A former Texas megachurch pastor is being sued by a lady who claims he sexually assaulted and abused her when she was 12 years outdated.
The go well with, filed this week in Dallas County District courtroom, accuses Gateway Church founder Robert Morris and others of libel, malice, defamation, slander, failure to report, civil conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional misery and unjust enrichment.
They’re searching for greater than $1 million in damages.
Cindy Clemishire and her father, Jerry Lee Clemishire, filed the go well with lower than a yr after sharing the allegations with a spiritual watchdog weblog, The Wartburg Watch.
Cindy, 53, claimed she met Morris in 1981 whereas he was preaching at her church in Oklahoma and their households turned shut.
She mentioned Morris touched her inappropriately whereas staying at her home in 1982, and continued for the following four-and-a-half years.
An Oklahoma grand jury in March indicted Morris on 5 counts of lewd or indecent acts with a baby.
He’s at the moment out on bond.
Within the newly filed go well with, Cindy alleges Morris’ spouse, sons and church members tried to cowl up the abuse for monetary achieve, in line with a report from affiliate FOX 4.
“[The] defendants acted in concert, cooperated with each other and conspired to maximize their profits through their unlawful and unjust course of action to fraudulently conceal and cover up the rape of Plaintiff,” in line with courtroom paperwork.
Morris resigned in June 2024 and later filed a lawsuit in opposition to the church, stating his “highly inappropriate” relationship with a minor was not a breach of contract, and Gateway Church ought to fulfill its contractual monetary obligations to him.
Church officers mentioned he would have acquired hundreds of thousands in deferred compensation, extra retirement advantages and a severance fee, in line with the report.
Gateway Church declined Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
