LDS Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit: $2.28 Billion Verdict and Growing Wave of Claims Across Multiple States
- Daniela P.
- Feb 27
- 8 min read
Understanding LDS Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
If you or someone you care about experienced harm within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you are not alone. Across the country, individuals are coming forward to seek accountability through the legal system for the LDS Church sexual abuse lawsuit, and meaningful change may be possible.
Quick Summary: LDS Church Abuse Litigation
If you’re short on time, here’s what matters:
California Settlement | 100+ lawsuits settled in principle (May 2025) |
Largest Disclosed Settlement | $32 million (West Virginia, revealed March 2025) |
Key Court Ruling | Arizona appeals court ruled clergy-penitent privilege may not apply (July 2025) |
2023 Jury Verdict | $2.28 billion (Riverside County, California) |
Documented Settlements | At least 27 cases totaling approximately $50.95 million |
Recent Development | Brother of LDS First Presidency member charged with child abuse (November 2025) |
What Is Happening With LDS Church Lawsuits?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faces ongoing legal action from individuals who say they were harmed by church leaders, members, or volunteers. Many of these cases allege that church officials knew about harmful conduct but did not take adequate steps to protect those at risk or report concerns to authorities. In recent months, significant legal developments have brought increased attention to these cases.
California Settlement (May 2025)
In May 2025, court filings revealed that the LDS Church reached a “settlement in principle” to resolve more than 100 lawsuits filed across California. These cases were filed under a state law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims during a three-year window between 2020 and 2022.
The lawsuits involved allegations from multiple decades, with plaintiffs stating that church leaders used positions of trust to cause harm. Five plaintiffs alleged harm in San Diego County alone, including three who said bishops harmed them, the primary spiritual leaders of local congregations.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the terms of the settlement were not publicly disclosed. Court filings indicated both parties agreed to pause proceedings until July 28, 2025, to finalize the agreement.
West Virginia Case: $32 Million Settlement Revealed
In March 2025, investigative reporting revealed that the LDS Church paid $32 million to settle claims related to Christopher Michael Jensen in West Virginia. Jensen was convicted in 2013 of harming multiple children and is serving a 35- to 75-year prison sentence.
According to court documents, plaintiffs alleged that church officials knew Jensen posed a risk to children as early as 2004 but failed to warn families. The lawsuit claimed that church members even recommended Jensen as a babysitter and arranged for him to live with families who had young children.
The church spent an additional $27 million on legal fees to defend the case, according to FLOODLIT, a nonprofit that tracks these cases. In April 2025, a federal judge ruled against the church when it attempted to recover these costs from its insurance companies, stating that the church “had multiple opportunities to act and failed to do so.”
Arizona Appeals Court Ruling (July 2025)
On July 30, 2025, an Arizona Court of Appeals revived a lawsuit that had previously been dismissed. The case involves Paul Adams, who was found to have harmed his daughters over several years. Adams confessed to his bishop in 2011 and was excommunicated in 2013, but the abuse continued until 2017.
The appeals court ruled unanimously that the clergy-penitent privilege may not apply in this case. According to Axios Salt Lake City, the judges found that a jury should decide whether church officials were required to report to authorities.
The ruling noted that Adams admitted the conduct in a church disciplinary hearing, which may not qualify as a protected “spiritual confession.” The church has stated it plans to appeal the decision.
November 2025: First Presidency Member’s Brother Charged
In November 2025, federal prosecutors charged Wade Christofferson - the brother of President D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the church’s First Presidency - with multiple child sexual abuse offenses.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the 72-year-old defendant allegedly abused children in both Ohio and Utah. During a search of his Ohio residence, investigators found that his phone search history included the phrase “In Ohio, do clergy have to report child abuse confessions?”
According to FLOODLIT, Christofferson had been excommunicated in the 1990s after allegations of abuse but was rebaptized by 2006. Church officials then assigned him to work in multiple leadership positions, including serving in ward bishoprics, between 2006 and 2025.
The case has renewed concerns about the church’s internal processes for handling abuse allegations and whether known risks are adequately communicated to local congregations.
$2.28 Billion Verdict (2023)
In April 2023, a Riverside County, California jury awarded $2.28 billion to a woman who said her stepfather harmed her from age 5 to 14. The harm allegedly occurred at both her home and at church events and facilities.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the church settled its portion of the lawsuit for approximately $1 million before the verdict. The stepfather failed to appear at trial, and the jury awarded $836 million in damages and $1.44 billion in punitive damages against him.
Understanding the Church’s Response System
A central issue in many lawsuits involves the church’s internal “help line.” Since 1995, bishops and other local leaders have been instructed to call this hotline when they learn of potential harm to children.
Critics of the system argue that it prioritizes legal protection over child safety. According to the Associated Press, the help line is staffed by church attorneys who advise local leaders on whether they are legally required to report concerns to authorities.
In some states, clergy are exempt from mandatory reporting requirements if they learn of harm through spiritual confessions - a concept known as “clergy-penitent privilege.” This exemption exists in more than 20 states.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the church has stated that the help line “is instrumental in ensuring that all legal requirements for reporting are met” and that conversations focus on “how to stop the abuse, care for the victim and ensure compliance with reporting obligations.”
However, plaintiffs in multiple lawsuits allege that the system has been used to avoid reporting to authorities, leaving those at risk in harmful situations.
States With Active Litigation
California
More than 100 lawsuits have been filed in California, many made possible by the state’s temporary lifting of the statute of limitations. Cases involve allegations spanning from the 1960s through recent years. The church reached a settlement in principle in May 2025.
Arizona
Multiple cases are proceeding through Arizona courts, including the high-profile Adams case. In March 2025, a judge allowed several consolidated cases to proceed to trial, rejecting the church’s motions to dismiss.
Washington
In October 2025, a lawsuit filed in King County alleged that the church allowed a convicted individual to remain active in church activities. According to court filings, David Herget was convicted in 1993 but was later rebaptized by the church and allegedly harmed additional children between 2001 and 2005.
West Virginia
The $32 million Jensen settlement resolved claims from families who alleged church officials failed to warn them about a known risk.
Utah
Utah passed HB432 in March 2024, which protects clergy from liability if they choose to report harm disclosed during confession - but still does not require them to do so. In May 2025, the church directed leaders to comply with a new Utah law requiring them to check sex offender databases before placing adults in positions working with children.
What Types of Harm Are Alleged?
Lawsuits against the LDS Church involve various allegations, including harm caused by bishops, stake presidents, missionaries, and other church leaders; harm by church members who were known to pose risks; failure to report concerns to law enforcement; failure to warn families about known risks; using internal processes instead of involving authorities; and pressure on those affected to forgive or remain silent.
Who May Be Eligible to Pursue Legal Action?
Eligibility
You may have options if:
You experienced harm by someone connected to the LDS Church.
The harm occurred on church property or during church activities.
Church officials knew or should have known about the risk.
Church officials failed to take appropriate action.
You were discouraged from involving the authorities.
Each state has different laws regarding time limits for filing claims. California’s three-year window closed in 2022, but other states have extended or revised their statutes of limitations.
Understanding Time Limits
Many states have made changes to allow individuals more time to come forward. California extended its window through 2022. Utah and other states have expanded filing windows through 2026. Some states pause time limits until a child reaches adulthood.
The specific deadline depends on where the harm occurred, your age at the time, and when you became aware of the connection between the harm and any institutional failures.
What Compensation May Be Available?
Those pursuing legal action may seek compensation for medical and therapy expenses, ongoing treatment and support needs, pain and emotional distress, lost earning potential, and costs associated with the legal process.
Settlement amounts have varied significantly. According to public reporting, documented settlements have ranged from approximately $100,000 to $32 million, depending on the specific circumstances of each case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LDS Church sexual abuse lawsuit?
These are civil lawsuits filed by individuals who allege they were harmed by church leaders, members, or volunteers, and that the church failed to protect them or report concerns to authorities.
Has the LDS Church paid settlements?
Yes. The church has paid settlements in multiple cases, including a $32 million settlement in West Virginia that was revealed in March 2025 and settlements involving more than 100 California plaintiffs in May 2025.
What is the church’s help line?
Since 1995, the church has operated a 24/7 hotline for bishops and other leaders to call when they learn of potential harm. The line is staffed by social workers and attorneys who advise on legal reporting requirements.
What is clergy-penitent privilege?
This is a legal exemption in many states that allows clergy to keep information confidential if it was shared during a spiritual confession. More than 20 states include some form of this exemption in their mandatory reporting laws.
Can I file a lawsuit if the harm happened decades ago?
Possibly. Many states have extended or temporarily lifted statutes of limitations for childhood abuse claims. A legal professional familiar with your state’s laws can help you understand your options.
Will my case be public?
Many cases are resolved confidentially. Settlement agreements often include confidentiality provisions. However, cases that proceed to trial may become part of the public record.
What if I already received a settlement from the Boy Scouts bankruptcy?
The Boy Scouts settlement is separate from claims against the LDS Church. Even if you participated in that process, you may still have options to pursue claims related to church conduct.
You Are Not Alone
Coming forward about harm that happened in a faith community can feel overwhelming. Many people carry these experiences for years before feeling ready to take action.
If you are considering your options, know that:
It was not your fault. Whatever happened, you deserve support and the opportunity to pursue accountability.
Your experiences matter. The legal system exists to provide a path toward accountability when institutions fail to protect those in their care.
Healing is possible. Many people find that taking action - whether through legal channels or other forms of support - is an important part of their healing journey.
There is no pressure. Only you can decide if and when pursuing legal action is right for you.
We Are Here to Help
If you experienced harm within the LDS Church and want to understand your legal options, our team can provide information and support.
It only takes a minute to find out if you could qualify. It’s private, free, and there’s no pressure to move forward.
Click here to be connected with our team for a free, confidential conversation about your options.
Sources
San Diego Union-Tribune, “LDS church agrees to ‘settlement in principle’ of more than 100 sex abuse lawsuits in California,” May 8, 2025. sandiegouniontribune.com
Salt Lake Tribune, “Wade Christofferson, brother of a top LDS Church leader, charged with attempted child sexual exploitation,” November 25, 2025. sltrib.com
Axios Salt Lake City, “Lawsuit against Mormon church moves ahead in Arizona sexual abuse case,” July 31, 2025. axios.com
FLOODLIT, “Christopher Michael Jensen Mormon sex abuse case,” March 25, 2025. floodlit.org
Fox 13 Salt Lake City, “LDS Church loses lawsuit against insurance companies over sex abuse settlements,” April 12, 2025. fox13now.com
Arizona Capitol Times, “Appeals court overrules LDS church position, jury needs to hear details of child abuse,” July 30, 2025. azcapitoltimes.com
Salt Lake Tribune, “Nearly $2.3B awarded in sex abuse lawsuit that named the LDS Church,” April 29, 2023. sltrib.com
Associated Press via Salt Lake Tribune, “Sex abuse and the LDS Church ‘help line’: 4 takeaways,” August 4, 2022. sltrib.com
KSL, “Ohio man arrested in Utah on child sex abuse charges,” November 25, 2025. ksl.com
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