Summary
May 30, 2025 – Oregon judge refuses to compel former Mormon family physician to answer questions about his church involvement; more than 150 women and girls are suing the former doctor and stake high council member for alleged sexual abuse
We are looking for information about what the Mormon church knew and when regarding this case, and if it ever took any disciplinary actions against David Farley.
On May 28, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Souede ruled that former West Linn doctor David Farley would not have to answer further deposition questions in a civil lawsuit over patient allegations of sexual abuse, thanks to Fifth Amendment protection.
More than 150 women and children are suing Farley, seeking $970 million. Floodlit has seen reports that over 200 victims have come forward. It’s possible that dozens of victims have made allegations to police but not yet formalized those allegations as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Here is a link to the seventh amended complaint in the lawsuit against Farley, filed in February 2024:
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25954928-janecoeetalvdavidfarleywlfhc/
An eighth amended complaint was filed in late 2024. Floodlit is trying to obtain a copy of it.
David Farley’s history in the Mormon church
Farley allegedly spent decades sexually assaulting hundreds of girls and women under the guise of medical care at the West Linn Family Health Center, which he opened in 1989.
FLOODLIT has communicated with multiple individuals who knew Farley.
One said Farley was a Mormon primary teacher (children ages 3-12) in 2011 in the Wilsonville, Oregon Ward. That year, he was assigned to be a “Gospel Doctrine” (Sunday school) teacher, the source said.
Farley was also an LDS stake high council member during the time some of the alleged sexual assaults took place. The lawsuit alleges that many of Farley’s victims met him through the LDS church.
One victim described how Farley would approach her at church when she was between 15 and 18 years old and “pet” her arms and back when he asked her to come by his office for an exam.
The investigations against Farley
Farley was deposed in September 2024. He answered three questions: His name, date of birth and the state where he now lives (Utah). He invoked his constitutional right to not self-incriminate for all other questions.
Plaintiffs wanted Farley to answer additional questions about his education, family and employment history, his health center, and his involvement in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Farley has not been criminally charged, but he is the subject of a current criminal investigation.
In 2020, the Oregon Medical Board revoked Farley’s license and penalized him for $20,000, citing unprofessional conduct and repeated negligence. Here’s the stipulated order:
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The board said Farley admitted to photographing the genitals and breasts of five patients, all under 18, on his personal cell phone. He said he gave the minor’s parents consent forms to sign, but he could not provide the records. Farley said he deleted the photos from his phone and shredded the consent forms, the board said.
Farley retired with a “swollen heart” and “due to multiple personal circumstances”
In 2020, Farley announced his retirement in Oregon. He wrote:
“It is with deep regret and sadness as well as a swollen heart that I have to announce my immediate retirement. I had not intended to retire at this time and I know that I have told many of you that I had no plans for retirement (and that was true), but due to multiple personal circumstances I have had to make this decision.”
Farley’s retirement letter:
https://www.wlfhc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Retirement-Letter-to-Patients.pdf
After retiring, Farley moved briefly to Idaho where he worked for a week as a substitute school teacher for junior high students. The school district learned about the lawsuit against Farley for alleged sexual abuse and fired him.
West Linn Police investigated allegations against Farley, but a grand jury in Clackamas County declined to issue an indictment. Farley is currently under criminal investigation.
More details about the sex abuse allegations against David Farley
2022 letter from victims to the Oregon attorney general:
https://www.opb.org/pdf/9_1664494832481.pdf
2024 West Linn, Oregon report on police investigation:
https://westlinnoregon.gov/communications/independent-investigation-report-farley-case
FLOODLIT needs your help
If you have any information about Farley’s history in the Mormon church, please contact FLOODLIT:
https://floodlit.org/report-abuse/
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Previous updates on David Farley’s Mormon sex abuse case
BREAKING NEWS 2/7/23: FLOODLIT is updating this case report as we get more information. The city of West Linn, Oregon released a report related to this case yesterday.
Farley currently resides in Nephi, Utah as of February 2024. He is a member of the Nephi 5th Ward in the LDS church, and has two current callings: resource center specialist and building cleaning supervisor.
He was a doctor at girls camps in the Lake Oswego Stake.
He lived in St. Anthony, Idaho as of January 2023.
As of 2023-01-11, Farley is currently not facing criminal charges of abuse. According to one news source cited below, “Farley admitted to taking photos of the genitals and breasts of five patients, all under 18, according to board records. He claimed he provided consent forms for the minor’s parents to sign but could not provide the records. Farley said he deleted the photos from his phone and shredded the consent forms, according to board documents.”
Learn more about this case:
Farley was a Mormon primary teacher (children ages 3-12) in 2011 in the Wilsonville, Oregon Ward. That year, he was assigned to be a “Gospel Doctrine” (Sunday school) teacher.
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Donate »Facts
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Primary, Stake high council, Sunday school,
- During alleged crime: Primary, Stake high council, Sunday school,
- Alleged crime: Unknown timeframe, in Oregon,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's workplace,
- Victims: 10 or more victims, 100 or more victims, Multiple victims,
-
Born: 1958
- AKA David B. Farley, Dr. Farley
- Mission: unknown
- Places: Oregon, Utah,
Sources
- source,
- Oregon court case #20CV43049,
- Women speak out against ‘master manipulator’ Oregon doctor who photographed children’s genitals, performed unwanted exams,
- Two sisters recalled leaving exams with West Linn Dr. David Farley at ages 11 and 14, wondering, ‘What the heck just happened?’,
- Another 25 women sign on to suit against ex-West Linn doctor, now seeking $290 million in damages for alleged sexual abuse,
- #MeToo at the doctor's office: Investigation finds sexual misconduct, flaws in discipline,
- West Linn doctor who allegedly abused over 120 patients won’t face charges, Clackamas County grand jury decides,
- Letter: "Re: Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Over 200 Women and Children at the Hands of Former Doctor David Farley, and Clackamas County District Attorney’s Refusal to Prosecute these Heinous Crimes",
- Women speak out about sexual abuse allegations involving former West Linn doctor,
- West Linn Police Records Answer Some Questions, Raise Others About Doctor Sex Abuse Investigation,
- West Linn police records answer some questions, raise others about Farley case,
- Police records shed light on investigation of former West Linn doctor accused of rampant sexual abuse,
- Former Oregon doctor can plead Fifth in suit by dozens of patients alleging abuse, judge rules,
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1. source
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2. Oregon court case #20CV43049
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3. Women speak out against ‘master manipulator’ Oregon doctor who photographed children’s genitals, performed unwanted exams
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4. Two sisters recalled leaving exams with West Linn Dr. David Farley at ages 11 and 14, wondering, ‘What the heck just happened?’
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5. Another 25 women sign on to suit against ex-West Linn doctor, now seeking $290 million in damages for alleged sexual abuse
-
6. #MeToo at the doctor's office: Investigation finds sexual misconduct, flaws in discipline
-
7. West Linn doctor who allegedly abused over 120 patients won’t face charges, Clackamas County grand jury decides
-
8. Letter: "Re: Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Over 200 Women and Children at the Hands of Former Doctor David Farley, and Clackamas County District Attorney’s Refusal to Prosecute these Heinous Crimes"
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9. Women speak out about sexual abuse allegations involving former West Linn doctor
-
10. West Linn Police Records Answer Some Questions, Raise Others About Doctor Sex Abuse Investigation
-
11. West Linn police records answer some questions, raise others about Farley case
-
12. Police records shed light on investigation of former West Linn doctor accused of rampant sexual abuse
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13. Former Oregon doctor can plead Fifth in suit by dozens of patients alleging abuse, judge rules
[partial text]
A judge Wednesday refused to compel former West Linn Dr. David B. Farley to answer further deposition questions in a pending civil suit over patient allegations of sexual abuse, finding he lawfully invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
“He’s excused from answering questions due to that privilege,” Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Souede ruled after an hourlong hearing Wednesday.
Attorneys for more than 150 women and children suing Farley had urged the judge to order him to answer questions about his educational background, family and employment history, the business structure of the West Linn Family Health Center where he worked, the center’s policies and procedures and his involvement in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[FLOODLIT IS SEEKING THE FULL ARTICLE TEXT]
Documents
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Criminal case documents
We believe this person was never criminally charged, so no related criminal case documents exist. If you have information that suggests otherwise, please contact us.
Civil case documents
We do not know of any related civil cases, so no related civil case documents exist. If you have information that suggests otherwise, please contact us.
Other documents
FLOODLIT does not have a copy of any other related documents. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for some.Videos
- Video title: KGW (NBC) Portland, Oregon - Dr David Farley, a former West Linn doctor, is accused of abuse. - 2020-12-09
- Video description: posted by Manly, Stewart & Finaldi Law Firm
- Video title: #MeToo at the doctor's office: Investigation finds sexual misconduct, flaws in discipline - 2022-04-11
- Video description: Doctors are among the most trusted professionals we have, but what happens when a physician crosses the line to sexually abuse or assault a patient?
- Video title: David Farley accused of abuse by patients; No indictment - 2022-09-22
- Video description: Dozens of women and children who claim they were sexually abused by their doctor say they'll continue to push for his criminal prosecution, despite a grand jury choosing not to indict the former West Linn doctor.The Clackamas County District Attorney's Office said it can’t move forward with prosecution, because a grand jury found there wasn't enough evidence to indict former West Linn Doctor David Farley.Now, dozens of people who allege he sexually abused them during routine medical exams said they believe the investigation was mishandled.It’s been two years since Katie Medley and several other women came forward with the allegations. Since then, dozens of women and children have also come forward.“It’s been incredibly devastating and disheartening to have to fight so hard for that,” said Medley.The Oregon Medical Board revoked Farley's license and told him to never again reapply to practice medicine in Oregon.- KATU News
- Video title: West Linn women speak out about sexual abuse allegations involving former doctor - 2022-09-23
- Video description: Women who allege they were sexually abused by a local doctor are frustrated about a grand jury's decision not to move forward with criminal charges. - KGW News