In the wake of sexual assault victims stepping forward to voice their concerns about rampant abuse in major organizations, Boy Scouts has denied responsibility in one case.

One man who was the former Scoutmaster in Newfields, NH has been accused of sexual assault of young boys in the group. However, the Daniel Webster Council in the area and the national organization claim that they should not be held responsible for the sexual abuse, according to the New Hampshire Union.

Six previous Boy Scouts initiated a lawsuit against the accused man, but the Boy Scout organization claims that they hold no liability for the actions undertaken by an individual. The organization claims that since the sexual abuse was outside the course of duties for the scout leadership role that the former Scoutmaster is liable.

The victims, according to NBC News affiliate Boston 10, believe that the organization did not do enough to protect them from being subjected to serious abuse in the 1990s and early 2000s, when the incidents occurred. According to the victim reports, the abuse occurred in the Scoutmaster’s home when he was the only adult present with them.

The lawsuit argues that the local organization and Boy Scouts of America was aware of allegations against the Scoutmaster and didn’t take any action. The man in question already pleaded guilty last year to the criminal allegations and is currently behind bars for up to 30 years.

According to the suit, scout leaders knew as far back as 1991 that a local resident had informed the organization about the sexual behaviors carried out by the accused man. The lawsuit states that the organizations failed to take action and investigate the claims, therefore exposing other young boys to potential abuse.

The organizations have responded and claimed that they never received notice of any reports of abuse with this particular Scoutmaster in the time period the lawsuit alleges.

These claims follow many of the allegations against other organizations, such as the Catholic Church, in which those in leadership positions took advantage of those roles to carry out instances of sexual assault and abuse against young children.

An April report by the Nashua local news, Patch, details that more than 7,800 Boy Scout leaders all over the country were accused of child sexual abuse. A database shared by the Los Angeles Times shows the information for men and women who were forced out of BSA as far back as 1947 and as recently as 2005 because of concerns over possible sex abuse.

That report showed that more than 20 Boy Scout leaders in New Hampshire made the list. The national organization continues to state that they never knowingly allowed anyone who had been accused of abuse to continue working with boys. Every staff member, volunteer, and leader inside the organization is responsible for reporting issues of abuse. according to the national organization.

Any Boy Scout who was subject to abuse as a child could have grounds to pursue compensation against the individual who perpetrated the abuse or even against the organization. Speaking with an experienced attorney is recommended for any sexual abuse victim who wants to learn more about their rights and Top Class Actions can help connect you with a lawyer.

Join a Free Sexual Assault Lawsuit Investigation

If you were a victim of sexual assault by any person in an athletic, school, medical, or employment setting, you are entitled to a free case evaluation to find out your potential remedies and compensation. Fill out the FREE form on this page for more information.

Learn More

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