The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has sought bankruptcy protection in a move the group says will allow it to build a compensation fund for sex abuse victims and address hundreds of outstanding claims for redress.
The move follows a number of lawsuits filed against the organisation over claims of sexual abuse, alleging it failed to prevent hundreds of cases dating back over decades.
Most of the newly surfacing cases date to the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s; the organisation says there were only five known abuse victims in 2018.
All civil lawsuits against it are now on hold as a result of the bankruptcy application as the group is struggling with declining membership as well as the abuse claims.
“The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologises to anyone who was harmed during their time in scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children,” chief executive Roger Mosby said in a statement.
Court papers filed in Delaware listed liabilities of up to $1bn and assets of as much as $10bn, reports say.
Couple who climbed Empire State Building for engagement out on ‘supervised release’
Vatican says SSPX in schism, affirms excommunication of laity and clerics
Out of Control Tim Walz Pardons, Releases Illegal Child Rapist, Now ICE Likely Can’t Deport Him
Biden ‘madness’ still being revealed as father killed, children kidnapped by terror group member: DOJ
‘Corruption’ Allegations Fly as Controversial Referee Decision Dents US World Cup Hopes
WATCH: Lawler unloads on Raskin after fiery immigration hearing: ‘Grow the f— up’
Young psychotherapist mom butchered inside home as cops scramble to find her killer
Empire State Building security under scrutiny after climbers’ stunt, tourist reveals possible access point
China-linked green group training US judges draws fresh heat as foreign ties fuel pressure at home
Mamdani gets roasted after telling sweltering New Yorkers to set ACs to 78 degrees: ‘Commie’
Thanks to Climate Panic, It’s 100 Degrees Inside a ‘Flagship’ Hospital Building – This Is What Leftists Want for Us (but Not Themselves)
WATCH: Trump Holds Conversation With AI Teddy Roosevelt, Gets Fresh Encouragement That He’s on the Right Path
America’s housing market could run out of something more important than homes
How Iran attacks are forcing the Pentagon to rethink its decades-old Middle East base strategy
Baby Beaten Nearly to Death by Children, 4 and 6, as Sitter Gives Most Nauseating Excuse We’ve Ever Heard
Among the matters to be addressed in the bankruptcy court are the fate of the Boy Scouts’ assets; the extent to which the organisation’s insurance will help cover compensation; and whether assets of the Scouts’ 261 local councils will be added to the fund.
As Breitbart News reported, the Boy Scouts of America first mooted filing for bankruptcy back in 2018.
On that occasion leadership of the youth organization hired the law firm Sidley Austin LLP to explore a wide range of options, including petitioning for relief under Chapter 11.
Legal experts noted then that filing for bankruptcy would “stave off” at least 140 lawsuits filed against the organization alleging misconduct by scoutmasters.
The Boys Scouts of America has undertaken rebranding efforts since, with the nonprofit renaming itself “Scouts BSA” in 2019.
In May last year, BSA announced girls will be allowed to join the group in the future. “We wanted to land on something that evokes the past but also conveys the inclusive nature of the program going forward,” Surbaugh said at the time of the announcement.
Couple who climbed Empire State Building for engagement out on ‘supervised release’
Vatican says SSPX in schism, affirms excommunication of laity and clerics
Out of Control Tim Walz Pardons, Releases Illegal Child Rapist, Now ICE Likely Can’t Deport Him
Biden ‘madness’ still being revealed as father killed, children kidnapped by terror group member: DOJ
‘Corruption’ Allegations Fly as Controversial Referee Decision Dents US World Cup Hopes
WATCH: Lawler unloads on Raskin after fiery immigration hearing: ‘Grow the f— up’
Young psychotherapist mom butchered inside home as cops scramble to find her killer
Empire State Building security under scrutiny after climbers’ stunt, tourist reveals possible access point
China-linked green group training US judges draws fresh heat as foreign ties fuel pressure at home
Mamdani gets roasted after telling sweltering New Yorkers to set ACs to 78 degrees: ‘Commie’
Thanks to Climate Panic, It’s 100 Degrees Inside a ‘Flagship’ Hospital Building – This Is What Leftists Want for Us (but Not Themselves)
WATCH: Trump Holds Conversation With AI Teddy Roosevelt, Gets Fresh Encouragement That He’s on the Right Path
America’s housing market could run out of something more important than homes
How Iran attacks are forcing the Pentagon to rethink its decades-old Middle East base strategy
Baby Beaten Nearly to Death by Children, 4 and 6, as Sitter Gives Most Nauseating Excuse We’ve Ever Heard
“We’re trying to find the right way to say we’re here for both young men and young women.”
In the 14 months since then, the youth organization has allowed children who identify as girls to join the Scouts, a controversial move that was seen by some, including Girl Scouts of the USA President Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, as an attempt to raise their diminished enrollment numbers.
The 100-year-old organization could now be forced to sell off some of its vast property holdings to raise money for a compensation fund that could surpass $1 billion.
Story cited here.
