Easton & Easton, LLP Sues The Dwelling Place Anaheim and Vineyard USA for Failing to Protect Minor from Church Leaders' Sexual Abuse
AkGlobe News/10331104

COSTA MESA, Calif. & ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - AkGlobe -- By Easton & Easton, LLP

Easton & Easton, LLP, a Southern California law firm dedicated to representing survivors of sexual abuse, has filed a civil lawsuit [CASE NO.30-2025-01519164-CU-PO-WJC] in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange on behalf of plaintiff Danisha Keating against The Dwelling Place Anaheim (formerly known as Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Anaheim), Vineyard USA, Daniel Mayfield, and Bonnie Mayfield Cottle. The lawsuit alleges that these defendants failed to protect Keating—a minor congregant—from years of sexual abuse and exploitation by her parents, both of whom were ministry leaders within the church, and that the church's leadership negligently ignored or concealed repeated warnings and opportunities to intervene.

According to the complaint, Keating was sexually assaulted, molested, and emotionally abused by her father, Daniel Mayfield, between approximately 1999 and 2005, beginning when she was eight years old and continuing until she was fourteen. During that period, Mayfield served as a Worship Leader for the Children's Ministry at Vineyard Anaheim, while her mother, Bonnie Mayfield Cottle, taught Sunday School at the same church. The filing contends that Vineyard Anaheim and Vineyard USA—which oversaw hundreds of affiliated congregations nationwide—knew or should have known that Mayfield posed a danger to minors, including his own children, yet failed to remove him from ministry or report the suspected abuse to authorities as required under California's mandatory child-abuse reporting laws.

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Filed pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1, the 56-page complaint asserts nine causes of action: negligence, negligent supervision, negligent retention/hiring, negligent failure to warn/train/educate, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud (Civil Code §1573), sexual harassment (Civil Code §51.9), sexual battery, and sexual assault. It alleges that the defendants stood in loco parentis—in a position of trust, care, and authority over Keating—and bore a moral and legal duty to protect her from foreseeable harm.

The complaint details that both Mayfield and Cottle used their church roles to access and control Keating, exploiting the congregation's trust. It further alleges that church leadership ignored multiple warning signs and prior knowledge of Mayfield's sexual predation, including earlier misconduct within his family, and instead concealed the risk to avoid reputational harm.

Keating, now an advocate for survivors, offered the following statement:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" Proverbs 31:8-9. This is what Vineyard failed to do.

When a child's parents are the source of their abuse, the church should be a safe-haven, a sanctuary from the suffering. When those parents are established as leaders in such a church, that organization's responsibilities become even greater.

The leadership at Vineyard's failing to report the abuse, perpetrated by those under their charge in ministry, allowed this abuse to continue. It made a minor child, an abuse victim, carry the responsibility that belonged to each and every one of the pastors and staff at Vineyard. 1 Timothy 5:19-21 demands the public rebuking of church leaders when they persist in their sin. That is what I hope to do. Cover-up culture must not be tolerated, but rather removed wholecloth from the church."

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"Danisha's courage to come forward after enduring unspeakable trauma is extraordinary," said Saul E. Wolf, senior attorney at Easton & Easton, LLP, and lead counsel on the case. "Our firm is committed to holding The Dwelling Place Anaheim, Vineyard USA, and their leadership accountable for their negligence and their failure to protect children in their care. No church should ever place its reputation above the safety of a child."

The lawsuit seeks to hold the defendants civilly liable for enabling and concealing Mayfield's abuse and for violating California's Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. Mayfield and Cottle were both charged and convicted for related criminal offenses involving the abuse and endangerment of minors.  Mayfield remains incarcerated for those crimes.

If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse or misconduct while affiliated with The Dwelling Place Anaheim, Vineyard USA, or any other institution, please contact local law enforcement or a survivor advocacy organization.

Click here to review the official complaint filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Orange.