It can be incredibly challenging to confront the painful realities of sexual abuse, especially when that harm occurred within a religious institution you once trusted. For survivors of abuse connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon Church), a complex legal landscape has emerged as many seek justice and accountability.
While you may have heard talk of a Mormon Church sexual abuse MDL, or Multidistrict Litigation, the legal process involving these cases has taken a unique path. We will explain what an MDL typically entails, clarify how these specific cases are being handled, and provide the latest updates for survivors nationwide.
What is the Mormon Church sexual abuse MDL and how are the cases being handled?
Although many sexual abuse claims have been filed against the Mormon Church, no federal MDL (multidistrict litigation) was created. Here’s how cases are moving forward:
- No federal MDL: In April 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied consolidation due to varying facts, locations, and time periods of the abuse cases.
- State-level coordination: Over 90 lawsuits in California are proceeding under a Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding (JCCP).
- Private settlements: The LDS Church is reviewing claims through confidential settlement discussions, with some victims receiving over $1 million.
- Mediation and informal legal coalitions: Mediation has resolved 100+ California cases; attorneys across states are collaborating on strategy and evidence.
- Key legal victories: A 2023 jury awarded a survivor $2.28 billion, and new “look-back” laws have enabled hundreds of time-barred claims to be filed.
Understanding Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)
First, it’s helpful to understand the basics of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). An MDL is a special federal legal procedure designed to manage complex cases that involve similar issues of fact but are filed in different federal courts across the country.
Instead of proceeding individually, each case is transferred to one federal court before a single judge for coordinated pre-trial proceedings, such as discovery and motions. This helps to streamline the process, save time and resources, and ensure consistent rulings on common legal questions.
MDLs are often used for large-scale litigations like defective product claims or mass torts, where many plaintiffs allege similar harm caused by the same defendant or product.
The Path for Mormon Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
Given the numerous allegations of sexual abuse against the Mormon Church spanning decades and multiple states, many legal professionals and survivors anticipated that these cases might be consolidated into a federal MDL. However, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) declined to consolidate these federal lawsuits into a single MDL.
The JPML’s decision, issued in April 2025, cited the varied nature of the cases as the primary reason. The panel noted that the allegations involved different abusers, occurred over a lengthy time span (from the 1960s to the present), involved varying church policies over the decades, and took place in diverse geographical locations. These differences, the panel concluded, were too significant to justify centralized federal proceedings.
How Cases Are Still Moving Forward
Despite the absence of a federal MDL, survivors are still pursuing legal justice, and the cases are progressing through other significant legal avenues:
- State-Level Coordination (for example, the California JCCP): In California, where many lawsuits have been filed, a Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding (JCCP) has been established. This allows for the coordination of over 90 state-level cases before a single judge, streamlining discovery and common legal issues within California.
- Private Claims Resolution Process: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has reportedly engaged in a private claims resolution process with various plaintiffs’ law firms. Under this system, law firms submit case inventories, detailed summaries of their clients’ claims, which are then reviewed for individual settlement discussions outside of public court supervision and public record.
- Informal Alliances Among Law Firms: Plaintiffs’ attorneys from different states, including Utah, Arizona, California, and Idaho, have formed informal alliances. They are sharing resources, experts, and insights into patterns of abuse and institutional cover-ups to strengthen individual cases, even without a formal court-ordered consolidation.
- Mediation Efforts: The Church has also participated in mediation efforts, leading to in-principle agreements to settle a significant number of lawsuits. As of June 2025, reports indicate that over 100 California lawsuits have reached proposed resolutions through private mediation.
These various approaches demonstrate that while a traditional federal MDL may not be in place, a robust and active legal response is underway, aiming to hold the Church accountable.
Allegations and the Scope of the Problem
The lawsuits against the Mormon Church primarily allege that church leaders and officials systematically concealed sexual abuse by prioritizing the institution’s reputation over the safety and well-being of victims. Allegations include:
- Failure to Report: It is claimed that rather than reporting abuse to law enforcement, church officials often handled allegations internally, sometimes instructing victims or their families to forgive abusers and remain silent.
- Transferring Abusers: Some lawsuits allege that abusers were moved to new congregations or positions without warning, allowing them to continue their harmful actions.
- Spanning Decades: The abuse claims stretch back decades, with allegations involving minors and adults, and occurring in various church-sponsored activities, youth camps, and other settings.
The non-profit organization FLOODLIT has compiled over 4,000 individual instances of sexual abuse by members and leaders of the LDS Church, underscoring the widespread nature of the issue.
Latest Case Updates and Settlements
The legal landscape is continually evolving, with significant developments in recent months:
- Growing Number of Claims: Attorneys involved in the private settlement process estimate that over 300 claims have already been submitted nationwide for potential resolution.
- Significant Settlements and Verdicts:
- In April 2023, a California jury awarded a survivor $2.28 billion in a sexual abuse lawsuit involving her stepfather, with a substantial portion of the damages levied against the Church for its alleged role in enabling the abuse. While this verdict is expected to face appeals, it sends a powerful message.
- Numerous other confidential settlements have been reached, with payouts ranging from mid-five figures to several hundred thousand dollars, and some exceeding $1 million in more severe cases.
- Impact of “Look-Back” Laws: Several states, including California, Arizona, Maryland, and Maine, have passed “look-back” laws that temporarily lift or eliminate the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims. These laws have provided a critical window of opportunity for many survivors to come forward and file lawsuits that would have previously been time-barred, significantly increasing the volume of litigation.
These ongoing legal actions aim to provide survivors with financial compensation for their suffering, including medical expenses, therapy, lost income, and emotional distress, while also pushing for greater transparency and accountability within the Church.
Next Steps to Take if You Are a Mormon Church Sexual Abuse Survivor
If you are a survivor of sexual abuse connected to the Mormon Church, please know that you are not alone, and your voice matters. Navigating the legal process can be daunting, but understanding your rights is a crucial step towards healing and justice.
Talk with an experienced sexual abuse personal injury attorney for personalized advice regarding your experience and to learn about your legal options. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, is dedicated to assisting survivors of institutional negligence and abuse. We are prepared to offer legal help and compassionate representation and fight to hold responsible parties accountable.
Contact Dolman Law Group today at (904) 441-6903 for a free and confidential consultation to learn more about how we can help you explore your legal path and start the process of seeking justice.
