UPDATE:  On December 1, 2019, the New Jersey Sexual Abuse Survivor Law went into effect. This law opens up a two-year window for sexual abuse survivors to file lawsuits, regardless of when the abuse took place. Read more here!

The state of New Jersey could see a large number of lawsuits filed in December when survivors of childhood sexual abuse around the country take advantage of the state’s look-back window.

Under the new sexual abuse law, victims who had been unable to file a lawsuits against their abusers and the institutions that concealed the abuse will have two years to file suit effective Dec. 1.

In recent years, the Boy Scouts of America have been accused of protecting pedophiles who volunteered to work with boys. The organization’s headquarters were in North Brunswick, N.J. from 1954 to 1978, a block of time that entombed many dark secrets for decades.

According to NJ.com, the HQ in Fidelity Plaza held what has been called the Boy Scout “Perversion Files” that included reports of alleged sexual abuse incidents that occurred as far back as the 1940s.

Because the Boy Scouts of America’s headquarters were in New Jersey during the period of time many victims were abused, the victims may choose to file suit in New Jersey even if the abuse occurred in another state. Whether or not the New Jersey judges will allow out-of-state cases to proceed will depend upon the judges’ interpretation of the new law.

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Consider Lawsuits

One survivor of sexual assault from a Boy Scout troop leader told NJ.com he was only 12 years old when he went on his first camping trip with the troop. Scott, now 69, recalled a troop leader promising Scott’s mom he would look out for him because he had started to become ill. The troop leader said he would make sure Scott stayed in his tent with him.

Scott alleged the sexual abuse began the first night in the tent and went on for more than a year. A second Boy Scout leader began to abuse him, too. The abuse didn’t stop until Scott quit the Boy Scouts and moved to a different location, but he never told anyone about the assaults.

Scott told NJ.com he has not decided whether to file a lawsuit against the Scouts. His lawsuit would have to be filed in New Jersey because even though the alleged incidents occurred in Texas, the Texas statute of limitations prevents Scott from filing suit there.

The Boy Scouts of America could be facing lawsuits that would cost them millions of dollars. The organization has not issued any statement on how it plans to pay for settlements, judgments and legal fees, but there has been speculation the Boy Scouts might file bankruptcy, similar to the move made by many Roman Catholic dioceses that have been defendants in sexual abuse lawsuits according to CBS Philly.

In addition to providing the two-year look-back window, the new law will allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file suit until the survivor turns 55 years old or within seven years of realizing childhood sexual abuse hurt them.

Under New Jersey’s current law, those who have survived sexual assault have just two years to file suit. A victim of child sexual assault must file suit by the time the survivor turns 20 years old according to NJ.com.

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