WASHINGTON: The Church of Scientology is facing a multimillion-dollar wave of lawsuits from defectors who claim it misused donations to pay for its leader's lavish lifestyle.

A couple from California, who alleged they were defrauded of US$420,000 ($402,000) filed this week what their lawyer said would be the first of up to 20 cases being prepared against the church, which denied any wrongdoing.

Facing multimillion-dollar lawsuits ... Church of Scientology. Credit:AFP

Luis and Maria Garcia, of Irvine, who fled the church in 2010, claimed they gave it money for building projects that were never completed and humanitarian initiatives that were never carried out.

In the 35-page lawsuit filed in Florida, they blamed David Miscavige, the church's charismatic leader for the past 25 years and the best man at the last wedding of Hollywood star Tom Cruise, its most famous member.