In re: AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation, No. 1:22-md-03035 (W.D. Tenn.).

Lieff Cabraser represents plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) and its retirement plan managers regarding allegations that AMEC failed to monitor the church plan’s retirement plan manager, Rev. Dr. Jerome Harris, for roughly 20 years. The proposed class alleges that Harris initiated a long-running conspiracy to embezzle plan funds and defraud plaintiffs, starting in 2001. This included establishing business organizations to further his allegedly fraudulent activities with the help of co-conspirators. It is believed that between $80 million and $90 million in assets could not be accounted for.

Our firm is a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the ongoing MDL. In August 2025, the Court approved a partial class settlement of $60 million against certain defendants, including the Church, and trial is set for April 2026 against the remaining defendants.