As a general rule, courts today are much more willing to entertain actions against churches than they were even a decade ago. American preoccupation with individualism, a diminished respect for authority, and the acceptance of relative morality has infiltrated the church. As a result, many people, including Christians, have a general antagonism toward concepts of accountability, responsibility, and discipline. This theory of law intentionally and directly spreads the cost of injuries to a single person across an entire organization, enterprise, or industry that is somehow related to the person's injury. Therefore, instead of one person suffering a lot, many persons suffer a little.
Personal responsibility is replaced by industrial responsibility.
A church can be sued for virtually any reason, even if in reality it has done nothing wrong or illegal. Once an action is filed against it, the church will be compelled to defend itself or lose by default judgment. It often costs plaintiffs very little money to sue a church. Some attorneys will take cases that have very little likelihood of success if the case is likely to produce substantial publicity. Legal defense costs are not paid on a contingency basis, but on a set hourly rate.