Getty ImagesRemini, pictured in 2019, accused the Church of Scientology of "mob-style operations and attacks"Leah Remini is taking legal action against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, for harassment and defamation.
The actress, who starred in sitcom The King of Queens, joined the Church in 1979 as a child and left in 2013.
Remini, 53, claims Scientology's "mob-style operations and attacks" have "significantly" impacted her life and career.
The Church of Scientology described the allegations as "pure lunacy".
In a statement, they said: "The Church is not intimidated by Remini's latest act of blatant harassment and attempt to prevent truthful free speech."
In a statement released to Variety, Remini said: "For 17 years, Scientology and David Miscavige have subjected me to what I believe to be psychological torture, defamation, surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, significantly impacting my life and career.
"I believe I am not the first person targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I intend to be the last."
According to the press release, Remini filed the lawsuit in the California Superior Court on Wednesday (2 August) in an attempt to "require Scientology, and any entity it controls and funds, to cease and desist its alleged practice of harassment, defamation, and other unlawful conduct against anyone who Scientology has labelled as an 'enemy.'"
Variety reports Remini is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the alleged harm Scientology has inflicted on her personal and professional life.
The press release refers to "OSA Network Orders" - a reference to directives alleged to be issued by the Church's Office of Special Affairs.
Remini alleges these orders are a series of retaliatory measures, said to have been implemented by the Church's founder L Ron Hubbard, to be taken against any individual or organisation that the Church deems to be an enemy.
Named defendants in the legal case are the Church of Scientology, Miscavige and Religious Technology Center, Inc., which, Remini alleges, manages policing operations and principally enforces Scientology's punishment orders.
Getty ImagesRemini (pictured with co-stars Kevin James and Jerry Stiller in 2007) is best known for starring in The King of QueensRemini alleges that a series of attacks meant to "obliterate" and "totally restrain and muzzle" her were "activated by OSA and their operatives." The case details alleged "coordinated campaigns" by the Church levied against Remini and her family, friends and business associates.
"With this lawsuit, I hope to protect my rights as afforded by the Constitution of the United States to speak the truth and report the facts about Scientology," Remini continued.
"I feel strongly that the banner of religious freedom does not give anyone licence to intimidate, harass and abuse those who exercise their First Amendment rights."
In a statement issued in response, the Church of Scientology said: "This lawsuit is ludicrous and the allegations pure lunacy.
"Remini spreads hate and falsehoods for a decade and is now offended when people exercise their right to free speech, exposing her for what she is - an anti-free speech bigot."
The statement on behalf of the Church claimed Remini had an "obsession with attacking her former religion, by spreading falsehoods and hate speech", and alleging that she had profited from speaking publicly about the Church via books, podcasts and television.
It continued: "Remini has spun entirely out of control by filing a frivolous lawsuit attempting to stop free speech exposing her false propaganda. Remini's decade of harassment and fabrications are all coming back to haunt her.
"If Remini can no longer get a job, she has nobody to blame but herself. Obviously everybody in Hollywood now knows what we already knew: That Remini is a horrible person and toxic to so many who have the misfortune to come in contact with her."
In 2015, Remini co-created and executive produced a documentary series about the Church, called Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, which ran for three seasons and won two Emmy Awards.
The actress is best known for starring in The King of Queens, a comedy which ran from 1998 until 2007 and is still regularly repeated in the UK by Channel 4.
In addition, she played smaller roles in Cheers, Friends, and NYPD Blue. She was also a regular panellist on US daytime show The Talk, and finished in fifth place in the 2013 series of Dancing With The Stars, the US version of Strictly.
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