Lawsuit accuses The Star, reporter of defamation in IHOPKC sexual abuse stories

A Cass County resident is suing The Kansas City Star, alleging the newspaper defamed him in its reporting on a police investigation into alleged sexual misconduct by an individual associated with the International House of Prayer-Kansas City.

Lawrence Lucky, 46, filed a lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court on Wednesday that alleges The Star and reporter Judy Thomas, who has written extensively on IHOPKC, made several false claims about Lucky, including accusations of rape and sexual abuse.

From 2008 until 2010, the lawsuit says, Lucky was on staff at IHOPKC, performing work related to information technology and music. His lawsuit says that even after leaving the staff, he continued to play music at IHOPKC on occasion.

“To be clear, Lucky never sexually abused or raped anyone,” Lucky’s legal petition says.

Justin Werner, 31, who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, told police Lucky raped him in 2010 during private counseling sessions when he was a teen and Lucky was leading his small youth group. The Star has reported on Werner’s allegations, as well as Lucky’s denials. Lucky has previously called the allegations “fabrications.”

Lucky’s petition says he met Werner approximately two to four times to engage in sexual acts, but says the encounters were consensual.

Werner filed a report with Kansas City police in 2022 that included the allegations against Lucky. In July 2024, Kansas City police told The Star that detectives had provided their “investigative findings to prosecutors for their review and determination of applicable charges.”

The Star’s first report on the police investigation of Lucky was published Aug. 9. In October, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office told The Star it would not file charges.

Bernie Rhodes, an attorney representing The Star and Thomas, said it’s well-established that the American press is free to report on police investigations.

“That’s what The Star did here and we look forward to defending our First Amendment right to inform our readers of what the police are investigating,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes added that when prosecutors decided not to bring charges, The Star promptly reported on the decision.

Werner declined to comment on Friday.

Lucky, who is represented by attorney Karin M. Weigart, seeks upwards of $75,000 collectively from The Star and Thomas.

Lucky’s lawsuit comes after the release of a report by Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations that found IHOPKC founder Mike Bickle committed sexual abuse or misconduct against 17 women — including minors — over decades.

The report also noted 16 cases of sexual abuse and misconduct perpetrated by others associated with IHOPKC.