For years, survivors have spoken out about sexual abuse within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), sharing painful stories of betrayal and cover-ups. Many claim the institution not only failed to protect them but also worked to keep the truth from coming to light. Now, through multidistrict litigation (MDL), survivors are banding together to hold the church accountable and seek justice.
MDL allows multiple cases with similar claims to be handled as a group, making it easier for survivors to present evidence and build a stronger case. But taking legal action against a powerful organization isn’t simple. The church may try to deny responsibility, and legal challenges—like statute of limitations laws—can make the process even more difficult. This is why having an experienced lawyer by your side can be a game-changer.
If you or someone you love has been affected by abuse within the LDS Church, you don’t have to face this alone. A skilled attorney can help you understand your rights, guide you through the legal process, and fight for the justice you deserve. Take that first step—reach out today to explore your options.
The Truth About the LDS Church Sex Abuse Allegations
Serious claims of sexual abuse within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have surfaced for years. Many survivors claim church leaders disregarded their pleas for help—or even worse, took steps to hide the abuse. The institution often appeared more concerned with safeguarding its image than holding abusers responsible. This left many victims without justice and allowed the cycle of abuse to persist.
Some sex abuse survivors claim they faced pressure to keep quiet, were told not to go to the police, and received advice to deal with issues "within the church." Others say accused abusers weren't kicked out but just transferred to different congregations, allowing their behavior to continue. Even the church's so-called "helpline" has come under fire, with reports hinting it served more to protect the institution than to help victims.
A 2022 AP probe exposed concerning trends where church policies seemed to prioritize secrecy over justice. In some cases, abuse wasn’t reported to authorities because church officials chose to handle it internally.
The LDS Church faces growing legal challenges. One notable case involves a woman suing the church for $25 million. She claims church leaders ignored sexual abuse by her adoptive father, who was also a church member. Such cases suggest a system that instead of backing survivors, has often tried to keep them quiet.
To be fair, the LDS Church has publicly stated that it has a "zero-tolerance policy" when it comes to abuse. However, critics argue that its actions tell a different story. Survivors and advocates continue to push for real transparency and meaningful change.
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Why the LDS Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Won’t Be Consolidated—What the JPML Decision Means
Lately, there’s been a growing number of lawsuits filed against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with survivors from across the country coming forward to share their stories of abuse. Because so many of these cases deal with similar issues, some legal teams pushed to have them grouped together into a single federal case—what’s known as a multidistrict litigation, or MDL. The idea was to streamline things and make the process more efficient.
But on March 25, 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) decided that wasn’t the right move. In a detailed court order, the panel explained why they were denying the request. Even though the cases all involve the Church, the panel felt the differences between them—like where the abuse happened, who was involved, and which state laws apply—were too significant to lump them into one proceeding.
So, what does this mean for the people involved and for others who might be thinking about filing a claim? Let’s take a closer look.
Why the JPML Said No to the MDL Request
At first glance, bringing all the LDS Church sexual abuse lawsuits into one big federal case might sound like the most efficient path forward. But when the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) looked at the details, they saw too many differences to justify combining everything. In their March 2025 ruling, they broke down why these cases are better off handled individually.
Every Case Is Different
One of the panel’s biggest reasons? The cases just don’t share enough in common. Survivors have come forward with allegations involving a wide mix of people—some were abused by church leaders, others by missionaries, and some by family members connected to the Church. The alleged abuse also spans more than 50 years and happened in different states, under very different circumstances. When you look at how much the situations vary, it’s tough to treat them as one big case.
Not Much Overlap
In other MDLs—like the Uber sexual assault litigation—there’s usually a clear pattern or shared issue tying all the cases together. But that’s not really the case here. The LDS Church has changed a lot over the decades, including how it handles abuse reports, so any discovery into Church policies wouldn’t apply evenly across all lawsuits. The facts and the people involved just don’t line up in a way that makes centralization helpful.
The Details Still Matter
Even if the Church had some common policies, the real focus in these cases is on the specific details: Who knew what? When did they find out? What did they do—or not do—about it? Those facts will be different in nearly every case, which means most of the work would still need to be done separately, even if the cases were combined.
One Law Firm Already Has Most of the Cases
Another factor? A single law firm is already handling the majority of the lawsuits—42 out of 51. That makes it easier to coordinate things without needing a federal MDL to step in. Since there are only a few other firms involved, the panel felt that informal coordination would work just fine.
Most of the Lawsuits Are Already in California
And finally, most of these cases are already being handled in California courts. So, there’s not much need to move everything to a federal venue when most of the action is happening in one place already.
In the end, the JPML decided that trying to bundle these cases together wouldn’t really save time or make things easier. If anything, it could slow things down. So, for now, the lawsuits will keep moving forward separately, handled by the courts where they were filed.
The Legal Hurdles Survivors Face When Suing the LDS Church
Taking legal action against a massive organization like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is challenging. Individuals seeking justice often encounter legal barriers that make the process frustrating and intricate. The church has numerous tactics to attempt to block lawsuits before they begin ranging from deadlines for filing claims to legal technicalities or robust defense approaches.
1. Statute of Limitations – The Time Crunch
A big hurdle survivors encounter is the time limit on filing lawsuits. Many states enforce tight deadlines that require survivors to come forward within a specific number of years after the abuse happened. This creates a challenge—many survivors don't process their trauma or feel ready to speak up until long after. When they do, they often learn it's too late to take legal action.
Some states are taking steps to tackle this problem. Arizona and California have introduced "lookback windows"—short periods when survivors can file lawsuits even if the statute of limitations has run out. These laws give survivors another chance to seek justice, but they have an end date so fast action is key.
2. Can the Church Claim Religious Protection?
Churches often say they're shielded from certain lawsuits because of First Amendment rights. They claim this allows them to deal with internal matters—including abuse allegations—without government interference. But let's get this straight: religious freedom doesn't mean dodging accountability. Many court rulings have proven that churches can still be held responsible when they fail to report or stop abuse.
Still, this defense can stretch out legal battles, and victims need capable attorneys who know how to tackle these arguments.
3. The Church’s Playbook: Delay, Deny, and Deflect
The LDS Church has lots of money and top lawyers ready to fight claims. In previous cases big religious groups have used tactics to delay, made secret settlements, and even pushed survivors to keep quiet. Some survivors say they felt scared or discouraged from going ahead because of the legal obstacles in their way.
One of the main critiques of the LDS Church centers on its "helpline" for abuse victims. While it appears to be a resource for survivors, reports indicate it's used to protect the church from lawsuits by directing complaints to legal teams instead of law enforcement. This has sparked claims that the church tried to keep abuse hidden rather than safeguard victims.
4. The Battle for Evidence
Survivors need proof to win a case. This proof includes internal church documents, records of past complaints, or reports of clergy misconduct. But obtaining that evidence is challenging. The church might claim certain documents are privileged or confidential. This creates obstacles for survivors to prove a pattern of negligence or cover-ups.
Even with obstacles, survivors have beaten religious groups in court before. As more victims speak up, the LDS Church faces mounting pressure to address its past actions.
How MDL Lawyers Support Survivors Seeking Justice
Challenging a powerful organization like the LDS Church can be daunting, but survivors don't need to face this alone. Multidistrict litigation (MDL) attorneys assist victims to build strong cases. They gather evidence, reveal cover-ups, and push for genuine accountability. With their help, survivors can take legal action without feeling swamped by the process.
One big challenge in these cases is proving that church leaders knew about the abuse but didn't stop it. People have accused the LDS Church of handling reports keeping key information secret. Skilled MDL lawyers know how to search —finding witnesses, getting documents, and spotting patterns that boost each survivor's claim.
Legal deadlines can make things trickier. Some states have lengthened the time limits to file abuse cases, but keeping up with these changes requires know-how. A skilled lawyer can help survivors take action even when the abuse happened long ago.
MDL lawyers do more than just provide legal help. They support survivors throughout the process—telling them their rights, pushing back against unfair deals, and ensuring people listen to them. If this affects you or someone close to you, the right legal team can support you to speak up and seek justice.
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What This Means for Survivors and Pending Lawsuits
So, what does the JPML’s decision really mean if you’re a survivor—or thinking about filing a claim? In short: your case isn’t going to be part of a big, centralized federal lawsuit. Instead, it’ll move forward on its own in the court where it was filed, most likely in the state where the abuse happened.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just means your case will follow its own path instead of being wrapped into one larger legal process. Without an MDL, there’s no single judge overseeing everything or shared discovery between all the lawsuits. Each case will be handled individually, based on its own facts, timelines, and local laws.
This can be a bit more work for legal teams, but it also gives each survivor the chance to tell their story on its own terms. Your experience won’t be lost in a stack of similar claims—it’ll be treated as its own case, with its own voice.
And while it might sound like this could slow things down, many of the lawsuits are already being handled by the same law firm, which helps keep things organized. Attorneys are still working together behind the scenes, even without formal coordination from the courts.
If you’re considering taking legal action, don’t let the lack of an MDL stop you. Your case is still valid, and the legal system is still moving forward. Talking to an attorney can help you understand what your next steps look like and how to get started.
What's Next for the LDS Abuse MDL?
As lawsuits against the LDS Church move forward several possible outcomes could shape the future. The church might agree to a settlement compensating survivors without going to trial. Other institutions, like the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts of America, have ended similar cases this way. A settlement could give financial recourse and draw more attention to how the church dealt with abuse claims.
If the parties can't reach an agreement, some cases might go to trial, which gives survivors a chance to show their evidence in court. This process takes longer but could make the church answer in a way that private settlements don't.
Apart from monetary settlements, these legal cases might lead to changes in rules within the LDS Church, like tougher reporting rules and more transparency. People who've survived abuse and their supporters want new measures to stop future harm and keep members safe.
If you're thinking about taking legal action, it's key to stay up-to-date on how the MDL is going. If this has affected you or someone you know, talking to a lawyer can help you see what choices you have and how to move forward in seeking justice.
You Deserve Justice—We’re Here to Help
Have you or someone close to you suffered abuse in the LDS Church? You might not know your next steps. Speaking up is brave, and fighting for justice can seem daunting. But you don't need to face this by yourself—support exists.
Litigation Connect pairs survivors with talented lawyers who understand these cases and can challenge powerful groups. Whether you need answers, advice, or are set to sue, the right attorney can change everything.
Your story counts, and people should listen to you. Contact Litigation Connect today for a private free chat to learn about your options for justice.