# Grant v. Kingston

- Link: https://justprotect.org/grant-v-kingston/
- Published: 2026-10-20T18:21:09-06:00
- Author: Jana Johnson

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, D. UTAH · NO. 2:24-CV-00155

# Grant, et al. v. Kingston

A federal civil lawsuit brought by ten women against the Kingston Group, alleging
trafficking, forced labor, and coerced marriage.

COURT

U.S. District Court, District of Utah

CASE NUMBER

2:24-cv-00155

FILED

February 28, 2024

PLAINTIFFS

Ten women

## Background

The Kingston Group — formally the Latter Day Church of Christ, known to members 
as “the Order” — is a fundamentalist community headquartered in Utah. For decades,
former members have alleged that the group operates as a criminal enterprise: forcing
young women and girls into underage and incestuous marriages, withholding wages,
and subjecting members to systematic abuse.

On September 7, 2022, six of the women filed suit in Utah’s Third District Court.
They later asked that court to dismiss the case without prejudice so their claims
could be brought in federal court, and the request was granted. The federal complaint,
filed on February 28, 2024, added federal claims, more facts, and more defendants.
An amended complaint followed about three months later.

The case names 46 defendants, including Paul Elden Kingston, other members of the
Kingston family, and businesses the complaint says the group operates. The complaint
lists twelve causes of action, including labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and
claims under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

## What the plaintiffs allege

The complaint alleges, among other things:

 * That young women were pressured into “Order Marriages” — ceremonies with no legal
   standing that the plaintiffs describe as a cover for sex trafficking.
 * That wages were withheld and deposited into Kingston-controlled accounts, leaving
   workers with no recourse.
 * That leadership arranged marriages between close relatives.
 * That birth certificates were altered to leave out fathers’ names, shielding leadership
   from liability.

These are allegations. No court has decided them, and the defendants have the right
to contest every claim. We share them carefully, out of respect for everyone who
comes forward and for due process.

## Where the case stands

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, with pretrial
matters referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge Jared C. Bennett. On December 17, 2024,
the court denied the defendants’ motions asking the plaintiffs to pay costs from
the earlier state court case.

That is the most recent ruling we have reviewed. Because litigation status can change,
please check the official court docket for current filings and rulings.

Sources: U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, _Grant et al. v. Kingston
et al._, No. 2:24-cv-00155, Memorandum Decision and Order (Dec. 17, 2024); _The 
Salt Lake Tribune_, March 2, 2024.

## Recent updates

New filings and rulings, drawn from the public court docket, are posted here as 
the case develops.

 * [Grant v. Kingston: Where the Case Stands — October 2026](https://justprotect.org/grant-v-kingston-where-the-case-stands-october-2026/)
   11/03/2026

[See all updates →](https://justprotect.org/category/blog/cases/grant-v-kingston/)

## In the news

 * **Mar 2, 2024** · The Salt Lake Tribune — [Kingston polygamist sect trafficked children, violated federal labor laws, Utah lawsuit alleges](https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/03/02/kingston-polygamist-sect/)
   
   Ten women file a federal racketeering suit that alleges the Kingston sect trafficked
   children and violated labor laws, naming nearly 50 defendants.
 * **Mar 2, 2024** · The Daily Beast — [Polygamous Mormon Sect Is Actually a Sex Trafficking Cult: Lawsuit](https://www.thedailybeast.com/polygamous-mormon-sect-is-actually-a-sex-trafficking-cult-lawsuit/)
   
   Ten women who left the Kingston group file a federal complaint that alleges sex
   trafficking, incestuous child marriages and forced labor by its leaders.
 * **Sep 11, 2022** · KSL.com — [10 former Kingston members allege abuse, exploitation in new lawsuit](https://www.ksl.com/article/50473275/10-former-kingston-members-allege-abuse-exploitation-in-new-lawsuit)
   
   Ten former members of the Order file a 109-page state lawsuit that alleges forced
   underage marriages, child abuse and labor exploitation by Kingston leaders.

[All news coverage →](https://justprotect.org/in-the-news/)

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