Texas Supreme Court Allows Sexual Abuse Suit Against Religious Ministry to Proceed

Durham, Pittard & Spalding attorney Lauren S. Harbour secured an important ruling from the Supreme Court of Texas, clearing the way for two former church members to continue sexual abuse and related claims against the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and its controversial former leader, Bill Gothard. 

In the June 27, 2025 order, the court denied the defendants’ petition for writ of mandamus, which sought dismissal of the lawsuit under Rule 91a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.  

In a brief on the merits to the state’s highest court, the defendants claimed that the women’s allegations were barred by the First Amendment and the Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine, a legal principle that prevents courts from resolving matters involving theological disputes, church governance, or internal discipline. 

Ms. Harbour successfully argued that the allegations do not turn on religious doctrine or belief and fall outside any shield provided by the Ecclesiastical Doctrine. The Texas Supreme Court’s denial of the petition means the lawsuit, previously allowed to proceed by both the 115th District Court of Upshur County and the Tyler Court of Appeals, can continue. 

In addition to Ms. Harbour, the plaintiffs are represented by Keith Langston, Anthony Bruster, and John Hall of Bruster PLLC; and Brent Goudarzi and Marty Young of Goudarzi & Young LLP. 

The case is In re William W. Gothard Jr., and Institute in Basic Life Principles, No. 24-0236, 2025 WL 1774463 (Tex. Jun. 27, 2025).