
Case summary
Add info | Back to top“Jr”
04/01/89 Portland, Oregon
LDS Kenneth L Johnson Jr., “allegedly abused a Beaverton Boy twice a week from 1987-
1 989.” A lawsuit is filed against the LDS Church. The victims feel the Church is
responsible.” ” The $45 million sex abuse lawsuit against the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints will be mediated by a judge in an effort to reach a settlement instead of
going to trial. “JOHNSON-Kenneth Johnson 1 .pdf “.According to the Plaintiff, nicknamed
D.l. for anonymity, Johnson was acting as an agent of the LDS church through its home
teaching program, thereby making the church vicariously liable for the damages
that Johnson caused under the doctrine of respondeat superior.8 The LDS church
denies that Johnson was acting as its agent, instead stating that he visited the home as a
family friend.” The Amended Complaint filed by the Plaintiff argues that, “While working in
the second ward of the Beaverton Stake, and for the purpose of furthering his assigned
duties as a Home Teacher, Johnson identified Plaintiff’s family as with adolescent or
teenage boys; befriended the Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s brother, and their family; gained the family’s
trust and confidence as an educational and spiritual guide, and as a valued and trustworthy
mentor to Plaintiff; gained the permission, acquiescence and support of Plaintiff’s family to
spend substantial periods of time alone with the Plaintiff; and sought and gained the
instruction of Plaintiff’s parents to Plaintiff that he was to have respect for authority and to
comply with Johnson’s instruction and requests… The above course of conduct
described…. is hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘Grooming’.. ..Johnson,
while acting within the course and scope of his employment and agency using the authority
and position of trust as a Home Teacher for the Defendants – through the Grooming
process — induced and directed Plaintiff to engage in various sexual acts with
him. …Johnson used the Grooming process to accomplish his acts of sexual molestation.
Johnson’s Grooming was (1 ) committed in direct connection and for the purpose of fulfilling
Johnson’s employment and agency with the Defendants (2) committed within the time and
space limits of his agency as Home Teacher (3) done initially and at least in part from the
desire to serve the interests of Defendants; (4) done directly in the performance of his
duties as a Home Teacher (5) was generally actions of a kind and nature which Johnson
was required to perform as a Home Teacher; and (6) was done at the
direction of, and pursuant to, the power vested in him by the Defendants.”
THIRD AMENDED COMPLAINT at 2-4, D.l. v Corporation of Bishops of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, No. 0603-03429 (2007).
“The Complaint further claims that years later Plaintiff sought the counsel of the church
when he realized he had been damaged, and they offered him counseling and
advised him that the statute of limitations for pursuing the matter had past, a false
representation that Plaintiff claims was a knowing one.” Id. at 4-5. “
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LDS/Mormon church membership history
Add info | Back to topLDS mission information
The accused did not serve a full-time LDS mission.
LDS temple marriage information
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the accused was married in a Mormon temple.
Alleged victim(s)
Add info | Back to top- Number of alleged victim(s) - note if approximate:
- Average age of alleged victim(s) at time of alleged crime(s):
LDS church response(s)
Add info | Back to top- Alleged failure to report by local LDS leaders? no
- Alleged misconduct by local LDS leaders? no
- Alleged misconduct by global LDS leaders? no
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the Mormon church paid any settlement amounts related to this case.