Family Of Calvary Chapel Founder Files Lawsuit Alleging Elder Abuse, Wrongful Takeover

COSTA MESA (AP/CBSLA.com) — The family of the late founder of Orange County's Calvary Chapel has filed a lawsuit against the church, claiming elder abuse and wrongful takeover of his property.

KNX 1070's Chris Sedens reports the suit was filed Friday by Janette Manderson, the daughter of founding pastor Chuck Smith, who died in 2013.

The suit claims Smith's illness and resulting death was exacerbated by the negligent care of a nurse, chosen by his son-in-law, Brian Broderson. Broderson is Calvary Chapel's president, and serves as chairman of its board of directors.

According to the suit, Broderson and others on the board used Smith's failing health as an opportunity to take control of the church. He was officially appointed as Smith's successor in a Nov. 2013 vote.

Smith died in Oct. 2013 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 86.

Neither Broderson nor other board members named in the suit could be reached for comment.

Smith, who served as senior pastor at Calvary Chapel for more than four decades, was considered one of the most influential pastors in much of evangelical Christianity, and was known for his unorthodox outreach to young people that helped fuel the "Jesus movement" of the 1970s.

Since starting what began as a 25-person Costa Mesa congregation in 1965, Smith is credited with a movement that ultimately planted over 1,600 churches worldwide as part of the Calvary Chapel fellowship.

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