‘Psychic’ James Van Praagh sues sister for using family name
James Van Praagh, who claims to be a psychic and medium, is suing his sister, Lynn van Praagh-Gratton, over the use of the family’s ‘good name.’
On her website Lynn says she is a “spiritual medium” who has the “gift of communicating on the other side with those who have passed” — pretty much the same nonsense her brother sells.
James says his sister is using her maiden name to cash in on his success, even though she took her husband’s surname, Gratton, four dacades ago. He argues in court papers that his sister’s use of the Van Praagh name will confuse and deceive the public.
A psychic confusing and deceiving the public? The nerve!
FLDS cannot interfere in administration of trust
In a unanimous decision, the Utah Supreme Court states that members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) cannot intervene in the administration of the United Effort Plan (UEP).
The trust, which controls the polygamous sect’s land, was taken over by the state in 2005 amid allegations by state attorneys that FLDS cult leader Warren Jeffs and other faith leaders had mismanaged its assets.
The UEP has been the subject of ongoing legal battles, but last November a Federal Appeals Court ruled that control of the trust remains with the state.
In her Polygamy Blog at the Salt Lake Tribune, Lindsay Whitehurst explains that in December 2010 “lawyers representing FLDS Church members asked to be able to intervene in the case after they argued that Wisan shouldn’t be able to sell the Berry Knoll Farm. The farm — which has never been sold — is owned by the trust and the FLDS lawyers argued that it was a site of religious significance.”
According to the FLDS, Joseph W. Musser, an early leader in the fundamentalist Mormon movement, prophesied in 1934 that Berry Knoll Farm would some day be a temple site.
This looks interesting: The Oxford Handbook of Religion and the American News Media. The book explores the historical relationship between religion and journalism in the USA, how religion is covered in different media, how different religions are reported on, the main narratives of religion coverage, and the religious press.
The handbook’s editor, Diane Winston, holds the Knight Chair in Media and Religion at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. She is considered a national authority on religion and the media as both a journalist and a scholar.
Narconon of Georgia Investigated for Insurance Fraud
Already facing a wrongful death and civil conspiracy lawsuit in the 2008 overdose of a patient and battling revocation of its license by state regulators, Narconon of Georgia is now being investigated because of allegations of insurance fraud.
Narconon, which treats patients based on the medical quackery promoted by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, is widely considered a front group for the Church of Scientology.
According to WSBRadio.com the Norcross facility is accused of trying to bill United Health Care $166,000 for treating a 19-year old woman, whose mother signed an agreement with Narconon that stated the complete cost of treatment was $15,000.
