Editor’s note: The lawsuit paints only one side of the story.
Salt Lake City (ABC4) — In 2025, a lawsuit was filed against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, alleging that its negligence caused serious bodily injury to a minor. This week, the church filed a response to the lawsuit denying the allegations.
In November 2025, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of two minors, whose ages have not been identified, after one minor was seriously injured during a church activity in 2022. At the time of the incident, the minors were 12 and 14 years old.
A court-appointed guardian was appointed as plaintiff on behalf of the two minor children. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was named as a defendant.
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According to the lawsuit, the teenagers were participating in activities on a boat owned by their ward’s young women leader. While on board the boat, the young female leader reportedly sped up while the 12-year-old fed the rope through the inner tube.
Due to the high speed, the rope wrapped around the boy’s left leg and cut it below the knee.
The young woman leader reportedly shut down the boat but was unable to restart it due to engine flooding. The 12-year-old brother, who was 14 at the time, and the other minor involved in the case, called 911.
Bhai had to apply a tourniquet to the injured leg and with the help of others tried to shore Bhai into the inner tube.
Previous coverage: Negligence lawsuit filed against Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after child loses leg
Despite additional treatment, the 12-year-old boy’s legs could not be saved even after two amputations. He also had to undergo many surgeries.
The lawsuit alleges that the minor has sustained significant mental, emotional, and psychological trauma in addition to irreparable and life-altering harm. It is also alleged that his brother suffered emotional and psychological injuries because he was an eyewitness to the incident.
Because this was a church activity supervised by church leaders, the plaintiffs argue that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a responsibility and duty to the minors and breached that duty by failing to provide a safe environment and properly train supervising individuals.
The plaintiffs are seeking medical treatment and emotional recovery for both minors, as well as damages for any loss of future and past enjoyment of life.
The Church’s Response
On Monday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints filed a response to the initial lawsuit. Some of its youth activities include water sports and although the boatman admitted to undertaking some youth activities, it denied breaching any of its obligations or legal responsibilities.
The church also acknowledged that the adults who organized the activity were leaders within the church. However, they denied that the young woman leader had increased the risk of boating or that any injuries were the result of actions, errors, or omissions by the church.
Based on the reasonable care requirements of Wyoming law, the church acknowledged a duty of care to the minors but denied the allegation of breach of this duty.
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In its response, the church argued that it bears no responsibility and that activities such as watersports have inherent risks that it cannot prevent. It also argued that the plaintiffs’ claims were barred by the volunteer immunity doctrine, which provides certain protections to individuals who work as volunteers.
The response reads, in part, “The injuries were the result of a rare and unforeseen accident that occurred through the defendant’s negligence or lack of due care.”
It also says that the church “prays that the plaintiff will not take anything by way of complaint” and asks the court to grant any relief it deems just.
ABC4 reached out to the church for a statement on the case and has not yet heard back.
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