Emily Sortor  |  August 27, 2020

Category: Legal News

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Boy Scout sexual abuse

In recent years, the #MeToo movement has unearthed what feels like an epidemic of sexual assault allegations in prominent organizations. One such organization is the Boy Scouts of America.

Boy Scouts Sexual Abuse Overview

Numerous former scouts have claimed that scout masters and other staff of the organization committed acts of sexual abuse or harassment that went unreported. Some argue that the organization put its reputation ahead of victims, and were negligent in reporting abuse allegations and taking insufficient action to protect victims.

After the #MeToo movement encouraged survivors to come forward, lawmakers began to consider how the law could better enable victims to seek justice. Numerous states have changed their laws around filing sexual assault lawsuits, increasing the statute of limitations and offering look back windows that give victims a chance to file sexual assault lawsuits even if the statute of limitations would have otherwise already passed.

As a result of these legal changes, the Boy Scouts of America have faced around 300 lawsuits. NBC News says that these cases have made insurers less than willing to insure the organization. Now, the organization has turned to bankruptcy filing in the hopes of escaping the financial implications of the abuse allegations.

Articulating the costs of the legal issues, PBS notes that the assets of the Boy Scouts of America were listed at between $1 billion and $10 billion, and its liabilities were determined to be between $500 million and $1 billion. PBS explains that the organization’s bankruptcy filings do not mean that the organization will cease to exist — it will continue its operation and programming. 

In addition to filing lawsuits, victims now have the chance to file for compensation through the the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy proceedings, explains USA Today. As part of the Boy Scouts’ bankruptcy proceedings, the organization established a compensation fund. This gives victims a chance to receive compensation even if they have not filed a lawsuit over their alleged abuse.

According to USA Today, the Boy Scouts compensation fund is unlike many others. Most compensation funds are only open to those individuals who have not already filed claims against an organization, but this limitation does not apply to the Boy Scouts compensation fund. USA Today elaborates, noting that the fund is open to a range of victims — those who have already attempted to report abuse, as well as those who have not previously reported their abuse.

How To File a Boy Scouts Sexual Abuse Compensation Claim

In another article, USA Today digs into the process of filing a claim for compensation through the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy proceedings. Victims can file a compensation claim until five p.m. on November 16. 

Victims should know that people who experienced a range of abuse may be eligible for compensation. For example, even if your abuse was not committed by a Scout Master, you may be eligible. Victims abused by another scout, an employee, a Boy Scout camp director, a volunteer, instructor, or an assistant scoutmaster may be eligible, in addition to those who suffered abuse committed by a Scout Master.

Additionally, those who experienced emotional or psychological abuse, or those who experienced hazing or bullying may submit a claim, in addition to those who experienced physical or sexual abuse. There are two claim forms — a Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Survivor Proof of Claim Form for these who experienced sexual abuse, and a General Proof of Claim Form for those who experienced other kinds of abuse.

The claim forms ask for personal information including contact information. In the interest of determining validity of a claim, the claim form also asks victims to answer questions about the nature, time period, and occurrences of abuse suffered.

Reportedly, there is no legal risk to filing a claim. USA Today assures victims that they will not incur any harm by filing a claim. Their claim may be denied if the case is found to lack validity or legal merit, but victims face no consequences if their claim is denied.

How Many Cases of Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Are There?

USA Today explains that 275 Boy Scout sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against the Boy Scouts of America in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Reportedly, there are around 1,400 potential claims in existence. However, the number of claims filed may be just a fraction of the total number of people who were victimized during their time with the organization.

Boy Scout sexual abuseCNN digs further into the potential numbers of alleged victims and perpetrators in an article on accused Boy Scout leaders. According to CNN, the Boy Scouts of America itself reported that more than 7,800 former leaders could have been involved with sexual abuse of children who were in their care, in the 72 year period between 1944 and 2016.

This information was brought forward in a new testimony from the organization, says CNN. In that testimony, the organization presented data from its volunteer screening database. CNN says that this database was maintained to keep a record of those individuals banned from working with the Boy Scouts in a volunteer or other capacity, for either sexual abuse allegations or other possible violations of the organization’s policy. Reportedly, this number is 2,800 up from the previously reported number of identified alleged abusers.

The number of possible victims affected by these individuals may be even more staggering — the organization’s database pointed to over 12,000 possible victims in the 1944 to 2016 time period.

Has the Boy Scouts of America Been Negligent in Reporting Sexual Abuse?

The organization has stated its commitment to protecting its participants, and has implemented strong policies to that end. A statement by the organization cites the Volunteer Screening Database as a critical tool to help the Boy Scouts vet volunteers.

According to the organization, “at no time have we ever knowingly allowed a perpetrator to work with youth, and we mandate that all leaders, volunteers and staff members nationwide immediately report any abuse allegation to law enforcement.” 

However, some victims and critics worry that the organization has not done enough to handle alleged Boy Scout sexual abuse, saying that the database of ineligible volunteers represents an indication that the organization did not take steps to follow up on abuse.

The organization says that “every instance of suspected abuse is reported to law enforcement,” quotes CNN of a statement made by the Boy Scouts. However, according to CNN, information is limited on if these reports led to prosecution.

Time recounts one story in which an instance of alleged abuse was reported, and after that, a Scout Master was removed from his position, but no reports were made to the police about the allegations. The victim in that instance is reportedly one of the many victims coming forward and launching claims against the organization amidst its bankruptcy filing.

Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Cover Up

NPR then explains that records of abusive leaders in the Boy Scouts of America date back almost a century. Critics worry that this is evidence of a Boy Scout abuse cover up.

Though some records of past allegations have come to light, only recently have more significant numbers been revealed about the extent of possible Boy Scout sexual abuse. In 2012, the Boy Scouts of America published some of the ineligible volunteer information from the Volunteer Screening Database. At the time, just over 1,000 cases were released. However, now the organization is releasing higher numbers, says CNN.

University of Virginia Professor Janet Warren was hired by the Boy Scouts to review the sexual abuse files, says NPR. CNN elaborates, saying that in a testimony in a sexual abuse lawsuit, Warren stated that there was no evidence that the organization covered up abuse allegations.

Join a Free Boy Scouts of America Sexual Abuse Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or someone you love suffered from sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts of America, you may qualify to join this Boy Scout sexual abuse class action lawsuit investigation.

See if you qualify by filling out the free form on this page.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.

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