Tom Cruise named in Scientology lawsuit

Miami -- The Church of Scientology, along with its followers such as actor Tom Cruise, has unfairly earned millions of dollars, a federal lawsuit filed in Miami alleges.

Former Scientologist Peter Letterese alleges in a lawsuit filed July 15 in U.S. District Court that the spiritual group was operating like a "syndicate" that uses its influence to earn millions of dollars in donations, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

Letterese alleges Scientology head David Miscavage is "aided and abetted by the actions of Tom Cruise, his right-hand man for foreign and domestic promotion, as well as for foreign and domestic lobbying. He has assisted the syndicate in acquiring funds and (made) his own donations of money believed to be in the multiple tens of millions of dollars."

Meanwhile, Paul Barresi, an investigator hired by Cruise, said the actor was added to the $250 million federal lawsuit to draw more media attention, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Letterese is just using a celebrity name to get attention," Barresi said, referring to his "Top Gun" client.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.