Ex-Scientology Official: Church Spent Millions to Cover Up Death

A former Church of Scientology official claims the organization spent up to $30 million to cover up the 1995 death of Lisa McPherson in Clearwater, according to an ABC Action News reports.

The Tampa attorney who represented McPherson's family after she died, told the news station he has sworn statements from Scientology's former No. 2 in charge, Marty Rathbun, alleging that the church spent lavishly on perks to try to influence judges and attorneys in the McPherson case.

Attorney Ken Dandar is now being sued by the Church of Scientology, which says Dandar failed to adhere to a settlement agreement from the McPherson wrongful death suit that said he would never again represent someone suing Scientology, the Tampa Bay Times reports. The church is seeking more than $1 million in attorneys' fees.

McPherson, a Scientologist, was involved in a car accident and spent 17 days in the care of the church at the Fort Harrison Hotel before she died. An autopsy showed she was severely dehydrated. Criminal charges against the church were dropped when the Pinellas County Medical Examiner changed McPherson's cause of death from undetermined to accidental, ABC reports.

A church spokeswoman called Dandar's claims false and scandalous, the Times reports.

Dandar's case is scheduled to be heard next week in a Clearwater courtroom, according to ABC.

See more in ABC's full video report.