More survivors of Boy Scout sexual abuse could be eligible to file lawsuits under a recently changed New Jersey law.

Sexual abuse of children has become a hot topic due to the surging number of lawsuits, news stories, and reports about rampant abuse  in organizations such as the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouts of America was based in New Brunswick, NJ between 1954 and 1978. The recently passed New Jersey law allows survivors anywhere in the country who were sexually abused during the 25 years the Boy Scouts had its headquarters based in New Jersey to sue during a two-year time period that begins Dec. 1.

The New Jersey law is similar to one recently passed in New York which allows adults to file lawsuits based on abuse that happened decades before no matter what the statute of limitations was when the incident occurred.

Other states, like Pennsylvania and California, are considering similar legislation in light of possible Boy Scout sexual abuse and sexual abuse in other organizations. New Jersey’s decison to pass this legislation opens the potential for a flood of lawsuits by survivors just coming to terms with what happened to them as children, according to NJ.com.

Some Boy Scout sexual abuse survivors claim that the organization was well aware of what was happening while it was headquartered in New Jersey, but that the organization failed to take corrective action.

According to some of those claims, Boy Scout leaders abused their position as volunteers working with young men to carry out acts of sexual abuse. Some have accused Boy Scouts of America of failing to properly investigate claims of abuse as well as failing to properly recruit and screen volunteers.

A Los Angeles Times story said that Boy Scouts’ records identified more than 12,000 survivors and nearly 8,000 potential abusers. Some of those alleged abusers were barred from the organization after information about their behavior was leaked or reported, but it’s expected that other instances of abuse might never have come to light.

There are now several policies in place designed to prevent abuse by Scoutmasters, including rules about no one-on-one interactions, required abuse prevention trainings, and background checks.

There have already been lawsuits filed and settled over Boy Scout sexual abuse. The organization’s financial resources have taken a hit by the claims and the Philadelphia CBS affiliated reported that Boy Scouts of America is considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a result. It’s also expected that additonal cases could further impact its financial solvency, especially in light of the statute of limitation adjustments in New Jersey and New York.

If you or someone you know was abused in the Boy Scouts organization and are interested in learning more about your legal rights, schedule a time to speak with a dedicated lawyer. Top Class Actions can assist you with finding the right attorney.

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