Published
June 22, 2026
Survivors across several states allege they were sexually abused as children in connection with the LDS Church. Here is who may be able to file, why it is not a class action or MDL, and how a confidential case review works.
Allegations Only · Claims Are Unproven
This page describes civil lawsuits and reporting that contain unproven allegations. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints denies wrongdoing and has not been found liable in the cases that remain pending. Statements that the Church failed to report or concealed abuse are allegations made by plaintiffs or described in news reporting, not established findings. This page is general information, not legal advice.
What Is the Mormon Church Abuse Lawsuit About?
Across California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and other states, people who say they were sexually abused as children have filed civil lawsuits connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — widely known as the Mormon or LDS Church. Plaintiffs allege they were abused as minors by Church members, local leaders, or volunteers, or in Church settings and youth programs, and many of the suits allege the Church did not do enough to report known abuse or to protect children from it.A central allegation in several cases concerns the Church's confidential abuse "help line." A 2022 Associated Press investigation reported that the help line, which local lay leaders (bishops) are instructed to call when they learn of abuse, is staffed through the Church-owned law firm Kirton McConkie. Plaintiffs allege the line was used to route abuse reports to lawyers and limit the Church's legal exposure rather than to alert authorities. The Church disputes that characterization. In public statements, it said the AP report "seriously mischaracterized" the help line and that the line "has everything to do with protecting children and has nothing to do with cover-up." These allegations remain unproven.
Importantly, this is not a single class action, and — as explained below — it is not a federal MDL either. Each survivor's case is an individual lawsuit, and outcomes depend heavily on the facts and on the state where the abuse occurred.
Status
Attorneys Reviewing Claims
individual lawsuits ongoing · California reached a confidential settlement in principle for 100+ cases in 2025
Case Structure
Individual Lawsuits
not a class action · the JPML denied MDL centralization in April 2025
Cost to Review
$0
free, confidential case review · attorneys typically work on contingency
Filing Window
Varies by State
statutes of limitations and lookback windows differ — some are open, some have closed
Is the Mormon Church Abuse Lawsuit a Class Action or an MDL?
This is one of the most common questions, so here is the direct answer: it is neither a class action nor a multidistrict litigation (MDL).In February 2025, a group of plaintiffs asked the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to centralize the federal LDS abuse cases — at least 27 of which had been filed in the Central District of California — into a single MDL. On April 3, 2025, the JPML denied that request. The Panel found the cases were too factually varied to centralize, spanning decades of alleged conduct, different alleged abusers, and different Church policies over time. As a result, the abuse cases continue as separate lawsuits in the courts where they were filed.
One point of confusion is worth clearing up: there is an MDL with the Church's name on it — In re: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Tithing Litigation, MDL No. 3102, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. That case is about how member donations (tithing) were used and invested, not about sexual abuse, and a judge dismissed the lead complaint on statute-of-limitations grounds in 2025. It is a separate matter and should not be confused with the abuse litigation.
Instead of a federal MDL, much of the abuse litigation has been coordinated at the state level. In California, the cases were grouped through state-court coordination, and in 2025 the Church and plaintiffs' attorneys reached a "settlement in principle" covering more than 100 California abuse cases following a private mediation. The terms were not made public and, because the Church is a private organization, may never be disclosed. Litigation continues elsewhere, including active cases in Arizona.
Who May Qualify to File?
Eligibility is decided case by case, but in general you may be able to speak with an attorney if:• You were a minor (under 18) at the time of the abuse.
• The abuse was connected to the LDS Church — for example, it was committed by a member, a local leader (such as a bishop), a youth or scouting leader, a missionary, or another volunteer, or it occurred in a Church building, program, or activity.
• The harm has had a lasting impact, such as emotional, psychological, or physical effects, or a need for counseling or treatment.
• Your claim is still within your state's filing window (an attorney can check this for you).
You do not need to have reported the abuse at the time, and you do not need to already have a lawyer. A review simply helps determine whether your state's deadlines still allow a claim and whether your situation fits the cases attorneys are accepting.
How Much Could a Claim Be Worth?
There is no single settlement fund and no fixed payout, because these are individual lawsuits rather than one capped class action. Any recovery depends on the specific facts of the case, the severity and lasting impact of the harm, the law of the state where the case is filed, and how the litigation or any settlement resolves.Compensation in childhood sexual abuse cases can take into account counseling and medical treatment, emotional distress, and the long-term effects on a survivor's life. Attorneys handling these claims typically work on a contingency basis, meaning there is no upfront cost and they are paid only if the survivor recovers. No result is ever guaranteed, and past outcomes in other cases do not predict any particular result.
Mormon Church Abuse Settlement Amounts — What Is Known
There is no public, per-survivor settlement figure for the LDS abuse cases. The most significant resolution so far is the 2025 California settlement in principle covering more than 100 cases, but those terms are confidential and, because the Church is a private organization, may never be disclosed. That means anyone quoting a specific "average payout" for a Mormon Church abuse case is guessing — the real numbers are individual and depend on the facts.What can be said is how these cases are valued. Because the suits are individual rather than a single capped fund, the value of any one claim turns on the severity and duration of the abuse, the lasting physical and psychological harm, the strength of the evidence, the law of the state where the case is filed, and whether the matter settles or goes to trial. For broader context, other institutional childhood-abuse resolutions — such as the Boy Scouts of America and various Catholic diocese cases — have ranged widely per survivor, which is a reminder that outcomes are case-specific rather than a flat amount. The only way to get a realistic sense of a particular claim's value is to have an attorney review the specific facts.
Deadlines and Lookback Windows — Why Timing Matters
The single biggest factor in whether a survivor can still file is the statute of limitations in their state. Many states have changed these laws in recent years, and some have opened temporary "lookback windows" that briefly revive older childhood sexual abuse claims that would otherwise be time-barred.California's lookback window under Assembly Bill 218 (the California Child Victims Act) ran from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022 and has since closed; that window is part of why so many LDS abuse cases were filed in California. Outside a lookback window, California still allows childhood sexual abuse claims until the survivor turns 40 or within five years of discovering that an injury was caused by the abuse, whichever is later. Other states have their own deadlines, discovery rules, and windows that open and close on different schedules. Because of that patchwork, the only reliable way to know whether your claim is still timely is to have your specific state and dates reviewed.
How to File a Mormon Church Abuse Lawsuit
Because these are individual lawsuits rather than a class action with a single claim form, "filing" means bringing your own civil case with an attorney. In practice, the process generally looks like this:• 1. Confirm eligibility. A short, confidential review checks whether you were a minor at the time, whether the abuse was connected to the LDS Church, and — critically — whether your state's filing window is still open for your dates.
• 2. Speak with an attorney. If your situation fits the cases being accepted, you are connected with a lawyer who handles institutional childhood sexual abuse claims. The initial consultation is free and confidential.
• 3. Preserve what you have. Anything that helps establish the timeline can matter — but you do not need documents or to have reported the abuse at the time to start a review.
• 4. The attorney files and litigates your case. Your lawyer prepares and files an individual complaint, handles the procedural steps, and — depending on the state — may coordinate with other survivors' counsel during pretrial. You keep control of your own case and your own damages.
There is no cost to find out whether you can file, and attorneys in these cases typically work on contingency, so there is no upfront fee.
How the LDS Abuse Litigation Has Unfolded
Key, verifiable milestones from court records and reputable reporting. These shape how attorneys evaluate new claims today.-
Aug 2022AP help-line investigation. The Associated Press reports on the Church's confidential abuse help line, alleging it routes reports through Church-owned attorneys. The Church responds that the report "seriously mischaracterized" the line and that it exists "to protect children."
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2020–2022California lookback window. California's AB 218 window allows previously time-barred childhood sexual abuse claims to be filed, leading to roughly 100 LDS-related abuse lawsuits in the state.
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Feb 2025MDL petition filed. Plaintiffs ask the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to centralize federal LDS abuse cases in the Central District of California.
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Apr 3, 2025JPML denies an MDL. The Panel declines to centralize the abuse cases, finding them too factually varied. The cases remain individual lawsuits in their home courts.
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2025California settlement in principle. Following a private mediation, the Church and plaintiffs' attorneys reach a settlement in principle covering more than 100 California abuse cases. The terms are confidential.
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Jul 2025Arizona appeals court revives a case. An Arizona Court of Appeals allows a closely watched failure-to-report case to proceed, sending the clergy-penitent privilege question back toward trial. The Church has said it intends to seek review by the Arizona Supreme Court.
The Church's Position
For balance and accuracy, it is important to state the Church's side. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said it condemns abuse and that protecting children is a priority. It maintains that its help line is designed to help local leaders comply with the law and assist victims, and it has rejected claims that the line is used to conceal abuse, calling the 2022 AP report a mischaracterization. In litigation, the Church has also raised legal defenses such as the clergy-penitent privilege and statutes of limitations. The allegations against the Church are unproven, and it has not been found liable in the cases that remain pending.Free settlement alerts
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mormon Church abuse lawsuit a class action or an MDL?
Neither. These are individual civil lawsuits brought by survivors, not a single class action. In April 2025 the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation declined to centralize the abuse cases into a federal MDL, finding them too factually varied. The separate MDL No. 3102 in Utah involves tithing/donation claims, not abuse. Cases proceed individually in state and federal courts, with coordination in California state court.
Who may qualify to file an LDS Church abuse lawsuit?
Generally, a person who was sexually abused as a minor in connection with the LDS Church — for example by a member, leader, or volunteer, or in a Church setting or program — may be able to file. Eligibility and deadlines depend heavily on the state and its statute of limitations or lookback window, so a case-by-case review is required.
How much compensation could an LDS abuse claim be worth?
Because these are individual lawsuits rather than a single capped fund, there is no fixed amount. Any recovery depends on the facts of the case, the severity and lasting impact of the harm, the applicable state law, and how the litigation or any settlement resolves. No outcome is guaranteed.
Is there a deadline to file?
Yes, and it varies by state. Some states have opened lookback windows that temporarily revive older childhood sexual abuse claims; California's three-year window under AB 218 ran from 2020 through 2022 and has closed, though other deadlines and discovery-based rules may still apply. Because windows open and close, survivors are encouraged to check their eligibility promptly.
Has the Church responded to the allegations?
Yes. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has denied wrongdoing and has said its abuse help line exists to protect children, stating that a 2022 Associated Press report mischaracterized the help line's purpose. The allegations described on this page are unproven, and the Church has not been found liable in the cases that remain pending.
Sources
• PBS NewsHour / Associated Press — Arizona abuse-reporting lawsuit and the Church help line• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Official statement on the Arizona abuse case and help line
• KJZZ — Arizona Court of Appeals revives abuse case (July 2025)
• KUER — Judge dismisses the separate LDS tithing lawsuit (MDL No. 3102), April 2025
• In re: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Tithing Litigation, MDL No. 3102 (2:24-md-03102), U.S. District Court, District of Utah (separate from the abuse cases)
Important Disclosures
This page is a legal advertisement and consumer-news summary, not legal advice. The information here is general, may change as the litigation develops, and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your individual situation. Contacting a law firm or submitting a case-review form does not create an attorney-client relationship, which is formed only through a written agreement with a law firm. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site; it is not a law firm, a lawyer referral service, or a class action administrator. The free case review on this page is provided by a third-party legal-advertising service.
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Case Structure
Individual lawsuits (not a class action or MDL)
MDL Status
JPML denied centralization — April 3, 2025
Defendant
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Key Coordination
California state-court cases · settlement in principle for 100+ cases (2025, terms confidential)
Separate Matter
MDL No. 3102 (Tithing Litigation), D. Utah — donations, not abuse
