From Rolling Stone · Luke Cyphers · · 2m
Riverside Church Pays $11.3M to Child Abuse Victim
Riverside Church ordered to pay $11.3 million after jury found it reckless in sexual abuse case.
In brief
Riverside Church ordered to pay $11.3 million after jury found it reckless in sexual abuse case. Riverside Church paid $11.3 million to a former basketball player after a jury ruled it was reckless in sexual abuse cases from the 1970s. Originally reported by Rolling Stone.
Riverside Church Ordered to Pay
Riverside Church in New York City was ordered to pay $11.3 million to a former basketball player for sexual abuse he suffered as a teenager in 1978.
Abuse Alleged by J.M. in 1978
J.M., now 63, testified he was sexually abused eight or nine times by Riverside's former sports director Ernest 'Ernie' Lorch when he was 14 years old.
Lorch's Background
Lorch, who died in 2012 at age 79, was a powerful corporate attorney and executive whose Riverside Hawks basketball teams became the template for the modern $40 billion youth sports industry.
Jury Finds Church Reckless
A six-person jury found Riverside 'reckless' and culpable for the abuse, ordering $7.5 million for past pain and $3.8 million for future damages.
Attorney's Testimony
J.M.'s attorney Lucas Franken said the jury believed the truth despite the long time passed and that it was common sense to award compensation.
Second Trial for Riverside
This was the second trial in the sexual abuse scandal involving Riverside's youth sports program and its multimillionaire pedophile coach.
J.M. Testifies on Abuse
J.M. described Lorch as 'the ultimate alpha male in the gym. Father figure. Everybody deferred to him.' He also testified to rape and forced oral sex.
Child Victims Act
J.M. filed suit in 2019 after New York passed the Child Victims Act, which allowed survivors to sue for damages years after abuse.
27 Plaintiffs Alleged Abuse
J.M. was one of 27 plaintiffs alleging Lorch sexually abused them as children while on Riverside's sports teams from 1961 to 2002.
Riverside Alumni
Riverside alumni include NBA players Nate Archibald, Chris Mullin, Kenny Smith, Metta World Peace, and Lamar Odom.
Church's Defense
Riverside argued it had no knowledge of Lorch's abuse and that the church wasn't responsible for the actions of its staff.
Jury Awards $11.3M
The jury awarded J.M. $7.5 million for past pain and $3.8 million for future damages, totaling $11.3 million.
The key point
Riverside Church paid $11.3 million to a former basketball player after a jury ruled it was reckless in sexual abuse cases from the 1970s.
