No. 25-911

Laura Gaddy, et al. v. The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2026-02-03
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: first-amendment institutional-fraud mail-fraud religious-organization rico wire-fraud
Key Terms:
ERISA FirstAmendment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-02-27
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does the First Amendment bar application of the federal mail and wire fraud statutes, as RICO predicates, to a religious organization's intentional concealment of material historical facts and artifacts, coupled with assurances of institutional honesty, and used to induce money or services, on the ground that such conduct involves 'religious history'?

Question Presented (from Petition)

Does the First Amendment bar application of the federal mail and wire fraud statutes, as RICO predicates, to a religious organization’s intentional concealment of material historical facts and artifacts, coupled with assurances of institutional honesty, and used to induce money or services, on the ground that such conduct involves “religious history”? 1 1 Scope of Review. This petition seeks review only of Part A of the Tenth Circuit’s opinion, which dismissed Petitioners’ RICO claim exclusively on First Amendment grounds. Petitioners do not seek review of Part B, which concerns Respondent’s use -of-tithing disclosures.

Docket Entries

2026-02-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/27/2026.
2026-02-09
Waiver of Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of right to respond submitted.
2026-02-09
Waiver of right of respondent Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to respond filed.
2026-01-29
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 5, 2026)
2025-12-19
Application (25A716) granted by Justice Gorsuch extending the time to file until January 29, 2026.
2025-12-12
Application (25A716) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 30, 2025 to February 28, 2026, submitted to Justice Gorsuch.

Attorneys

Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
David J. JordanFoley & Lardner LLP, Respondent
David J. JordanFoley & Lardner LLP, Respondent
Laura Gaddy, et al.
Kay BurninghamKay Burningham, Attorney at Law, Petitioner
Kay BurninghamKay Burningham, Attorney at Law, Petitioner