Here's the quote from a signed Declaration by Governing Body member, Gerrit Lösch, dated February 4, 2014 and filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego:
‘I do not answer to Watchtower. […] Watchtower does not have, and has never had, any authority over me.’
And here, for your viewing pleasure, is a link to a copy of that Declaration:
It's important to remember that Lösch had been a member of the Governing Body for almost twenty years when he signed this Declaration.