How Claims Work and Deadlines
The lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are proceeding as individual cases in state and federal courts across multiple states. There is no single centralized proceeding, no class action, no open settlement fund, and no universal claim form. Each case follows its own timeline and the rules of the court where it was filed. Deadlines to file new claims differ by state, and some filing windows have closed.[2]
No Federal MDL
In February 2025, a group of plaintiffs asked the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to centralize at least 27 federal abuse cases against the Church in the Central District of California. On April 3, 2025, the Panel denied the request. The Panel concluded that centralization was not necessary for the convenience of the parties and witnesses or the just and efficient conduct of the litigation, noting that the cases involve different alleged abusers, locations, decades, and Church policies. There is no federal MDL. The abuse cases continue as separate lawsuits in the courts where they were filed.[2]
There is an MDL with the Church's name on it in the District of Utah, In re: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tithing Litigation, MDL No. 3102. That proceeding concerns how member donations were used, not abuse, and a judge dismissed the lead complaint in 2025. It is a separate matter.[3]
California Cases and Coordination
Many of the abuse cases were filed in California. A significant number were coordinated in California state court for pretrial purposes. Coordination allows cases with common questions of law or fact to be managed together by a single judge, but each case remains separate.[1]
In 2025, following a private mediation, the Church and plaintiffs' attorneys reached a settlement in principle covering more than 100 California abuse cases that had been coordinated in California state court. The terms are confidential and may never be disclosed. There is no public per-survivor figure, no settlement fund open to new claimants, and no claim form. The settlement covers only those specific California cases that were part of the mediation.[1]
Deadlines: California
California's lookback window under Assembly Bill 218 ran from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. It allowed previously time-barred childhood sexual abuse claims to be filed. That window has closed. It is part of why many of these cases were filed in California.[1]
Outside a lookback window, California allows childhood sexual abuse claims until the survivor turns 40 or within five years of discovering that an injury was caused by the abuse, whichever is later.[1]
Deadlines: Other States
Deadlines differ in every state. Some states have enacted lookback windows or extended statutes of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims. Others have not. Some windows have opened and closed. The record we track does not provide a comprehensive list of current deadlines in each state where cases have been filed, which include Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and others.[1]
If you are considering filing a claim, the applicable deadline depends on the state where the abuse occurred or where you live, the date of the abuse, your age, and when you discovered the connection between the abuse and your injury. These rules are complex and vary widely.
What the Lawsuits Allege
Plaintiffs allege they were sexually abused as minors by Church members, local leaders, or volunteers, or in Church settings and youth programs, and that the Church did not do enough to report known abuse or protect children. A central allegation concerns the Church's confidential abuse help line, which local lay leaders are instructed to call when they learn of abuse. A 2022 Associated Press investigation reported that the help line operates with involvement from the Church's outside law firm, and plaintiffs allege it was used to limit legal exposure rather than alert authorities.[1]
The Church disputes that. It has said the report seriously mischaracterized the help line, that the line exists to protect children, and that it condemns abuse. In litigation the Church has raised defenses including the clergy-penitent privilege and statutes of limitations. These allegations are unproven, and the Church has not been found liable in the cases that remain pending.[1]
For more detail, see our page on what the lawsuits allege.
Arizona Failure-to-Report Case
On July 31, 2025, the Arizona Court of Appeals revived a closely watched failure-to-report lawsuit against the Church, allowing it to proceed and sending the clergy-penitent privilege question back toward trial. The Church has said it intends to seek review by the Arizona Supreme Court.[4]
Current Status
The abuse cases are proceeding as individual lawsuits in state and federal courts in California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and other states. Each case has its own judge and timeline. The record we track does not show a verified case count or a scheduled bellwether trial date in any of the pending cases. For a timeline of key events, see our page on timeline and current status.
What Is Not Known Yet
It has been reported, but not verified from court records, that the Arizona Supreme Court may have been asked to review the failure-to-report case and that the current number of coordinated California cases may be 91 or more than 90. We have not confirmed those details.[6]
The record we track does not show how many cases remain pending overall, whether any other settlements have been reached, or whether any trial dates have been set.
Questions to Ask Any Lawyer
If you are considering legal representation, the following questions may help you understand your options and the lawyer's experience:
- What is the statute of limitations or filing deadline that applies to my situation, and has it passed?
- Have you handled childhood sexual abuse cases before, and what were the outcomes?
- Will you represent me on a contingency fee basis, and what percentage will you take if there is a recovery?
- What costs will I be responsible for, and when?
- How will you communicate with me, and how often?
- Do you expect my case to be filed individually, or coordinated with others?
- What defenses has the Church raised in similar cases, and how do you plan to address them?
- How long do you expect my case to take?
- Are there any settlement discussions happening that might affect my case?
- What happens if I decide not to move forward?
Support Resource
RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which is free and confidential, at 800-656-4673.[5]
Sources
- California AB 218 (2020-01-01). Secondary report: openclassactions.com
- JPML motion (2025-02-01). Secondary report: aboutlawsuits.com
- MDL No. 3102 (D. Utah) (2025-04-17). Secondary report: kuer.org
- Arizona Court of Appeals (2025-07-31). Secondary report: kjzz.org
- RAINN (2026-09-01). Primary document: rainn.org
- Arizona; California JCCP (2026-01-01). Secondary report: lawsuit-information-center.com
Litigation facts on this page come from the TortIntel litigation record and the documents linked above. Last checked against that record on 2026-09-20. If you see an error, tell us and we will correct it.