The Region - News from Aug. 20, 1986

Hundreds of Scientologists boarded buses in Hollywood and headed for Sacramento to lobby for legislation that would preclude the paying of punitive damages by churches. The four-day caravan was prompted by a $30-million Los Angeles Superior Court jury award to former Scientologist Larry Wollersheim, who claimed that the church ruined his business and nearly drove him insane when he resisted its teachings. All but $5 million of the award was for punitive damages. The Scientologists, after rallies en route at Bakersfield and Fresno city halls, plan to gather today at the state Supreme Court in San Francisco before boarding 50 boats to sail up the Sacramento River to Sacramento, where they will rally Thursday morning in front of the Capitol. They are pushing for passage of a bill by state Sen. John Doolittle (R-Citrus Heights).