BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA SEXUAL ABUSE

The Boy Scouts of America has long been a household name, revered for its standards of morality and teaching children valuable skills. However, reviews of secret BSA files reveal that the Scouts allegedly hid massive numbers of child sex abuse cases from the public for nearly a century.

If you or a loved one were sexually victimized as a minor by a leader in the Boy Scouts of America, you do not have to suffer in silence. Changes in sexual abuse laws may mean you can hold the BSA accountable for their crimes against you.

BOY SCOUT SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

According to allegations, innocent children were knowingly exposed to sexual predators by the Boy Scouts of America. Reports state the Boy Scouts kept thousands of secret files on child sexual abuse cases hidden from the public for decades. These reports trace all the way back to the BSA’s founding in 1910.

Boy Scout officials hid away the details of these crimes and the names of their perpetrators blacklists called the “Perversion Files”. Allegedly, these Perversion Files hold the names alleged molesters going back 100 years.

In response to sexual abuse allegations, in 2012 investigators reviewed over 1,000 confidential Boy Scout files from 1970 to 1991. They soon discovered that Scouting officials likely urged sexual offenders to quietly resign as a way to cover up sex scandals. In very few of these cases were sexual predators ever reported to the police.

BSA programs affected by sexual abuse include Cub Scout packs, Webelos, Blazer Scouts, Sea Scouts, Explorer Scout Posts, Boy Scout troops, and other partner programs.

In most of the cases the LA Times investigated, they reported that no records existed of Scouting officials reporting the allegations to the police. According to claims, Scouting officials actively sought to hide the abuse from the public or let suspects hide it.

HOW COULD THIS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO HAPPEN?

• The files hidden by the Boy Scouts of America reveal a pattern of abuse by a specific group of men. The L.A. Times reports that 47% of leaders in the Scouts who were added to the Perversion Files were single. Additionally, about 50% of them did not have a child in any of the scouting programs.
• The case files also indicated that almost all of the cases came about from situations where the troop leaders were left alone with the boys. This wasn’t prohibited until 1987, far too late for many sexual abuse victims. The scouting sexual predators took perverse advantage of the innocents in their care and/or tempted them with illegal activities including drinking alcohol, driving cars, and looking at pornography.
• As these predators started to build trust with the youth in their care, they often gradually tested physical boundaries with the boys during activities such as skinny dipping, group showers, sleepovers, and one-on-one activities.

To learn more about Boy Scouts of America sexual abuse cases, visit abusedinscouting.com.

Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Against the Boy Scouts of America

Across the nation, thousands of men and advocates of sexual abuse survivors are filing civil suits against the Boy Scouts of America. Survivors say the BSA should have provided more protection for the children in their programs, reported any and all sexual predators to the authorities, etc.

In response to the thousands of Scouting abuse lawsuits pending across the United States, the BSA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 18, 2020. As part of the Bankruptcy Court proceedings, parties involved are working towards setting up a settlement plan to compensate victims of BSA sexual abuse.

However, the Bankruptcy Court will also set a “bar claims limit” that will place a deadline for sexual abuse victims to file lawsuits against the BSA. It is imperative for Scouting abuse victims to file claims now for their abuse before their opportunity for justice is barred forever.

The bankruptcy court set the bar claims deadline for filing claims in the BSA sexual abuse litigation for November 16, 2020. This means that after this deadline, no more claims can be filed against the BSA for sexual abuse.

For case updates on the Boy Scouts of America sexual abuse cases, click here.

For many Scouting abuse survivors, this deadline could be their last chance to pursue justice against the BSA for their abuse. For this reason, coming forward before the bar claims deadline is imperative to ensure every Scouting survivor gets their day in court.

If you have fallen victim to a Boy Scout leader who pushed the limits too far and took advantage of you, it is not your fault. You are an innocent victim. These abusers preyed upon innocent children and have likely abused as many as 100 children in their lifetime. You deserve to tell your story and show that these predator’s behavior will not be tolerated ever again.

If you or a loved one was sexually abused as a minor by a member of the Boy Scouts of America, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the BSA. Parents and guardians of children who were sexually abused by Scouting leaders may be able to file a civil lawsuit on the behalf of their child in some cases.

Hold abusers accountable and contact AVA Law Group today.

SEXUAL ABUSE LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Your voice needs to be heard, and if eligible, you have earned the right to significant compensation. We cannot erase the crimes of the past. But, we can make the Boy Scouts of America pay in the only way available in our legal system: money damages for the victims.

Contact AVA Law Group today to start your next steps towards justice. We fight on behalf of victims of sexual abuse so you can focus on healing. Sign up for your free case evaluation today and tell your story.