The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was an institution that the American public trusted from the early to late 20th century. This attitude has changed since tens of thousands of child sex abuse cases have been filed in numerous state and federal courts. In New York and beyond, BSA is struggling to make a billion-dollar settlement with its victims.
The settlement
In September 2021, representatives from the Boy Scouts of America had reached a settlement in response to claims of sexual abuse that occurred decades earlier. Attorneys for the victims claimed that they were sexually abused by their scoutmasters and other leaders.
The arguments
The settlements are being challenged by the victims’ attorneys who state that the estimated payouts are insufficient based on the billion-dollar wealth of the Mormon church. In February 2020, in response to dealing with extensive litigation, the Boy Scouts declared bankruptcy and agreed to develop a plan that would compensate abuse victims. This plan was met by resistance from insurance companies that alleged that they would lose their ability to manage claims.
Overall, the potential settlements are estimated at $1.9 billion. The plan could become one of the costliest settlements involving sex abuse in the U.S. Tens of thousands of claimants could finally receive compensation for their ordeals.
How will the victims receive compensation?
Boys Scout members who experienced rape, sexual harassment, or assault from the 1990s and earlier have joined class action litigation firms to seek justice. The legal process is not always swift and straightforward as many people have found out. The victims and their attorneys are facing numerous obstacles on the way to justice.
