Leah Remini sues the Church of Scientology and its leader, alleging harassment, stalking and defamation

The actress Leah Remini has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, claiming she has suffered years of harassment, intimidation and defamation as part of an organized campaign of retaliation for her criticism of the church since leaving it a decade ago.

The 60-page lawsuit - filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to a statement by Remini's representatives - seeks a trial by jury and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a requirement that the church "cease and desist" its "unlawful conduct."

"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," Remini said in a news release she shared on Substack. "I believe I am not the first person targeted by Scientology and its operations, but I intend to be the last."

Remini starred alongside Kevin James in the CBS sitcom "The King of Queens."

Remini spent more than 35 years as a Scientologist, the lawsuit notes. She joined the church as a child and would go on to be a prominent public face of Scientology, commended and praised by its leaders and "held up as an example of a model Scientologist," the lawsuit says.

After leaving the church in 2013, though, the actress became a fierce and high-profile critic: She published a memoir in 2015, "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," and went on to host three seasons of the docuseries, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," on A&E.

The Church of Scientology is widely known for its associations with Hollywood celebrities, but it has become increasingly scrutinized in recent years amid allegations of abuse and manipulation by former members, in part due to Remini's docuseries and HBO's 2015 documentary, "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief," based on a book by Lawrence Wright. HBO and CNN share a parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.