Nearly all of SC pastor John-Paul Miller’s lawsuits against protesters dismissed
John-Paul Miller, a local pastor who has been at the heart of controversy following his wife’s suicide, has had nearly all his lawsuits against protesters dismissed.
Since the beginning of the year, Miller filed over 20 lawsuits and restraining orders against various people who had been protesting the Myrtle Beach man and his church. Protesters began showing up outside the former Solid Rock Church in Market Common in Myrtle Beach during Sunday service after Mica Miller’s death.
The only lawsuit pending is against Samuel Rickman. Another four were labeled as non-service, meaning officials could not deliver the legal documents.
Mica Miller shot herself in the head at a North Carolina state park in late April 2024. Following her death, her family and others alleged John-Paul Miller abused her and caused her death, The Sun News reported. He has denied these allegations.
John-Paul Miller previously said he filed legal action in an attempt to stop people from protesting against his church, which included civil suits and restraining orders. He declined to comment on the recent dismissals.
At least three people, Sandra Caron, Alexandra Cuozzo and Melissa Pfeiffer filed counterclaims against John-Paul Miller.
These three counter-claim cases were dismissed with prejudice on June 18. The three women protested against John-Paul Miller, his former Solid Rock Church and his new Mercy Church. The dismissal paperwork shows each party agreed to pay for their own legal fees.
During court hearings regarding the restraining orders, John-Paul Miller represented himself, which caused issues in hearings due to his poor understanding of court proceedings, The Sun News reported. The restraining orders against Caron, Cuozzo and Pfeiffer were dismissed by a judge.
John-Paul Miller started the process of dissolving Solid Rock Church last year and began Mercy Church near the beginning of this year. In November, John-Paul Miller cleared out the Solid Rock Church along Howard Avenue in Market Common. He went on to host services at various spots around the Myrtle Beach area, including a Socastee gym and a Starbucks near Market Common.
The protesters have followed him and his church around the Myrtle Beach area, protesting wherever John-Paul Miller chooses to preach.
“I spent 2024 giving mercy to everyone who slandered me, abused me, defamed me, and invaded my privacy. I gave so much mercy that I helped start a new church called Mercy Church,” John-Paul Miller told The Sun News over text in February. “But in 2025 God spoke to me and told me to give the mob what they want. They never asked for mercy, they demanded justice. So in 2025, I’ll be pursuing Justice.”
He sold the church property earlier this year, stating it would be torn down and turned into condos. This was proven false after the buyer sold the property to Market Common Community Church.
