Legal proceedings for survivors of abuse at the Riverside Church youth basketball program continue to move slowly, with only one additional settlement reached since January.
Key facts
- •Ernest "Ernie" Lorch, the director of the Riverside youth sports program, died in 2012 at age 79.
- •The 2019 Child Victims Act allows survivors to sue for abuse that occurred years or decades ago by bypassing statute of limitations laws.
- •Plaintiff J.M. has a scheduled trial date of September 14 in New York County Supreme Court.
- •Over 14,000 lawsuits have been filed in New York under the Child Victims Act.
- •Robert Holmes first reported the abuse in 2002 while he was incarcerated.
More than six months after the first trial in the Riverside Church child molestation scandal concluded with a settlement for Daryl Powell, 25 lawsuits remain unresolved. While the Powell case initially sparked hope for a swift resolution of remaining claims, court files indicate that only one additional settlement has been reached. The litigation involves allegations of sexual abuse by the late Ernest "Ernie" Lorch, who directed the church's youth sports program for nearly 40 years.
By the numbers
Ongoing Litigation and Plaintiff Deaths
A third plaintiff, identified as D.N., died in February while awaiting justice under New York’s Child Victims Act. Like previous deceased plaintiffs Michael McDuffen and Ellis Williams, D.N. had filed suit under the 2019 law, which allows survivors to pursue damages for abuse that occurred decades ago. Attorneys for other plaintiffs report that settlement progress is slow or nonexistent, with some legal teams preparing to take their cases to trial.
Challenges in Settlement Negotiations
Legal experts point to several factors contributing to the delays, including the complexity of determining insurance coverage for incidents spanning back to the 1960s. Additionally, church bylaws require that any budget allocation for settlements be approved by a vote of the congregation. While some settlement discussions have occurred, attorneys for several plaintiffs, including those representing clients J.M. and D.G., are moving forward with trial preparations.
Whistleblower Calls for Support
Robert Holmes, the original whistleblower who first exposed the abuse in 2002, continues to seek a resolution. Holmes expressed disappointment regarding the lack of public support from prominent former Riverside players, such as Kenny Smith, Chris Mullin, and Metta Sandiford-Artest. Holmes stated that the silence from these figures sends a message that the survivors' experiences are not worthy of acknowledgment.
Timeline
- 2002Robert Holmes first exposed the abuse scandal.
- 2012Ernest "Ernie" Lorch died at the age of 79.
- JanuaryDaryl Powell reached a settlement in the first trial of the scandal.
- FebruaryPlaintiff D.N. died while awaiting justice.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Rolling Stone.
