State Court Activity
Active litigation in Texas (Harris County, Judge Lauren Reeder); Arkansas (Craighead County Circuit Court, six-plaintiff case filed May 2026)
Institutional Abuse · survivor litigation involving abuse allegations tied to Assembly of God-affiliated ministries
Defendant
General Council of the Assemblies of God
MDL / Track
See litigation status
Judge
Plaintiffs
EMERGING
Bellwether / Trial
No verdicts yet
Settlement Status
One partial settlement: John Doe 2 dismissed South Texas District Council with prejudice (June 10, 2026)
Track litigations for free. Save this matter, capture notes, and monitor live signals.
Case overview
Six women filed a civil complaint on May 21, 2026, in Craighead County Circuit Court against Refuge Church of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and regional and national Assemblies of God leadership, alleging a 15-year cover-up of sexual abuse by former children's pastor Tony Waller. The lawsuit claims church leaders knew of Waller's conduct as early as 2000—including a 2004 incident where girls discovered a hidden camera in a church bathroom—yet suspended him for only two to four weeks before returning him to ministry, enabling continued grooming, molestation, and secret filming until his 2015 arrest and 2016 life sentence for child rape. No federal MDL exists; cases proceed as individual actions in state and federal courts, with recent filings expanding to Texas state court (Harris County, Judge Lauren Reeder) and Maryland federal court (D. Md., removed July 2025).
Causation Theory
The theory of harm centers on systemic institutional failure: the Assemblies of God's decentralized governance model and internal 'restoration' framework allegedly created conditions where accused ministers could be rehabilitated and returned to ministry rather than reported to law enforcement. NBC News investigations identified nearly 200 Assemblies of God pastors, employees, and volunteers accused of sexual abuse over 50 years, with the denomination resisting mandatory background checks and reporting requirements despite internal acknowledgment of abuse risks since the 1990s. The General Council did not formally bar restoration of child sex abusers until 2014, with written policy following in 2021; internal documents show General Secretary Donna Barrett and general counsel Richard Hammar warned in 2021 that mandatory safeguards would play 'right into the hands of plaintiffs' attorneys' and that legal risks 'outweighed the benefit.'
Litigation status
No federal MDL exists for Assemblies of God sexual abuse litigation. Cases proceed as individual actions in state and federal courts. The lead Texas state court action in Harris County District Court (Judge Lauren Reeder presiding) involves Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and convicted sex offender Daniel Savala, with active discovery disputes including sanctions imposed on the denomination for 'flagrant' failure to produce documents and a September 2026 hearing on ecclesiastical abstention and scope of discovery. A six-plaintiff case filed May 2026 in Craighead County Circuit Court, Arkansas, alleges 15 years of cover-up involving former children's pastor Tony Waller.
State Court Activity
Active litigation in Texas (Harris County, Judge Lauren Reeder); Arkansas (Craighead County Circuit Court, six-plaintiff case filed May 2026)
Geographic exposure
No federal MDL exists. Cases proceed as individual actions in state and federal courts. NBC News investigation identified approximately 200 Assemblies of God pastors, church employees and volunteer leaders accused of sexual abuse over 50 years; denomination repeatedly resisted mandatory child protection measures including background checks and reporting requirements. General Council claims zero-tolerance policy since 2014; plaintiffs allege written policy only adopted 2021.
Six-plaintiff lawsuit filed May 2026 in Craighead County Circuit Court against Refuge Church (formerly Jonesboro First Assembly of God), former pastor Charles Michael Glover, Arkansas District Council, and General Council of the Assemblies of God. Allegations: 15-year cover-up (2000-2015) of Tony Waller's child sexual abuse; hidden cameras in church bathrooms/attic producing thousands of hours of child pornography; 2004 internal 'spiritual restoration' suspension instead of police reporting; retention of recorded footage. Waller convicted 2016, sentenced to life imprisonment. — NBC News, May 22, 2026; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 26, 2026; KATV, May 21, 2026
Active sexual abuse litigation: General Council of the Assemblies of God, Chi Alpha Campus Ministries named defendants in negligence suit regarding Daniel Savala, former Chi Alpha minister. Plaintiffs John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 allege defendants failed to investigate Savala's background and ignored 2018 Title IX investigation at Sam Houston State University. South Texas District Council dismissed with prejudice June 10, 2026 per plaintiff stipulation. Judge Lauren Reeder imposed fee sanctions and threatened contempt in 2025 for denomination's 'flagrant' failure to comply with discovery orders. General Superintendent Doug Clay deposition disputed. — MinistryWatch, June 12, 2026; Roys Report, May 26, 2026
General Council of the Assemblies of God national headquarters: Central defendant in multi-state abuse litigation. Organizational structure provides credentialing, educational curriculum, and missions oversight while disclaiming operational control over local churches. 'Restoration' policy for accused pastors (pre-2014) cited in Arkansas litigation as enabling reinstated abusers. — MinistryWatch, June 12, 2026; NBC News, May 22, 2026
Case removed July 2025. Expands geographic footprint of Assemblies of God sexual abuse litigation; no coordination mechanism active. — LexGenius Feed, 2024
Key defendants
General Council of the Assemblies of God
Role: Denomination / National Organization
Houston state court (Judge Lauren Reeder) sanctioned for 'flagrant' discovery noncompliance May 2025; fighting ecclesiastical abstention and Doug Clay deposition in active sexual abuse cover-up litigation involving confessed abuser Daniel Savala. Motion to stay discovery pending abstention ruling filed May 4, 2026.
Assemblies of God National Youth Ministries
Role: National Youth Ministry
New York Appellate Division denied dismissal of negligence and negligent hiring/retention/supervision claims in Escobar v. Segunda Iglesia Pentecostal, Index No. 61114/21 (2d Dep't Nov. 13, 2024). Personal jurisdiction upheld; CVA tolling applies.
National Royal Rangers Ministries
Role: National Youth Program
Co-defendant with Assemblies of God National Youth Ministries in Escobar; same appellate denial of dismissal posture. Alleged abuser was youth leader under defendants' supervision during 1987-1991 abuse period.
| Defendant | Role | Intelligence Note |
|---|---|---|
| General Council of the Assemblies of God | Denomination / National Organization | Houston state court (Judge Lauren Reeder) sanctioned for 'flagrant' discovery noncompliance May 2025; fighting ecclesiastical abstention and Doug Clay deposition in active sexual abuse cover-up litigation involving confessed abuser Daniel Savala. Motion to stay discovery pending abstention ruling filed May 4, 2026. |
| Assemblies of God National Youth Ministries | National Youth Ministry | New York Appellate Division denied dismissal of negligence and negligent hiring/retention/supervision claims in Escobar v. Segunda Iglesia Pentecostal, Index No. 61114/21 (2d Dep't Nov. 13, 2024). Personal jurisdiction upheld; CVA tolling applies. |
| National Royal Rangers Ministries | National Youth Program | Co-defendant with Assemblies of God National Youth Ministries in Escobar; same appellate denial of dismissal posture. Alleged abuser was youth leader under defendants' supervision during 1987-1991 abuse period. |
Timeline
Texas Supreme Court Limits First Amendment Shield
Texas Supreme Court in In re Pleasant Glade Assembly of God, 991 S.W.2d 85, holds First Amendment free-exercise defense bars negligence and related claims arising from attempted exorcism, but permits tort claims not requiring judgment of religious beliefs. Court conditionally grants mandamus directing dismissal of certain claims and protective relief.
D.P.R. Denies Summary Judgment in Trademark Dispute
U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico denies motion for summary judgment in General Council of Assemblies of God v. Fiadah, No. Civil No. 02-2360(SEC), 382 F.Supp.2d 315, on procedural grounds including failure to join indispensable parties and lack of standing.
Mississippi Supreme Court Reverses Property Reverter Ruling
Mississippi Supreme Court reverses and remands chancery court summary judgment in Beachy v. Mississippi District Council for Assemblies of God, No. 2021-CA-01007-SCT, finding disputed material facts exist regarding whether Gulf Coast Worship Center properly disaffiliated from denomination and removed property reverter clause from church bylaws.
Chi Alpha Abuse Suit Filed in Texas
John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 file suit in Harris County District Court against General Council of the Assemblies of God, South Texas District Council Assemblies of God, Inc., Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, U.S.A., and Chi Alpha Campus Ministries Huntsville, alleging negligence in allowing convicted sex offender Daniel Savala access to students.
Texas Judge Sanctions Assemblies of God for Discovery Violations
Harris County District Court Judge Lauren Reeder orders Assemblies of God to pay legal fees and threatens contempt sanctions for 'flagrant' failure to produce documents in Chi Alpha sex abuse litigation involving Daniel Savala. Reeder schedules Sept. 29 hearing on additional sanctions against South Texas District Council.
Denomination Moves to Block CEO Deposition
Assemblies of God files motion to quash deposition of General Superintendent Doug Clay in Harris County District Court Chi Alpha litigation. Plaintiffs seek adverse inference instruction that denomination 'knowingly benefitted from a sex trafficking venture' due to document destruction. Clay deposition noticed for Oct. 3.
Arkansas Survivors File Waller Abuse Suit
Six women file civil complaint in Craighead County Circuit Court against Refuge Church and Assemblies of God leadership alleging 15-year cover-up of former children's pastor Tony Waller's sexual abuse. Suit claims denomination leaders knew of reports as early as 2000 and reinstated Waller after brief 2004 suspension. Waller pleaded guilty to child rape in 2016 and is serving life sentence.
Statute of limitations
No federal MDL for Assembly of God sexual abuse litigation. State-specific revival windows and discovery rules dominate screening. Kentucky revival window closed; prioritize Illinois and California for active intake. Entity liability in California hinges on notice-based exception under § 340.1(b)(2)—document any prior reports of perpetrator misconduct.
California
Later of age 26 or 3 years from discovery for perpetrators; 3 years from discovery for nonabusers with notice of abuse; age 26 for other nonabusers
Rule: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340.1, as construed in Roe 58 v. Doe 1, 120 Cal.Rptr.3d 311 (Cal. App. 2011)
Discovery: Discovery of causal link between adult-onset psychological injury and abuse triggers accrual for perpetrator and notice-based nonabuser claims; age 26 hard cap for nonabusers without notice
2003 revival window closed. No current revival statute for Assembly of God claims. Screen for notice-based nonabuser claims where entity knew or had reason to know of perpetrator's conduct.
⚠Kentucky
10 years after victim turns 18; revival window for claims barred as of March 23, 2021
Rule: KRS 413.249
Revival window for claims barred as of March 23, 2021. Window closed March 23, 2023. Intake for post-revival claims only; verify claim not time-barred under 10-year post-18 rule.
Illinois
10 years from date limitation period begins under subsection (d), or 5 years from discovery of abuse and causal injury
Rule: 735 ILCS 5/13-202.2(b), as applied in M.K. v. L.C., 901 N.E.2d 468 (Ill. App. 2009)
Discovery: Discovery requires knowledge of both abuse occurrence and causal relationship to injury; knowledge of abuse alone insufficient. 2003 repeal of repose applies retroactively to pending actions.
No statutory age cap. Repose repealed in 2003. Discovery-based accrual permits late-filed claims if discovery within 5 years. Screen for date of discovery, not date of abuse.
New Hampshire
3 years from discovery of injury and causal relationship
Rule: RSA 508:4, I; Conrad v. Hazen, 665 A.2d 372 (N.H. 1995)
Discovery: Common-law discovery rule codified: accrual on discovery of injury and its causal relationship to act or omission. Pre-1986 claims: 6-year period with common-law discovery rule.
Pre-1986 abuse events governed by 6-year statute with discovery rule. Post-1986: 3-year discovery period. Determine abuse date to select applicable period.
South Carolina
6 years from accrual; 1 year after age 21 for claims accruing during minority
Rule: S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-40; Moriarty v. Garden Sanctuary Church, 511 S.E.2d 699 (S.C. App. 1999)
Discovery: Discovery rule recognized for repressed memory cases; accrual delayed until plaintiff knew or had reason to know of abuse and injury
Moriarty recognized repressed memory syndrome and applied discovery rule to avoid time bar. Lower courts may resist expansion beyond repressed memory facts. Screen for documented repressed memory diagnosis.
| State | SOL | Rule | Discovery Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Later of age 26 or 3 years from discovery for perpetrators; 3 years from discovery for nonabusers with notice of abuse; age 26 for other nonabusers | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340.1, as construed in Roe 58 v. Doe 1, 120 Cal.Rptr.3d 311 (Cal. App. 2011) | Discovery of causal link between adult-onset psychological injury and abuse triggers accrual for perpetrator and notice-based nonabuser claims; age 26 hard cap for nonabusers without notice | 2003 revival window closed. No current revival statute for Assembly of God claims. Screen for notice-based nonabuser claims where entity knew or had reason to know of perpetrator's conduct. |
| ⚠Kentucky | 10 years after victim turns 18; revival window for claims barred as of March 23, 2021 | KRS 413.249 | — | Revival window for claims barred as of March 23, 2021. Window closed March 23, 2023. Intake for post-revival claims only; verify claim not time-barred under 10-year post-18 rule. |
| Illinois | 10 years from date limitation period begins under subsection (d), or 5 years from discovery of abuse and causal injury | 735 ILCS 5/13-202.2(b), as applied in M.K. v. L.C., 901 N.E.2d 468 (Ill. App. 2009) | Discovery requires knowledge of both abuse occurrence and causal relationship to injury; knowledge of abuse alone insufficient. 2003 repeal of repose applies retroactively to pending actions. | No statutory age cap. Repose repealed in 2003. Discovery-based accrual permits late-filed claims if discovery within 5 years. Screen for date of discovery, not date of abuse. |
| New Hampshire | 3 years from discovery of injury and causal relationship | RSA 508:4, I; Conrad v. Hazen, 665 A.2d 372 (N.H. 1995) | Common-law discovery rule codified: accrual on discovery of injury and its causal relationship to act or omission. Pre-1986 claims: 6-year period with common-law discovery rule. | Pre-1986 abuse events governed by 6-year statute with discovery rule. Post-1986: 3-year discovery period. Determine abuse date to select applicable period. |
| South Carolina | 6 years from accrual; 1 year after age 21 for claims accruing during minority | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-40; Moriarty v. Garden Sanctuary Church, 511 S.E.2d 699 (S.C. App. 1999) | Discovery rule recognized for repressed memory cases; accrual delayed until plaintiff knew or had reason to know of abuse and injury | Moriarty recognized repressed memory syndrome and applied discovery rule to avoid time bar. Lower courts may resist expansion beyond repressed memory facts. Screen for documented repressed memory diagnosis. |
Live intelligence
AI litigation brief
Assembly of God remains active litigation category with 10 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
No federal MDL exists for Assemblies of God sexual abuse litigation. Cases proceed as individual actions in state and federal courts. The lead Texas state court action in Harris County District Court (Judge Lauren Reeder presiding) involves Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and convicted sex offender Daniel Savala, with active discovery disputes including sanctions imposed on the denomination for 'flagrant' failure to produce documents and a September 2026 hearing on ecclesiastical abstention and scope of discovery. A six-plaintiff case filed May 2026 in Craighead County Circuit Court, Arkansas, alleges 15 years of cover-up involving former children's pastor Tony Waller.
Key developments
Trajectory
Press coverage is active for Assembly of God. Court-side confirmation through state civil actions involving denominational and local-church defendants is the next escalation check.
Editorial intelligence
Editorial coverage should stay tied to source-backed developments and avoid placeholder status copy for Assembly of God.
Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC
10 events detected
Google News (10)
Former youth ministers say pastor failed to stop sex abusers at Florida Assemblies of God church - The Roys Report
They say their pastor abused them as children. This week, they confronted him in court. - NBC News
Assembly of God marks centennial - journalnd.com
Crosby Assembly of God to mark centennial this week - journalnd.com
Ep. 608: Assemblies of God Liability Lawsuit, SWBTS Regains Accreditation, Sean Feucht Claims Church Status - MinistryWatch
Maryland church sued for allegedly ignoring of sexual abuse by former youth pastor - The Roys Report
Assemblies of God Disputes Liability in Abuse Cases - MinistryWatch
Ex-AG pastor, 81, sentenced to 10 years to life for child sexual assault - The Roys Report
Ex-AG pastor, 81, sentenced to 10 years to life for child sexual assault | The Roys Report - The Roys Report
December sentencing set for former Maryland youth pastor who pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse - roysreport.com
No recent PubMed signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.
No recent court filing signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.
No recent legislative signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.
Workbench
Sign in to save litigations, capture notes, and monitor live signals. Sign in for unlimited.
LexGenius Ranking
34Score
Fresh items are present but not yet surging
Monitoring
Live
monitoring
Last: Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC
Next: —
Source Monitoring
PACER
PACER
Google News
PubMed
Event feed
10
events detected
AI Brief
Assembly of God remains active litigation category with 10 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
No federal MDL exists for Assemblies of God sexual abuse litigation. Cases proceed as individual actions in state and federal courts. The lead Texas state court action in Harris County District Court (Judge Lauren Reeder presiding) involves Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and convicted sex offender Daniel Savala, with active discovery disputes including sanctions imposed on the denomination for 'flagrant' failure to produce documents and a September 2026 hearing on ecclesiastical abstention and scope of discovery. A six-plaintiff case filed May 2026 in Craighead County Circuit Court, Arkansas, alleges 15 years of cover-up involving former children's pastor Tony Waller.
Key developments
The Roys Report news on Jul 21: Former youth ministers say pastor failed to stop sex abusers at Florida Assemblies of God church - The Roys Report.
Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC