Robert Morris' alleged victim supports bill to ban NDAs in sex abuse cases

DALLAS - In an effort to no longer silence victims of sexual abuse, Texas lawmakers voted 10-0 to move forward with a bill that would end the abuse of non-disclosure agreements. 

The woman who accused a North Texas megachurch pastor of sexual abuse testified before state lawmakers on the topic.

Abuse survivors explained to lawmakers that when abusers pressure them into signing NDAs to resolve civil lawsuits, it takes away a critical part of their ability to heal and their voice. 

Cindy Clemishire testifies

What we know:

House Bill 748 was proposed by State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano). It would end the practice of offering or entering into non-disclosure agreements in civil cases involving sexual abuse. 

The bill is being named ‘Trey's Law' after Trey Carlock, a graduate of Highland Park High School who faced a decade of abuse that began at age 7 at a Missouri summer camp. 

Cindy Clemishire claims Gateway Church founder Robert Morris abused her when she was a child and then tried to get her to sign a nondisclosure agreement decades later.

Clemishire testified on Wednesday before the Texas House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee in Austin.

What they're saying:

Clemishire became emotional when describing her alleged abuse.

"The first time he made the premeditated decision to violate and defile my purity, he told me, ‘You can never tell anyone because it will ruin everything.’ This abuse continued over and over and over until I finally told someone in 1987 at the age of 17," she said.

Clemishire says part of her journey to healing began in 2007 when she pursued financial restitution. Her attorney asked Morris for $50,000.

"Robert Morris' attorney responded with a letter accusing an innocent 12-year-old Cindy of pursuing Robert, making Robert sound like the victim," she told the committee.

The letter offered a $25,000 settlement as long as she signed a non-disclosure agreement. Morris said her refusal then is allowing for justice to be pursued now. 

"Because I refused to sign the NDA at age 37, I can sit here now at age 55 and share my story and be the voice for so many people," she said.

Clemishire was joined by Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, Trey’s sister.

After Trey took his own life, Elizabeth said she was determined to get the NDA laws changed in Texas.

"Trey endured a decade of grooming and child sexual abuse by their popular director, Pete Newman," said Elizabeth.

Newman is now in prison, serving three life sentences. 

Elizabeth says Trey was retraumatized by signing a restrictive NDA.

Lawmakers say their goal is to protect Texas children from abusers by removing the secrecy that right now protects perpetrators. 

"One of the reasons it exists so pervasively is the culture of silence that surrounds the issue," said State Rep. Mitch Little (R-Lewisville. "You hire a bad employee. They do something horrible. ‘Oh, no. That's terrible. Let's settle the claim and have a nondisclosure agreement.’ Then, that pastor or teacher or volunteer moves to another church, and they continue their abuse."

So far, Tennessee is the only state to pass legislation specific to prohibiting NDAs in civil child sex assault settlements, rendering them void and unenforceable.

Robert Morris’ alleged abuse

The backstory:

Clemishire, who is now 55 years old, was just 12 when she said Morris sexually abused her beginning in 1982.

In court documents, she detailed a time in Oklahoma where she said Morris molested her repeatedly between 1982 and 1987.

At the time, Morris was a traveling preacher and would stay at Clemishire’s home. Morris was married and had a young child.

Morris resigned as Gateway’s senior pastor when Clemishire went public with her story last year.

Morris was indicted on several felony counts and turned himself in to Oklahoma authorities on Tuesday.

There is no statute of limitations because Morris no longer lives in Oklahoma.

Morris’ attorney did tell the Associated Press he expects to enter a not guilty plea for his client. 

What's next:

The bill now moves to the House floor. It will also need approval by the Senate to head to the governor's desk. 

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