Sex Abuse Litigation

All institutions

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

13 reports indexed, newest first.

August 2026

  1. Arizona Supreme Court rules church leaders not bound to report abuse confessions

    The court unanimously reinstated dismissal of the Bisbee lawsuit, holding the clergy exemption shielded bishops from reporting confessions.

    Verdict Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, ArizonaReported by Salt Lake Tribune

July 2026

  1. Federal appeals court says insurers may have to cover church's West Virginia abuse settlement

    The 10th Circuit reversed a ruling for the church's insurers over settlements tied to abuse by Michael Jensen and sent the case back.

    Lawsuit filed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, UtahReported by FOX 13 Salt Lake City

July 2025

  1. Church nears global settlement in dozens of California abuse lawsuits

    Filings indicated progress on a settlement in principle covering more than 100 California claims against the church.

    Settlement Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, CaliforniaReported by Daily Journal

  2. Arizona appeals court revives Bisbee abuse lawsuit against church

    An appeals court unanimously reversed the dismissal, finding the church may have had a duty to report and that clergy privilege has limits.

    Lawsuit filed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, ArizonaReported by Axios Salt Lake City

February 2024

  1. Utah Legislature expands clergy ability to report child abuse

    Utah lawmakers passed a bill shielding clergy from liability when they report abuse learned in confession.

    Legislation Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, UtahReported by KUER

December 2023

  1. Recordings show how church handled abuse claims against former bishop

    AP reported recordings in which church officials discouraged a bishop from testifying and offered a confidential settlement in a case involving a former bishop.

    Investigation Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, UtahReported by PBS NewsHour (AP)

November 2023

  1. Court dismisses Bisbee abuse lawsuit against church citing clergy-penitent privilege

    An Arizona judge dismissed the lawsuit, finding bishops had no duty to report information learned in confession.

    Verdict Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, ArizonaReported by FOX 13 Salt Lake City (AP)

April 2023

  1. California jury awards $2.3 billion in abuse case that had named the church

    A Riverside County, California jury awarded $2.28 billion against an abuser; the church had earlier settled its part of the suit for $1 million while denying wrongdoing.

    Verdict Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, CaliforniaReported by Salt Lake Tribune

  2. Arizona appeals court upholds clergy privilege in child abuse case

    An appeals court ruled church clergy could invoke clergy-penitent privilege in litigation over the Bisbee abuse case.

    Lawsuit filed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, ArizonaReported by azfamily (KTVK/KPHO)

August 2022

  1. Judge limits clergy-privilege defense in Arizona church abuse case

    A Cochise County judge ruled the church could not broadly rely on clergy-penitent privilege in the Bisbee civil case.

    Lawsuit filed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, ArizonaReported by Associated Press (via Washington Times)

  2. AP investigation: church abuse help line steered reports to lawyers, abuse continued for years

    AP reported that church officials in Bisbee, Arizona, did not report a member's admitted abuse to authorities after calling the church's help line, which routes calls to a law firm.

    Investigation Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, ArizonaReported by Associated Press (via Religion News Service)

March 2018

  1. Former Missionary Training Center president accused of sexual assault

    A woman alleged that Joseph L. Bishop, a former MTC president, assaulted her in the 1980s; he was not criminally charged.

    Allegation Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, UtahReported by FOX 13 Salt Lake City

December 2017

  1. West Virginia families sue church alleging leaders concealed abuse by convicted member

    Six families alleged church leaders knew Michael Jensen, convicted in 2013, was abusing children and failed to act; the church denied tolerating abuse.

    Lawsuit filed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsUnited States, West VirginiaReported by Fox Baltimore (Sinclair)