28 March The Boy Scouts of America’s $2.46 billion settlement of decades-old sex abuse allegations was upheld by a U.S. judge on Tuesday, dismissing appeals from some of the organization’s insurers and abuse claimants.
The Boy Scouts agreement, which would establish the largest sexual abuse settlement fund in American history, was deemed to be a good faith effort to address claims made by more than 80,000 men who claim troop leaders abused them as children by U.S. District Judge Richard Andrews in Wilmington, Delaware.
Under the terms of the settlement, the Boy Scouts will contribute $850 million in cash, plus additional property and insurance assets, to a trust that will compensate survivors who were abused by Scout leaders and volunteers. Local councils, which own many of the Scout camps and other properties, will contribute an additional $600 million.
The remaining $1 billion will come from the Boy Scouts’ insurers, who have agreed to contribute that amount in exchange for a release from liability. The insurers had initially offered much less, but increased their offer after facing legal challenges.
The Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after facing a flood of lawsuits from survivors of sexual abuse. The organization had been accused of covering up the abuse and failing to protect young Scouts.
The settlement still requires final approval from a bankruptcy court judge, but the approval of the deal by the bankruptcy judge is a significant step forward for the Boy Scouts in resolving the sexual abuse claims against them.
One Response
this page is informative