The Mormon Church requested a delay in their hearing in front of the JPML over the consolidation of sexual abuse lawsuits, citing an upcoming mediation that could resolve many of the cases that allege systematic cover-ups of child sexual abuse in the LDS Church. This request to hold off until the mediation is over could mean they intend to settle.
LDS Church Requests Delay Ahead of Scheduled Mediation
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (sometimes known as the LDS or Mormon Church) recently asked to postpone an important hearing before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) until after the mediation, which is scheduled for April. Their attorneys have stated that the mediation could resolve many of the sexual abuse lawsuits currently filed against the church.
The litigation, titled "In re Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Sexual Abuse Litigation" (No. 24-2990 - JPML), involves serious allegations that the church's leadership systematically concealed reports of sexual abuse committed against children and minors by congregants and leaders. According to court filings on March 7, 2025, attorneys for the LDS church requested moving the scheduled hearing from March 27, 2025, to May 29, 2025, due to a mediation session scheduled for April 10, 2025.
Upcoming Mediation Could Resolve Many Mormon Sexual Abuse Cases
The mediation session includes a significant majority of the plaintiffs—39 of the 48 cases currently involved.
The plaintiffs have made clear they do not oppose the request for delay.
If mediation successfully resolves these cases, it could significantly limit the scope of the entire litigation and make an MDL unnecessary.
However, if mediation efforts fail, the JPML hearing will be rescheduled to May 29, 2025 where the dozens of cases are likely to be consolidated into an MDL in California.
Plaintiffs have pushed for centralization due to the similarity of the cases across the lawsuits. Centralization would streamline court procedures, prevent inconsistent rulings, and save judicial resources. If the MDL works like it's supposed to, it would also help the victims get justice faster.
Allegations of Systematic Cover-Up of Abuse Allegations by LDS Church
Plaintiffs accuse the LDS Church of systematically hiding credible reports of sexual abuse involving minors.
A huge red flag in this case is the accusation of an internal "Help Line," which plaintiffs allege was designed not to support the victims but to allow church leadership to get ahead of the allegation, manage the victim, and conceal the abuse report.
Allegedly, these reports were neither shared with law enforcement nor properly documented by the Mormon Church itself. In fact, the LDS has been accused of destroying any documented reports in order to get rid of incriminating, crucial evidence, which has made this litigation even more complicated.
Find Out If You Have A Claim Against The LDS Church
If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse involving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Our compassionate and experienced attorneys specialize in sexual abuse litigation and have handled thousands of cases against powerful organizations just like the LDS, including those involving the Catholic church, healthcare providers, schools, juvenile detention centers, and so many others.
Contact us today for a confidential consultation with a compassionate attorney to discuss your potential claim and where you can go from here.
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