Posted in News on December 30, 2020

The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy in 2020. However, while bankruptcy cases can sometimes mean that an organization is going under, the Boy Scouts bankruptcy has occurred for a few reasons. First, the BSA fully intends to continue operating. However, mounting sexual abuse claims against the organization’s leaders and a court-enforced deadline set for victims of sexual abuse to come forward have strained the Boy Scouts’ finances. Within the last nine months, more than 90,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed against The Boy Scouts of America, a number that eclipses the sexual abuse allegations made against the Catholic Church.

When Did Most of These Abuse Claims Occur?

According to a report from NBC News, most of the pending sex abuse claims against the Boy Scouts of America date back to abuses that occurred in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. This was the period of time before the Boy Scouts had adopted the use of any criminal background checks on their employees. This was also before the BSA required abuse prevention training for all staff and volunteers and rules that required that two or more adult leaders be present during all activities. Allegations against the Boy Scouts precede the even the 1960s. In a review of sex abuse allegations within the national organization, multiple news organizations have uncovered what the Boy Scouts termed “perversion files” that were records of scout leaders accused of sex abuse of young boys, though most of the allegations were never turned over to law enforcement.

Are Damages Available for Sexual Abuse Claims?

There may be various types of compensation available for survivors of Boy Scout sexual abuse. Even victims who were abused decades prior may be entitled to compensation for what happened to them. Most experts realize that sexual abuse victims incur not only physical harm when the abuse takes place, but also significant emotional and psychological trauma that can last for decades or even a victim’s entire life. A skilled sexual abuse attorney will help Boy Scout abuse victims recover compensation for what happened to them. This can include:

  • Compensation in the form of payments for suffering
  • Coverage of any counseling needed
  • Possible punitive damages against the abuser or The Boy Scouts of America organization

The total amount of compensation available in these cases will depend on a variety of factors related to each particular situation. A skilled sexual abuse lawyer in Montana will be able to review your case and work to secure any compensation you may be entitled to. It is crucial that you get ahold of an attorney as soon as possible, as there are various deadlines to keep in mind concerning lawsuits that can be made against the child abusers or the Boy Scouts organization. An attorney will be able to use their resources to investigate the allegations in an abuse case, obtain any evidence needed to prove what happened, and handle negotiations with other parties involved. An attorney will be integral when working to show the hardships, emotional trauma, and pain and suffering that a victim has endured.