It has been over six months since the first trial in the Riverside Church child molestation scandal resulted in a settlement for former college basketball star Daryl Powell. In the immediate aftermath, there was a sense of optimism that the Powell case would serve as a catalyst for a swift resolution of the remaining 25 lawsuits filed against the iconic Manhattan institution. These cases center on allegations of systemic sexual abuse within the church’s pioneering youth sports program, which famously produced more than 30 NBA players.
However, that momentum has stalled. Since Powell settled in January, only one additional case has been formally resolved, according to state court files. In the interim, the legal battle has taken a tragic turn: another plaintiff has passed away. This marks the third former Riverside player to die while awaiting justice under New York state’s Child Victims Act.
The Ongoing Struggle for Justice
The latest plaintiff, who sued anonymously as D.N., died in February. A July 17 court filing from his attorneys at Herman Law noted that the firm is currently working to establish next of kin. Like D.N., the other two deceased plaintiffs, Michael McDuffen and Ellis Williams, had sought accountability under the 2019 Child Victims Act, which provided a critical window for survivors of child sexual abuse to bypass statute of limitations laws and pursue damages for abuse suffered as minors.
As previously reported, the plaintiffs allege that the Riverside Church leadership should have been aware that the director and coach of its youth sports programs, Ernest “Ernie” Lorch, was abusing children for nearly four decades. Lorch, who built the Riverside Hawks into a powerhouse of the youth sports industry, died in 2012 at the age of 79.
Legal Hurdles and Frustration
While court documents indicate that settlement discussions have occurred, many attorneys representing the survivors describe the pace as agonizingly slow. Jordan Merson, who represents a plaintiff identified as John Doe, expressed deep frustration with the church’s legal strategy. “Riverside has never approached us to try to resolve this,” Merson stated. “There is very significant exposure to the Riverside Church. I don’t know why they haven’t approached us, but we’re getting ready for trial.”
Mallory Allen, another attorney representing multiple survivors, echoed these sentiments. She noted that while her clients remain resolute, the emotional toll of the delays is immense. “There’s a sense of great frustration that this has taken as long as it has,” Allen said. She added that the death of another client is a heartbreaking, yet predictable, consequence of the protracted litigation process.
A Call for Accountability
For Robert Holmes, the original whistleblower who first exposed the scandal in 2002, the wait for justice has been a test of endurance. Holmes, who played for the Riverside program from 1980 to 1984, remains hopeful that a resolution will eventually be reached. However, he expressed disappointment regarding the silence from some of the program’s most successful alumni.
“My disappointment shifted to the no-show, no comment, no support, no anything from some of the NBA players who have made it through this program,” Holmes said. He believes that the silence from prominent figures sends a message that the survivors’ experiences are not worthy of acknowledgment. As the legal proceedings continue, the survivors remain committed to their pursuit of accountability, hoping to finally move past the trauma and see the church address its dark history.