirit Ass'n for the Unification of World Christianity.

Morantz gave pro-bono assistance to the plaintiffs in the Molko case in which the California Supreme Court would decide if religious organizations could be sued for deceitful brainwashing. In 1988, following his investigation into the Unification Church, the state high court held that religious organizations may be sued for fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress when they use brainwashing techniques.[34] [35] [36] [37] [38]

John Gottuso

In 1988, Morantz successfully took on representation of former female patients of preacher-psychotherapist John Gottuso for sexual misconduct with his patients as an aid to their psychological and spiritual life.[39] [40] As a result, the pastor/therapist of Park View Christian Fellowship in California lost his license to practice psychotherapy as well as the right to be involved in his church's pre-school.[41]

A decade later, Morantz again represented another six adults and five former students in a 1996 civil lawsuit against Gottuso, his church, and its private school.[42] [43] The suit for sexual abuse and psychological abuse was settled in March 1998 for $3,200,000.[44] In response to this case, California passed related legislation prohibiting private school teachers who, by their past actions, could not teach in public schools.[45] [46] [47]

Other cases, legislation and law enforcement

Morantz litigated against the Church of Scientology, Peoples Temple, Hare Krishnas, Rajneesh movement, and other religious groups.[48] [49] He also worked alongside of anti-cult attorney Ford Greene and Los Angeles County class action lawsuit attorney Thomas Girardi.[50]

Morantz collaborated with thought reform theorists and anti-cultist authors such as Margaret Singer and Louis Jolyon West among others.[51] [52] He helped write the California law setting forth requirements under which a religious organization could be sued for punitive damages.[53] [54]

In Hall v. Great Western Bank (1991) 231 Cal. App. 3d 713 [282 Cal.Rptr. 640] Morantz argued successfully banks could not fire employees for reasons that would violate public policy.[55]

In 2013, the City Council of Santa Monica gave Morantz a commendation signed by the Santa Monica Mayor for his cases against Synanon and dedication to welfare of others.[56]

Personal life

Morantz had one child, Chaz, who survived him. He died on October 23, 2022, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 77 years old.[57]

Publications and other works

Books

Journalism

Screenplays

External links

Media

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paul Robert Morantz Profile | Pacific Palisades, CA Lawyer | Martindale.com. www.martindale.com. May 12, 2023.
  2. Web site: Not all lawyers should be at the bottom of the sea... Paul Morantz, anti-cult litigator, is one of them... – Factnet: Public Dialog on Global Warming & Human Rights Issues . factnet.org . September 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160827181409/http://factnet.org/not-all-lawyers-should-be-bottom-sea-paul-morantz-anti-cult-litigator-one-them/. August 27, 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: Escape . goodreads.com . September 24, 2016.
  4. Web site: Amazon.com: Paul Morantz: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle . amazon.com . September 24, 2016.
  5. Web site: Morrantz . Paul . The True Story of the Rattlesnake in the Mailbox . July 24, 2011 . 2009.
  6. News: Nation: The Snake in the Mailbox . https://web.archive.org/web/20070513060830/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946091,00.html. dead. May 13, 2007 . July 24, 2011 . TIME Magazine . October 23, 1978.
  7. News: Associated Press . Two Arrests in Rattlesnake Plot . July 24, 2011 . Ocala Star-Banner . October 13, 1978.
  8. Web site: Morrantz . Paul . The Agony and the Ecstasy: Autobiography Part 1 of 4. . August 3, 2011 . January 11, 2010.
  9. News: About this issue . https://web.archive.org/web/20121107143320/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/685283992.html?dids=685283992:685283992&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+09,+1972&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=ABOUT+THIS+ISSUE&pqatl=google . dead . November 7, 2012 . August 3, 2011 . West Magazine supplement of the Los Angeles Times . July 9, 1972.
  10. Web site: Morrantz . Paul . The Agony and the Ecstasy: Autobiography Part 2 of 4. . August 3, 2011 . January 11, 2010.
  11. Web site: Jan & Dean Photo Galleries – Jan Berry's Celebration of Life/Paul Morantz . September 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160923071800/http://jananddean-janberry.com/photogalleries/displayimage.php?album=14&pos=36. September 23, 2016. dead.
  12. Book: Moore, Mark A. . The Jan & Dean Record: A Chronology of Studio Sessions, Live Performances and Chart Positions . February 18, 2016 . McFarland . 9781476622903 . September 24, 2016 . Google Books.
  13. News: Peterson . Joyce . Probe into Alleged Detention of Alcoholics Ordered . August 10, 2011 . The Van Nuys News . January 24, 1975.
  14. News: Swann . Noel . Alcoholic detention being probed . August 10, 2011 . Long Beach Independent . January 24, 1975 . B-1.
  15. News: T.B. Renfroe dies . Los Angeles Times . 1976.
  16. News: Trout . Narda Z. . Supervisors Told of Alleged Scheme to Hold Alcoholics . https://web.archive.org/web/20121107123543/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/602611662.html?dids=602611662:602611662&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+24,+1975&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Supervisors+Told+of+Alleged+Scheme+to+Hold+Alcoholics&pqatl=google . dead . November 7, 2012 . July 24, 2011 . Los Angeles Times . January 24, 1975.
  17. News: Nation: Life at Synanon Is Swinging . https://web.archive.org/web/20081215122257/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919202,00.html . dead . December 15, 2008 . July 23, 2011 . TIME Magazine . December 26, 1977.
  18. News: Jackovich . Karen G. . Synanon Leader Chuck Dederich Finds Himself Charged in the Notorious Snakebite Case . July 24, 2011 . People Magazine . December 18, 1978.
  19. News: Van Gelder . Lawrence . Charles Dederich, founder of cult-like religious group Synanon, dies at 83 . July 28, 2011 . The New York Times . March 4, 1997.
  20. http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/754/754.F2d.395.84-5389.84-5388.html District of Columbia Circuit Court, Case No. 754 F.2d 395
  21. News: Rubenstein . Steve . Margaret Singer – expert on brainwashing . July 24, 2011 . San Francisco Chronicle . November 25, 2003.
  22. News: Rohrlich . Ted . Synanon Founder's Bid to Cut Probation Fails . https://archive.today/20130125200730/http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_title.asp?ID=38598. dead. January 25, 2013 . July 26, 2011 . Los Angeles Times . March 6, 1985.
  23. News: Dougherty . John . Children of Synanon . July 29, 2011 . Phoenix New Times . October 10, 1996.
  24. Web site: Charles Dederich, 83, Synanon Founder, Dies . March 4, 1997 . The New York Times . September 24, 2016.
  25. News: Murphy . Tom . Associated Press. EST takes over entire Calif. town. The Stanford Daily. 177. 34 . 1980-04-11 . 8 . 2022-12-29 .
  26. News: Pristin . Terry . Getting the Most-est out of a Police Force . Los Angeles Herald Examiner. September 29, 1978.
  27. Web site: Morantz . Paul . Escape From The Center For Feeling Therapy (The Cult Of Cruelty) . July 23, 2011.
  28. Book: Mithers, Carol Lynn . Therapy Gone Mad: The True Story of Hundreds of Patients and a Generation Betrayed . 1994 . Perseus Books . 0-201-57071-8. registration .
  29. News: Timnick . Lois . Licenses of Mental Health Therapists Targeted in Major California Malpractice Case . July 23, 2011 . Los Angeles Times . April 21, 1986. https://web.archive.org/web/20120609111911/http://www.icsahome.com/logon/elibdocview.asp?Subject=CULTISM+AND+THE+LAW:+Licenses+of+Mental+Health+Therapists+Targeted+in+Major+California+Malpractice+Case. June 9, 2012. dead.
  30. News: Timnick . Lois . Psychologists in 'Feeling Therapy' Lose Licenses . July 23, 2011 . Los Angeles Times . September 30, 1987.
  31. Web site: Singer . Margaret T. . Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control . February 4, 2024. Harold Goldstein . Michael D. Langone . Jesse S. Miller . Maurice K. Temerlin . Louis J. West . November 1986.
  32. https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14075774545056476988&hl=en&as_sdt=2&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr Rains v. Superior Court, 150 Cal. App. 3d 933
  33. Book: Ayella, Marybeth F. . Insane therapy: portrait of a psychotherapy cult . 1998 . Temple University Press . 1-56639-601-8 .
  34. Web site: Sipchen . Bob . Ten Years After Jonestown, the Battle Intensifies Over the Influence of 'Alternative' Religions . . November 17, 1988 .
  35. Web site: Not all lawyers should be at the bottom of the sea... Paul Morantz, anti-cult litigator, is one of them... . October 29, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151119180352/http://factnet.org/not-all-lawyers-should-be-bottom-sea-paul-morantz-anti-cult-litigator-one-them. November 19, 2015. dead.
  36. Web site: v. Holy Spirit . Molko . Molko v. Holy Spirit Assn. (1988) 46 Cal.3d 1092, 762 P.2d 46; 252 Cal.Rptr. 122 .
  37. News: Crown . Robert . Molko v. Holy Spirit Assn. .
  38. News: Mosk . Stanley . Molko v. Holy Spirit .
  39. Book: Langone, Michael D. . Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse . 1995 . W. W. Norton & Company . 0-393-31321-2 .
  40. News: Nelson . L. . Church practices revealed, counseling said to include sexual contact . Arcadia Highlander . August 3, 1988 . g.
  41. News: Milligan . M. . Arcadia counselor stripped of licenses . Pasadena Star-News . April 30, 1989 . A-8.
  42. News: Berry . Steve . Man With Sex-Abuse History Runs School . July 24, 2011 . Los Angeles Times . April 28, 1998.
  43. News: Minister to face three charges of molestation . Pasadena Star News . October 17, 1996 . Williams, Janette . Burry, Jennifer . A-1.
  44. News: Verdict: Use Simple Good Sense . Los Angeles Times . May 5, 1998.
  45. Web site: California Education Code, Section 33190-33191 . July 26, 2011.
  46. News: Girardot . Frank C. . Bill aims to close sex case loophole . Pasadena Star News . May 21, 1998 . A-1.
  47. News: Williams . Janette . Gottuso case spurs proposed change . Pasadena Star News . August 27, 1998 . A-3.
  48. http://law.justia.com/cases/california/calapp3d/232/1060.html Church of Scientology v. Armstrong (1991) 232 Cal. App. 3d 1060 [283 Cal.Rptr. 917], Superior Court of Los Angeles County
  49. News: Associated Press . $42 Million suit filed against Scientologists . July 28, 2011 . July 14, 1983.
  50. Web site: Morantz . Paul . Escape From The Center For Feeling Therapy: The Cult of Cruelty . July 27, 2011 . October 24, 2010.
  51. Web site: Paul Morrantz The Cult Expert Internet Archives . PaulMorantz.com . July 26, 2011.
  52. Web site: West . Louis J. . Cult Phenomenon – Mental Health, Legal and Religious Implications Lecture . Department of Continuing Education and Health Sciences of the UCLA extension; The NeuroPsychiatric Institute; Southern California Psychiatric Society . July 27, 2011 . Los Angeles, California. https://web.archive.org/web/20120316135955/http://www.holysmoke.org/cos/cult-overview-dr-west.htm. March 16, 2012. dead.
  53. Web site: Morrantz . Paul . Legislation and law . July 24, 2011 . October 2010.
  54. Web site: Restrictions on Claims for Punitive Damages Against Religious Corporations . California Code Civil Procedure § 425.14 . July 26, 2011.
  55. Web site: Hall v. Great Western Bank, 231 Cal. App. 3d 713 . California Court of Appeals, 2nd Appellate Dist., 4th Div. . July 26, 2011 . 1991.
  56. Web site: Book review. July 12, 2016 . October 13, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013095448/https://extern.peoplecheck.de/link.php?q=synanon&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsmdp.com%2Fbook-review-developing-a-cult-following%2F128691 . dead.
  57. News: Paul Morantz dies; L.A. attorney nearly killed when cult planted rattlesnake in his mailbox . Steve . Marble . October 28, 2022. October 29, 2022 . Los Angeles Times.
  58. News: TV: Jan and Dean Movie Being Presented Anew . C19 . Janet . Maslin . April 10, 1979. October 29, 2022 . The New York Times.
  59. Web site: Deadman's Curve – Credits . Turner Classic Movies. October 29, 2022.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Paul Morantz".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.