Opinion ID: 1311766
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Singer/Benson Declarations

Text: In support of their theory, Molko and Leal sought to introduce the declarations of psychologist Dr. Margaret Singer and psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Benson. Both are experts on coercive persuasion and its use by religious groups. Drs. Singer and Benson examined Molko and Leal, and stated in their declarations that they believed the Unification Church's sophisticated indoctrination techniques had rendered Molko and Leal incapable of exercising their own will and judgment, or of responding independently upon learning of their deceptive recruitment. The trial court and Court of Appeal ruled the Singer and Benson declarations inadmissible on the grounds that (1) the doctors' testimony conflicted with that of Molko and Leal and (2) introducing the declarations would raise inquiries forbidden by the free exercise clause of the First Amendment. We disagree with both conclusions. The courts below found a conflict between (1) plaintiffs' statements that they joined the Church because it satisfied personal concerns and anxieties and (2) Singer's and Benson's statements that it was plaintiffs' unawareness of the Church's identity that caused them to stay. We perceive no such conflict. First, the very theory of coercive persuasion is that it operates, in part, by first amplifying the subject's personal concerns and anxieties and then providing a means of satisfying them. (Schein, Coercive Persuasion, supra, at pp. 117-258.) Second, the mere fact that the Church addressed plaintiffs' personal concerns and anxieties does not conclusively or necessarily establish that Molko and Leal would have chosen to associate with the Church had they known its identity. Thus, viewed in the light most favorable to Molko and Leal, both sets of statements are consistent with the contention that they were deceived into a situation in which they were then brainwashed. Accordingly, the Singer/Benson declarations are not, as the Church argues, made inadmissible by the rule in D'Amico v. Board of Medical Examiners (1974) 11 Cal.3d 1, 21 [112 Cal. Rptr. 786, 520 P.2d 10]. The courts below also held that the Singer and Benson declarations raised questions not allowable under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. We disagree, for reasons we will discuss momentarily. First, however, we must place the constitutional discussion in the correct perspective. The Court of Appeal declared that Molko and Leal's theory rest[ed] entirely on the Singer and Benson declarations. Accordingly, it framed its discussion in terms of whether the declarations' admission would run afoul of the First Amendment. While we reach the same issues under both the federal and state Constitutions, we do so in terms not of the declarations, but of the brainwashing theory itself. Although the Singer and Benson declarations provide a scientific basis for and lend support to plaintiffs' brainwashing theory, we find that the basic theory is amply stated in plaintiffs' own declarations. [12] Therefore, even if arguendo the declarations were correctly excluded, [13] their exclusion does not affect the brainwashing theory for purposes of summary judgment. Molko and Leal have stated an issue of fact; if the issue survives constitutional analysis, it must defeat summary judgment on their actions for fraud.