No Halo News · Sourced development
Federal judge dismissed several claims against the SBC Executive Committee but left alleged-defamation claims pending
In David and Mary Sills' lawsuit, a federal judge granted the Executive Committee summary judgment on Mary Sills' claims and on claims for civil conspiracy, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The court denied summary judgment on David Sills' defamation claims arising from Guidepost's investigation report and a published list, allowing those claims to continue. The ruling did not decide that the remaining statements were defamatory.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The mixed ruling materially narrows a prominent lawsuit tied to the Southern Baptist Convention's response to sexual-abuse allegations. It removes several theories and individual defendants while preserving defamation claims against the Executive Committee for later resolution.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
David and Mary Sills brought the claims. Chief U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell Jr. issued the partial summary-judgment ruling.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
The surviving defamation allegations have not been proven, and the ruling is not a finding that the investigation report or list was false. No Halo has not established the final outcome, damages or whether the parties will settle, proceed to trial or appeal.
Right of reply
Organization response
The Executive Committee sought summary judgment. The court granted its request on several claims but denied it on the remaining defamation claims. No separate public response from the Executive Committee was located in the consulted court opinion.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Judgment. Current state: Pending. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published September 29, 2026 · Last verified October 3, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.