Mormon Church Lawsuits: Justice for LDS Sexual Abuse Survivors

1980s–2000s: Early Cases and Cover-Ups

Although many allegations of sexual abuse within the LDS Church date back decades, survivors often only found legal avenues in recent years due to changes in reporting laws and extended statutes of limitations. Several notable examples include:

• 1980s – Washington State: In January 2023, the LDS Church agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle a lawsuit involving a man who was sexually abused as a preschooler by a teenage volunteer in Tacoma during the 1980s. Plaintiffs alleged that local leaders knew of prior complaints but discouraged families from reporting to the police.
• 1980s–1990s – Utah: In September 2022, Carl Matthew Johnson, a former LDS bishop and mayor of West Bountiful, was arrested on charges that he sexually abused at least three children during this period. Investigators stated that victims had been told by church officials to remain silent about the abuse.
• 1980s – Oregon: A lawsuit filed in February 2021 accused youth leader Ron Kerlee of abusing a minor in the 1980s. Despite a sodomy conviction in 1983, plaintiffs allege the Church allowed him to continue serving in leadership roles for years.
• 1980s–1990s – California: In April 2025, a woman filed a lawsuit alleging that she was abused as a child beginning in Hayward at age six, and later in Modesto during the mid-1990s. The complaint describes repeated assaults by church members, including the son of a local bishop, that continued until she moved away.
• 1995 – California: As part of lawsuits filed in March 2025 under California’s look-back window, survivors described incidents from the mid-1990s, including one in which a boy reported abuse by his bishop to his father. Instead of helping, an LDS official allegedly warned the family they must support the abuser or risk excommunication.
• 1960s–1980s – Native American Foster Program: In November 2018, the Church settled lawsuits brought by members of the Navajo Nation and Crow Tribe of Montana, who alleged decades of abuse while enrolled in the Indian Student Placement Program. This foster initiative placed thousands of Native American youth in LDS homes from the 1960s until its closure in 2000.

2010s–Present: Growing Number of Lawsuits Nationwide

In recent years, survivors have filed a wave of lawsuits against the LDS Church, supported by shifting cultural movements and expanded legal rights. These cases expose decades of hidden abuse and highlight how institutional responses often failed to protect children and families:

• 2018–2019 – Indian Student Placement Program Cases: Survivors from the Navajo Nation and Crow Tribe alleged abuse in LDS foster homes dating back decades. The Church reached settlements, but the claims underscored long-term institutional failures.
• August 2022 – Arizona “Help Line” Case: An Associated Press report revealed that an LDS bishop relied on the church’s internal help line and was instructed not to alert authorities after a father admitted to abusing his 5-year-old daughter. This silence enabled years of continued abuse until the father’s 2017 arrest, drawing national criticism of the Church’s internal reporting system.
• January 2023 – Washington Settlement: The Church paid $1.1 million to resolve a lawsuit after a boy was abused by a teenage volunteer in the 1980s. Families alleged leaders knew of prior misconduct but discouraged police reporting.
• April 2023 – California Jury Verdict: A jury in Riverside County awarded $2.8 billion in damages to a woman who was abused for years by her stepfather. According to evidence, LDS leaders told her to forgive her abuser rather than involve law enforcement. The Church settled its share for $1 million before trial.
• September 2024 – Missouri and California Lawsuits: In Missouri, a lawsuit alleged that senior LDS leaders ignored or enabled abuse by Larry Deutsch, a former bishop now serving a 12-year federal sentence. In California, another suit claimed church leaders ignored repeated warnings while children were abused in Napa County during the 1990s.
• March 2025 – California Look-Back Window Filings: Nearly 100 survivors filed lawsuits under California’s revival law, recounting abuse by LDS leaders in the 1990s. Allegations included grooming, manipulation, and threats of spiritual punishment if victims spoke out.
• May 2025 – California Settlement: The Church agreed in principle to resolve more than 100 child sexual abuse lawsuits filed across California. Allegations included abuse by bishops and other leaders in San Diego County and beyond.

Arizona “Clergy-Penitent Privilege” Dispute

A closely watched case in Arizona focuses on whether an LDS bishop was legally obligated to report a church member’s confession of child sexual abuse to authorities. The lawsuit, initially dismissed in 2023 under the state’s clergy-penitent privilege, was reinstated by the Arizona Court of Appeals in July 2025. The appellate court ruled that a jury should determine whether the circumstances required mandatory reporting under Arizona law. In public statements, the Church has maintained that its leaders followed existing state law and announced plans to appeal the decision.

Lawsuits Filed in Texas Courts

Texas has seen multiple criminal convictions and civil lawsuits tied to LDS church members, underscoring the importance of holding the institution accountable. In 2019, Noel Anderson, a former LDS primary teacher in McKinney, Texas, was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to 50 years in prison. In San Antonio, Jared Anderson, once celebrated as a high school “teacher of the year” and Mormon youth leader, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for hosting sex parties with teenage boys. In the New Braunfels area, Emily Anderson, a Primary president within the Mormon Church, was convicted of sexually abusing children. FLOODLIT reports these cases.

These examples demonstrate that a Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuit in Texas is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern in which survivors argue the church ignored warnings about known abusers. By pursuing litigation, survivors are exposing long-standing failures to protect vulnerable members and demanding accountability in Texas courts and beyond.

A mass tort is a legal process where many individuals file separate lawsuits involving similar facts against the same defendant, and the court consolidates these cases for efficiency. Unlike a class action—where one judgment applies to everyone—each survivor in a mass tort maintains their own lawsuit, with damages assessed individually.

This structure matters in LDS sexual abuse litigation because survivors often share common claims: church leaders failed to report, protected abusers, or concealed misconduct. By moving forward together, survivors benefit from:

• Efficiency: Shared evidence and coordinated discovery reduce delays and costs.
• Strength in numbers: Collective voices carry more weight against a powerful institution.
• Individual justice: Each survivor’s story is still heard, and compensation is tailored to their unique harm.

For many, pursuing a Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuit within a mass tort setting provides both solidarity and legal strength—ensuring that no case is overlooked and that survivors stand on equal footing with the church’s legal resources.

Evidence That Strengthens an LDS Abuse Claim

When pursuing a Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuit, strong evidence is critical for demonstrating both the abuse itself and the institution’s knowledge or negligence. Courts recognize that many survivors were unable to come forward at the time, which means cases often rely on documentation that spans years or even decades.

Important forms of evidence can include:

• Police reports or criminal case files related to the abuser.
• Church records, such as appointment logs, callings, disciplinary council minutes, or correspondence.
• Contemporaneous notes or journals written by the survivor.
• Disclosures to others, including friends, teachers, or family members who can testify.
• Medical or psychological treatment records, showing trauma or therapy linked to the abuse.
• Emails, letters, or other written communications connected to the incident or reporting.
• Expert testimony from professionals on trauma and institutional responsibility.

Even when decades have passed, these pieces of evidence can be powerful. An experienced legal team knows how to locate and preserve institutional documents through subpoenas and discovery, ensuring that survivors are not left to shoulder the burden alone. By building a comprehensive evidentiary record, survivors maximize their ability to hold the LDS Church accountable and seek meaningful justice.

Deciding to file a Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuit is one of the most important steps a survivor can take toward justice. Choosing the right legal team can make all the difference. At Kherkher Garcia LLP, we bring more than 30 years of experience to the table, offering both legal knowledge and compassion for those who have endured abuse. We understand the sensitive nature of sexual abuse cases and guide survivors through each stage of the process with care and respect.

What sets us apart:

• Compassionate advocacy: We listen first, honoring each survivor’s story and prioritizing dignity at every step.
• Proven results: Our team has successfully handled complex sexual abuse litigation and obtained meaningful outcomes for clients.
• Deep resources: From investigators to trauma-informed experts, we use every tool necessary to build strong cases.
• Personalized approach: Each survivor’s journey is different, so we tailor our strategies to fit individual needs.
• Local strength, national reach: Based in Houston, we serve survivors across Texas while contributing to broader efforts for accountability.

At Kherkher Garcia LLP, pursuing legal action means more than filing a case. It means partnering with a trusted ally who is fiercely committed to uncovering the truth, achieving justice, and empowering survivors to reclaim their voices and their lives.