Meleah Thompson has filed a federal civil complaint against Watchtower and others, alleging childhood sexual abuse, concealment, retaliation, and institutional failures.
July 20th, 2026
Complaint Summary:
On July 20, 2026, Meleah Thompson filed a federal civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon against Matthew Zoller, Jason Farr, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., the Junction City East Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and unidentified defendants.
The complaint alleges that Thompson was repeatedly sexually abused and psychologically coerced while she was a minor associated with the Junction City congregation. She claims Zoller and Farr exploited her youth, religious conditioning, and fear of disfellowshipping, spiritual punishment, family separation, and social isolation. Thompson also alleges that another adult congregant, Gene Baird, sexually assaulted her when she was approximately fourteen.
According to the complaint, Thompson reported abuse to congregation elders during the 1990s, but they did not notify civil authorities or adequately investigate. She alleges that elders invoked the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ “two-witness rule,” allowed alleged perpetrators continued access to minors, and later subjected her to blame, public discipline, and disfellowshipping. The complaint further alleges that Farr eventually admitted misconduct before elders, but Thompson was encouraged to forgive him so he could receive a leadership position. It states that the Governing Body subsequently acknowledged that Thompson had been improperly disfellowshipped.
Thompson contends that Watchtower exercised centralized control over local elders and maintained policies that prioritized internal handling of abuse allegations. She alleges that this protected the organization’s reputation, membership, donations, and financial interests while discouraging reports to law enforcement.
The nine asserted claims include federal sex trafficking, forced labor or services, trafficking connected to involuntary servitude, a federal civil remedy for sexual abuse of a minor, Oregon involuntary servitude, child sexual abuse, negligence and negligent supervision, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy.
Thompson seeks compensatory, statutory, and punitive damages; medical and therapy expenses; restitution and disgorgement; lost earning capacity; attorneys’ fees; institutional reforms; and a jury trial. These are allegations contained in the complaint and have not yet been adjudicated or proven in court.
