CHURCH SUES TO RETRIEVE CONFIDENTIAL PAPERS FROM GTA

CHURCH SUES TO RETRIEVE CONFIDENTIAL PAPERS FROM GTA

Pastor's Report Staff

As Mr. Armstrong says in his letter, the Church has filed a lawsuit asking the courts to force Garner Ted Armstrong to return 15 to 20 boxes of confidential documents and papers to the Church's administrative offices. Since he is disfellowshipped and no longer in the employ of the Church, Ted Armstrong has no legal right to possess confidential ecclesiastical material, financial reports, accountings, ledgers and records — all of which are plainly Church property.

Under California law an employee has no right to take with him the employer's property when he leaves or is terminated. This statute is based on the well-known principle of law that forbids an agent or trustee from using the "trust property" or "powers" conferred on him for any unauthorized benefit either during or after his employment.

Further, a California court has held that even where a trustee of a church argued he was improperly removed, the church property in his possession by virtue of his responsibilities, must be returned to the church.