Mormon Church Sex Abuse Lawsuits | December 2025

Survivors of sexual abuse connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church or the Mormon Church) are coming forward to seek justice, accountability, and healing. If you or someone you love experienced abuse by a Church leader, bishop, missionary, or affiliated institution, you may have legal options, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.

At Lawsuit Legal News, we provide trusted legal information to help survivors make informed decisions. Our site is supported by the Dolman Law Group, a nationally recognized law firm with experience representing abuse survivors in sensitive, high-impact litigation. Founding partner and lead attorney Matthew Dolman and his team are committed to helping clients navigate Mormon Church sexual abuse lawsuits with compassion, confidentiality, and strength.

You are not alone—and it’s never too late to speak with someone who will listen.

Why Survivors Are Filing Lawsuits Against the LDS Church

For decades, survivors of sexual abuse connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have spoken out about deeply personal and painful experiences often involving bishops, missionaries, youth leaders, Boy Scout leaders, or other Church authority figures. Many now allege that not only did abuse occur, but the Church actively enabled or concealed it.

Civil lawsuits filed across the country claim that the LDS Church:

• Failed to report known abusers to law enforcement
  
• Used internal hotlines and legal teams to suppress survivor reports
  
• Reassigned known offenders instead of removing them from leadership roles
  
• Fostered a culture of silence, shame, and victim-blaming
  

Some Church practices—such as worthiness interviews, where minors are asked private, inappropriate questions by male bishops—have also come under scrutiny for creating environments where abuse could occur unchecked.

Although no single class action or MDL (multidistrict litigation) has been formed, lawsuits continue to be filed in multiple states, often supported by lookback window laws that temporarily extend or eliminate the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse.

Filing a lawsuit is not just about compensation. It’s about having your story heard, holding powerful institutions accountable, and helping prevent future abuse. Legal action gives survivors a voice and a path toward healing.

Your Legal Options as a Survivor of LDS Church Sexual Abuse

If you experienced sexual abuse connected to the Mormon Church, you may have the right to file a civil lawsuit. These legal claims can help hold institutions accountable and provide financial support for the harm you've suffered, whether the abuse occurred recently or decades ago.

Who Can File a Lawsuit?

You may be eligible to file a claim if:

• You were sexually abused as a child or adult by a Mormon Church leader, member, or volunteer
  
• The abuse occurred through a church-affiliated program (such as youth groups or scouting)
  
• The Church failed to take action after learning about the abuse
  
• You were discouraged from reporting the abuse or pressured to stay silent
  

Some states have passed laws that allow survivors to file lawsuits even if the statute of limitations has expired. These lookback windows are often temporary, so it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible to learn about your options.

Do I Have to Go to Court?

Most cases are resolved through private settlements. That means you may never need to appear in court. Our legal team can handle negotiations and protect your privacy throughout the process.

Can I Stay Anonymous?

Yes. In many states, survivors can file under a pseudonym (such as “Jane Doe” or “John Doe”) to keep their identities confidential. Your attorney can also request that certain court records remain sealed to protect your privacy.

What if the Abuse Happened a Long Time Ago?

You may still be able to file a lawsuit. Many survivors don’t come forward until years, or even decades, after the abuse occurred. The law is changing in many states to give survivors more time to seek justice.

If you're unsure whether your experience qualifies, a confidential consultation with one of our qualified attorneys can help clarify your rights.

How the Team at Lawsuit Legal News Can Help

Lawsuit Legal News is more than just an information source. We’re backed by the legal team at Dolman Law Group, a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that represents survivors of sexual abuse and institutional misconduct.

Lead attorney Matthew Dolman has extensive experience helping injured clients hold powerful organizations accountable. He and his team understand how deeply personal these cases are and are committed to providing legal support that is both compassionate and strategic.

If you choose to take legal action, you will be represented by a team that:

• Respects your privacy and your choices
  
• Guides you through each step of the legal process
  
• Pursues your case with the goal of meaningful accountability
  
• Has a proven track record in sensitive, high-impact litigation
  

You don’t have to face this alone. Whether you’re ready to file a claim or just want to learn about your options, our team is here to help. Reach out for a free consultation today.

LDS Church Sexual Abuse Litigation Updates

With so many lawsuits pending against the LDS Church for past sexual abuse, the team at Lawsuit Legal News is keeping an eye on the progress made for survivors. We’ll continue to post litigation news here, so be sure to return often for the latest information about these cases.

December 1, 2025 - LDS Church Accused of Withholding Evidence in Maryland Abuse Case

New Allegations Against the Mormon Church

In a disturbing development, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is accused of omitting 19 pages of critical evidence in a Maryland sex abuse lawsuit, according to a report by the nonprofit watchdog group FLOODLIT.

• The lawsuit involves convicted child sex abuser Richard Kent James, who previously served as a Boy Scout leader and Mormon Church member.
  
• The omitted documents reportedly detail instances of abuse that occurred both before and after James's involvement with the Boy Scouts.
  
• The timing of these incidents is key because they challenge the Church’s attempt to push legal responsibility onto the Boy Scouts of America settlement trust, rather than defending the case directly in court.
  

“The Church appears to be manipulating the timeline to avoid accountability,” said one survivor advocate. “Withholding this kind of evidence undermines justice.”

Why This Matters

• Mixed Liability: If courts find that abuse happened outside the Boy Scouts’ jurisdiction, the LDS Church could be forced to face direct liability.
  
• Transparency Concerns: The omission raises broader questions about how evidence is handled in church abuse cases.
  
• Impact on Other Cases: This development may influence similar lawsuits where the Church seeks to shift responsibility.
  

Ongoing Private Settlements

While some high-profile lawsuits proceed, the Church continues to resolve many sex abuse claims through a private settlement process that operates outside the public court system:

• Survivors’ attorneys submit confidential case summaries to the Church.
  
• If the claims are deemed credible, settlement negotiations begin — with no judge, jury, or public hearing.
  
• This system remains controversial due to its lack of transparency and absence of formal oversight.

Looking Ahead

This latest controversy may lead to increased judicial scrutiny of the LDS Church's litigation tactics. Survivors’ attorneys hope it marks a shift away from secrecy and toward full accountability. Lawsuit Legal News will continue monitoring these cases closely as the litigation evolves.

November 1, 2025

New Washington State Lawsuit Accuses LDS Church of Enabling Convicted Sex Offender and Ignoring Pedophile’s History

A new lawsuit filed in Washington State alleges that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church or Mormon Church) knowingly allowed a convicted pedophile to remain active in church life, giving him ongoing access to children.

The complaint, filed in October 2025, names David Herget, a former High Priest at the Mountlake Ward in Mountlake Terrace. Herget was convicted in 1993 of raping his 13-year-old daughter, yet according to the lawsuit, church officials later welcomed him back into leadership roles where he allegedly abused four boys between 2001 and 2005.

According to court documents:

• Herget served only 180 days of a seven-year sentence after senior church members allegedly wrote letters supporting leniency.
  
• Following his release, Herget was allowed to attend services, interact with children, and was rebaptized into the Church in 2002.
  
• In 2004, his High Priest status was reinstated, despite prior convictions for child rape.
  
• Plaintiffs allege that the Church ignored warnings about his behavior, allowing him to molest children—some as young as 5 years old—on church property, including in the parking lot.
  
• Herget was arrested in 2005 on 18 counts of child molestation and rape. He later died by suicide while in jail.
  

The four plaintiffs are seeking damages, attorney fees, and accountability from the Church, alleging gross negligence and failure to protect minors despite known risks.

Ongoing Confidential Settlement Program

This new lawsuit follows growing scrutiny over the LDS Church’s private settlement process for resolving sexual abuse claims. Rather than facing these cases in court, the Church is still working with select plaintiffs’ firms to settle claims behind closed doors.
While the system provides faster resolutions and avoids retraumatizing court experiences, critics say it lacks transparency and public accountability.

Why These Lawsuits Matter

The new Washington filing underscores a consistent theme across recent LDS abuse lawsuits:

• Claiming institutional negligence by the LDS Church in handling known offenders.
  
• Failures to protect children despite previous convictions or documented complaints.
  
• A preference for internal management of abuse allegations rather than public accountability.
  

As more survivors come forward, courts and the public are gaining insight into how the LDS Church has handled abuse claims across decades. Legal experts expect additional filings in 2025 and beyond as survivors pursue both confidential settlements and open litigation.

October 13, 2025 - New Lawsuit Alleges LDS Church Enabled Convicted Predator to Abuse Children in Washington

Dolman Law Group, a national heavyweight in institutional sexual abuse litigation, just filed a significant lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in King County, Washington. The complaint, filed on October 13th, if you can believe it, alleges the Church was not just negligent, but grossly negligent, in its management of the Mountlake Ward. Basically, they let a convicted child rapist, David Herget—seriously, a rapist—regain positions of trust that enabled him to sexually abuse at least four young boys between 2001 and 2005.

The lawsuit asserts that the LDS Church was absolutely aware of David Herget's criminal history, yet failed to protect vulnerable children. David Herget, convicted of raping his own daughter in 1993, was excommunicated but later welcomed back into the Church, which is nuts, eventually being reinstated as a High Priest by 2004. And that's the kicker. This position of authority, the lawsuit claims, provided him with direct, private access to kids in the congregation. Think about that for a second.

Allegations Detail a Pattern of Institutional Failure

According to the complaint, here’s the real institutional failure: the Church empowered David Herget by calling him to perform tasks that required close, unsupervised contact with young children. This included creating and distributing "special programs" with candy to young boys and enlisting them to work alone with him at his home. These activities, which the ward and stake leaders had to have seen, became perfect, disgusting tools for grooming and abuse.

The four plaintiffs, identified in the suit as John Doe #1 through John Doe #4, allege that David Herget used his access and authority to groom and sexually assault them, with victims being horrifyingly as young as five years old. The abuse, which included repeated acts of sexual assault, continued for four years right up until David Herget's arrest in 2005 on multiple sex crime charges. He later took his own life while in custody.

The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages from the LDS Church for the "profound physical and emotional injuries" inflicted on the plaintiffs. And frankly, it should be a colossal amount.

Dolman Law Group's Role in LDS Sexual Abuse Litigation

This Washington case is the latest in a growing number of lawsuits filed against the LDS Church nationwide, a legal movement in which Dolman Law Group has played a large—and I mean, instrumental—role. The firm represents survivors across the country, challenging what is alleged to be a systemic, deeply ingrained pattern within the LDS Church of prioritizing their institutional reputation and internal resolution over doing the right thing and reporting abuse to civil authorities.

In response to the filing, Stan Gipe of Dolman Law Group stated, "For years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints allowed this depraved sexual offender to have unrestricted access to countless children, the most vulnerable members of their community. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the LDS church is held fully accountable for their purposeful neglect of these children." It’s a strong statement, and honestly, it’s about time someone forced a systemic change.

September 1, 2025

The LDS Church continues to privately settle sexual abuse claims through a confidential process handled directly with select law firms. Settlement amounts vary, with stronger, well-documented cases receiving higher offers. This process avoids public court proceedings and emphasizes privacy and efficiency for survivors.

August 1, 2025

More than 300 sexual abuse claims have now been submitted against the LDS Church through private negotiations. A proposed settlement covering over 100 lawsuits filed in California is expected to be finalized soon. These cases were brought under a law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse.

July 1, 2025

Attorneys report that LDS Church settlement offers are closely tied to the quality of evidence. Survivors with documentation—such as contemporaneous reports or situations involving known offenders in Church leadership—are receiving significantly higher offers. This highlights the importance of legal representation when navigating the settlement process.

June 1, 2025

Rather than using a class action or MDL, the LDS Church is resolving claims individually through private settlement channels. Law firms submit case inventories, and each claim is reviewed behind closed doors. Outcomes depend entirely on the documentation presented and whether a firm is participating in this unofficial resolution system.

May 1, 2025

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied a request to combine LDS Church abuse lawsuits into an MDL. The panel found the cases too factually distinct. While there’s no centralized litigation, individual lawsuits are moving forward, often with informal collaboration among leading plaintiffs' firms.

Frequently Asked Questions About LDS Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

What happens during a free legal consultation?

During your consultation, our legal team will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your potential legal options. You won’t be pressured to move forward, and everything you share will remain confidential.

Do I have to file a police report before filing a lawsuit?

No. Civil lawsuits can be filed independently of any criminal investigation. You do not need a police report to pursue legal action, though it can strengthen your case if one exists and/or if the abuser was found guilty of a crime based on the abuse.

What if I already told someone at the Church about the abuse?

You may still have a legal claim, especially if the Church failed to take action or discouraged you from reporting the abuse outside the organization. Let our attorneys know about any prior disclosures or attempts to seek help, and we can explain how it may support your claim.

Will my case be public?

Not necessarily. Many survivors are able to file anonymously, and courts may agree to seal sensitive documents from the media and the general public. Your attorney will work with you to protect your identity whenever possible, if that is what you prefer.

What if I live in a different state from where the abuse happened?

Your attorney will help determine where to file your claim based on the details of your case. It’s common for abuse survivors to live in a different location than where the misconduct originally occurred.

How long do I have to decide?

That depends on your state’s statute of limitations, which can vary based on your age, when the abuse was discovered, or recent changes in the law. Some deadlines are approaching quickly, so it’s best to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible—even if you’re still unsure about taking legal action.

When You are Ready, Take the First Step Toward Justice

Coming forward after experiencing sexual abuse is never easy. But you don’t have to do it alone. If you were harmed by someone connected to the LDS Church, you may have legal options, and support is available.

At Lawsuit Legal News, we’re here to provide clear information and connect you with experienced legal advocates who will listen to your story, guide you through the complex legal process, and fight for your rights every step of the way. Your voice matters, and your story deserves to be heard.

Call (866) 535-9515 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation today.