In a significant legal action, two sisters from Virginia are seeking a combined $300 million in damages for alleged childhood sexual abuse at a church.

According to the Christian Post, the lawsuits target Coastal Church, its predecessor Bethany Place Church, and former youth assistant Gerald R. Thomas for abuse dating back to 2006.

R.T., 25, from Richmond and S.T., 29, from Chesterfield, have filed lawsuits separately but both name the same defendants and outline similar traumatic experiences between 2006 and 2009.

Chronology of Abuse and Legal Action

Gerald R. Thomas, who is now 75 years of age, was employed as a youth group assistant at Bethany Place Church during the years the abuse occurred. He was later convicted on charges related to the sisters' cases.

The abuse began in 2006 and continued until 2009. During this period, Thomas exploited his role to commit acts of sexual battery against the sisters, who were minors at the time.

This repeated abuse led to his conviction on August 17, 2010, for aggravated sexual battery, and on November 12, 2020, for a similar charge involving another victim, referred to as Jane Doe.

Lawsuits Detail Alleged Negligence and Demand for Justice

The legal complaints filed by the sisters assert that Thomas committed sexual battery, assault, and breached his duty of care. They accuse the church organizations of negligence in failing to prevent the abuse.

Demanding justice, the sisters are each seeking $50 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages, plus interest calculated from the time they were first harmed.

The younger sister initially reported the abuse in October 2009 to her mother and a church staff member; however, no immediate action was taken against Thomas or to assist her. It was only after she spoke to a school counselor that an official investigation into the allegations started.

Church's Response and Legal Stance

Coastal Church has responded to the lawsuits by emphasizing that the abuses were connected to Bethany Place Church before it was acquired and renamed as the Bethany Campus of Coastal Church two years ago.

They highlighted leadership changes and reiterated their commitment to child safety and stringent protocols against abuse and sexual misconduct in their statement.

Kevin Biniazan, the attorney representing the sisters, criticized the church's handling of the situation, stressing that the institutions should be held accountable for allowing the abuse to occur.

Victims' Struggle with Long-term Effects

Commenting on the case, Biniazan discussed the prolonged impact of abuse, noting that "The effects of those acts aren't fully appreciated and aren't fully understood until they grow older and they start to recognize the lasting effects that that has on their day-to-day lives."

He vividly described the circumstances of the abuse: "And in some instances, in front of and in the presence of other persons while he placed his hand beneath their clothing, which is the most upsetting to imagine, the mind of a young child looking around and experiencing these abuses."

These traumatic experiences have driven the sisters not only to seek justice against Thomas but also to confront the institutions that failed to protect them at their most vulnerable.

The Road to Recovery and Institutional Accountability

As the legal process unfolds, the sisters hope that their case can lead to increased awareness and reforms in how churches handle allegations of sexual misconduct.

Biniazan has positioned the lawsuit as a critical step in holding both the perpetrator and the involved institutions accountable: "It was time to say something and not just hold this man responsible for what he did to them, but to hold these institutions responsible for permitting it to take place."

As the community watches on, the outcome of this lawsuit could have long-lasting implications for how similar cases are handled by religious institutions nationwide.