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LDS Church Sex Abuse Lawsuits

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In recent years, churches and religious organizations have faced mounting liabilities related to civil sex abuse lawsuits. This page will look at civil sex abuse lawsuits involving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the “LDS Church”), which is often referred to as the Mormon Church. We will explain the legal claims that can be asserted in these cases to hold the LDS Church liable, and we will examine the potential settlement value of Mormon Church sex abuse lawsuits.

About the LDS Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often abbreviated as the LDS Church or informally known as the Mormon Church) is a Christian denomination founded in the early 19th century in the United States. The LDS Church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and a large percentage of LDS members live in Utah.

The LDS Church is fairly large in terms of the size of its members. There are nearly 7 million LDS Church members in the U.S. and another 8 million outside the U.S. The Mormon church also has significant financial resources compared to many other churches.

The net worth of the LDS church is currently estimated to be around $265 billion – with “tithing” donations from church members estimated at $5 billion annually. That makes the Mormon church one of the wealthiest religious institutions in the world. If the LDS Church were a corporation it would rank on the Fortune 500.

Sex Abuse Claims Against The LDS Church

Like all churches in the U.S. recently, the LDS Church has faced several allegations and legal cases related to sexual abuse, some involving church leaders, volunteers, or members. These claims have raised concerns over how the church has handled reports of abuse and its failure or reluctance to address issues of abuse aggressively.

In recent years, multiple plaintiffs have alleged that the Church and various officials failed to adequately protect their children from sexual abuse. While some civil cases have concluded with confidential settlements, Church leadership has consistently denied any misconduct, leading to accusations that institutional preservation is more important to the church than the well-being and needs of abuse survivors.

The LDS “Help Line”

One of the sharpest criticisms of the LDS church and its response to sexual abuse has been the church’s sexual abuse “Help Line.” The LDS Church sex abuse “help line” is actually operated by the its defense law firm, Kirton McConkie. Not surprisingly, the help line appears to be primarily focused on chilling claims and limiting the church’s legal liabilities.

The LDS Church help line drew national attention and scorn after a high profile lawsuit filed in Arizona in 2022. The lawsuit accused the church of failing to report child sexual abuse after it was disclosed in a bishop’s interview. The bishop contacted the LDS “help line” and was reportedly advised not to report, citing clergy-penitent privilege. This case drew national media attention.

Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Churches

Until recently, survivors of sexual abuse by clergy or within religious institutions had limited legal recourse. Civil lawsuits were often barred due to expired statutes of limitations, preventing many victims from seeking justice.

Today, however, legislative changes are shifting the landscape. Numerous states have revised their laws to extend—or in some cases, eliminate—the statute of limitations for civil claims related to sexual abuse. Additionally, growing evidence that some church authorities were aware of the abuse and actively worked to conceal it has increasingly opened the door for holding religious institutions accountable in court.

The new laws expanding the legal deadlines for filing claims, combined with increased public attention and awareness have led to a growing wave of church sex abuse lawsuits over the last decade. Most of the focus of these lawsuits has been on abuse within the Catholic Church, but the LDS Church and other institutions have facing significant liability and claims also.

Holding Churches Liable For Sexual Abuse

Churches can be held liable for sexual abuse based on negligence. In many situations, churches have a legal duty to ensure that church members (including children) are reasonably safe. This duty includes an obligation to ensure that clergy or other church officials are not sexually abusing children under their supervision.

When a church negligently breaches this duty, it can be held liable in a civil lawsuit if that negligence resulted in sexual abuse. Most negligence claims against the LDS and other churches involve allegations that the church was negligent in failing to properly investigate allegations of abuse by church officials, and in some cases actively covering up that abuse.

Damages Available In LDS Sex Abuse Cases

Victims who successfully pursue sexual abuse lawsuits against the LDS Church may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Civil damages in these cases can cover a wide range of losses, including:

  • Medical Expenses: Survivors can receive compensation for all past and future medical costs directly related to the abuse, including long-term mental health counseling and therapy.
  • Pain and Suffering: Emotional and psychological trauma often represent the most substantial aspect of damages, given the profound and lasting impact of abuse.
  • Lost Income: If a survivor can demonstrate that the abuse affected their ability to earn income—either through lost job opportunities or reduced lifetime earnings—they may recover damages for that loss.
  • Punitive Damages: In some states, courts may award punitive damages to punish the institution or individual responsible and to deter similar misconduct in the future.

Settlements and Verdicts in LDS Sex Abuse Cases

Below are summaries of settlements and jury verdict payouts in sex abuse cases against churches.

$1,100,000 Settlement (Washington 2024): A very young boy was sexually molested and abused a over long time period at a pre-school that was operated and owned by the LDS Church. The lawsuit alleged that the abuse was reported to local bishops but they took no action and talked the parents out of pressing criminal charges.

$995,000 Settlement (California 2024): The LDS Church agreed to settle claims against it involving sexual abuse of a young girl by one of its LDS Church members. The plaintiff alleged that she repeatedly told church authorities about the abuse but they never did anything about it.

$1,000,000 Settlement (California 2023): The plaintiff was sexually abused by her stepfather over a period of many years. The abuse usually took place at the LDS church facilities during meetings, gatherings and other church events. The LDS Church was accused of negligently failing to investigation the allegations and complaints about abuse by the stepfather.

$95,000,000 Verdict (New York 2023): The plaintiff claimed that he was sexually abused in a car by a Catholic Priest back in the late 1970s. He was able to bring the claim based on new laws passed in NY reviving old claims for a limited time period. The verdict included $50 million in punitive damages.

Contact Us About LDS Sex Abuse Lawsuits

If you have a potential sex abuse lawsuit against the LDS Church, contact our national sex abuse lawyers today. Call us at 888-322-3010 or contact us online.