Mormon Church Class Action

At Injury Lawyer Team, we are often asked whether there is a Mormon Church class action for survivors of sexual abuse connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Survivors and families come to us searching for clarity, wondering if their sexual misconduct claims can be grouped together into one large civil lawsuit, or if there is another legal path forward. As experienced Mormon Church sexual abuse lawyer advocates, we stand with you as you explore your options, and we want you to know that we believe in your case.

Across the United States, individuals have reported deeply troubling sexual assault allegations involving bishops, missionaries, youth leaders, and other individuals connected to the LDS Church. These abuse allegations span decades and, in many instances, involve disturbing patterns of silence, internal reporting failures, and ongoing institutional responsibility. 

Survivors often feel isolated, confused, and overwhelmed by the legal process. We understand that pain. Our firm is here to guide you with honesty, care, and a survivor-first approach.

What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a type of civil lawsuit in which a group of people with similar claims against the same defendant pursue legal action together as a single unit. In theory, a class action can be an efficient way to handle many cases at once because it combines legal resources, evidence, and court proceedings.

In most class action cases, the court must first decide whether the group of people seeking to sue meets certain requirements, including:

• Commonality – The claims must raise shared legal and factual issues
• Typicality – The lead plaintiff’s case must be representative of the larger group
• Adequacy of representation – The attorneys must fairly and adequately protect the interests of all class members
• Numerosity – The group must be large enough that individual lawsuits would be impractical

For many consumer fraud or defective product cases, this structure can work. But when it comes to sexual misconduct connected to religious institutions, the situation becomes more legally complex.

Every sexual assault case is deeply personal. Each survivor’s experience is unique, even when multiple individuals were harmed by similar actors such as youth leaders, clergy members, or trusted authority figures in the LDS institution.

Why LDS Church Sexual Abuse Allegations Aren’t Consolidated in a Class Action

Despite the widespread nature of sexual misconduct allegations involving the LDS Church, most courts have determined that a traditional class action is not an appropriate legal structure for these cases. 

Instead, survivors’ cases are often handled individually or through efforts to establish an alternative structure, such as an LDS Church sexual abuse MDL (multidistrict litigation) for coordinated pre-trial proceedings.

The reason is simple yet important: each survivor’s case involves different facts, perpetrators, church leaders, reporting processes, and types of long-term trauma.

These cases may be connected through the Mormon Church and institutional patterns, but they are not identical in the way courts require for a class action. Abuse may have occurred in different states, different parishes, different churches, and under different circumstances tied to the LDS faith.

This lack of uniformity is a critical factor in why courts do not certify these cases as a formal class action.

Courts Claim Lack of Commonality 

At the heart of this issue is the legal concept of “commonality.” Courts look closely at whether the same facts and legal questions apply to every person in the group.

In LDS sexual misconduct cases, the specific details often vary, including:

• The identity and role of the abuser (bishop, missionary, volunteer, etc.)
• The location of the abuse (church property, youth activities, private homes, trips, or events)
• How the abuse was reported or hidden
• Whether the Church or local leadership responded or failed to act
• The nature and duration of the abuse
• The emotional, physical, and psychological impact on the survivor

Because of these differences, judges often rule that there is not enough commonality to justify a single class action. Instead, each individual abuse claim is seen as unique, even though the abuse is sexual in nature and connected by the Church and its leadership.

This is one of the main reasons a formal LDS Church class action has not moved forward in the traditional sense.

Mormon Church Avoids Mass Litigation

Another reality we must acknowledge is that the Mormon Church has employed legal strategies aimed at avoiding mass litigation. In some cases, the Church has relied on confidential settlement agreements, internal investigations, or a private claims resolution process rather than open courtroom proceedings.

At times, the Church settled certain claims quietly, limiting public disclosure and preventing broader accountability. While some survivors have received compensation through this private route, many feel that it was designed to protect the institution more than the individuals who were harmed.

This pattern is often deeply frustrating for survivors who want transparency, validation, and systemic change. As a firm focused on institutional liability, we take these concerns seriously. We help our clients understand how past settlements, internal policies, and reported allegations may impact their own case today.

Even when the Church settled prior claims, it does not mean your individual abuse claim loses its power or merit. We carefully analyze every detail, including whether your claim is connected to broader patterns within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What Are the Benefits of Filing an Individual Sexual Abuse Claim Against the LDS Church?

Because a group class action is usually not available, filing an individual lawsuit can offer greater advantages and more personalized justice for survivors of sexual misconduct committed within the Mormon Church. Instead of being absorbed into a large group, an individual claim allows your experience to be seen and addressed on its own merits.

Some of the key benefits include:

A Focus on Your Story

In an individual claim, your voice matters. Your trauma, healing journey, evidence, and truth are not overshadowed by thousands of other cases. We build your LDS sexual abuse case around your lived experience, taking the time to understand how it has affected every part of your life. Your story is treated with care, respect, and seriousness.

Greater Compensation Opportunities

Individual lawsuits may allow for damages that better reflect the true impact of what you endured, including emotional pain, medical and therapy expenses, lost wages, and long-term psychological effects. These are not averaged across a class, which allows for a more accurate and individualized outcome.

Full Investigation of Institutional Responsibility

We can dig deeper into what happened in your specific congregation, how local and regional church leaders responded, and whether the LDS Church failed in its duty to protect you from harm. This deeper review is a key step toward real accountability.

Greater Control Over the Process

In an individual lawsuit, our clients play an active role in decision-making, from settlement discussions to trial strategy. You are informed, involved, and respected at every stage. We believe this personalized approach is essential when dealing with harm tied to faith, trust, and identity within the Mormon faith.

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

At Injury Lawyer Team, we focus on representing survivors in sexual abuse lawsuits involving powerful institutions, including the LDS Church and other religious organizations.

Our services in this context evolve as your case progresses and may include:

• A private, confidential, trauma-informed consultation
• A detailed review of your sexual misconduct claims
• Identification of responsible individuals and institutions
• Investigation into local and national involvement
• Gathering evidence, documentation, and witness statements
• Filing your lawsuit in the appropriate jurisdiction
• Responding to defense motions and legal challenges
• Negotiating potential settlement opportunities
• Preparing for trial, if necessary
• Ongoing support, communication, and advocacy

We do not rush you. We do not pressure you. We move at the pace that is right for you. You are in control of your case, and we walk beside you every step of the way.

We also understand that many survivors are anxious about the cost of legal representation. That is why we handle all sexual abuse lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no upfront legal fees, and we only receive payment if we recover compensation on your behalf.

In addition, all of our consultations are free and confidential. You can speak openly, safely, and without obligation.

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

If you are considering taking action related to sexual abuse in the LDS Church, we want you to hear this clearly: you are not alone. Survivors across the country have carried these burdens in silence for too long. Today, more people are speaking out, seeking justice, and demanding institutional accountability from those who failed them.

Whether your abuse involved a bishop, youth advisors, missionaries, or other figures connected to the Church, your experience matters. Your voice matters. And your healing matters.

If you are ready to talk, reach out to Injury Lawyer Team today for your free, confidential consultation. Together, we can explore your legal options, protect your rights, and take one step closer to justice and healing.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.