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.
Federal court blocks Newsom’s bid to shackle ICE in Trump immigration win
Dem senator likens ICE operations in American streets to oppressive British regime during Revolutionary War
Idaho murders: New book on Kohberger reveals previously unseen evidence, claims sheath could be inadmissible
Trump Rips SCOTUS a New One: Dems Don’t Need to Add Justices Because the Court Is ‘Already Packed’ for Them
Marine veteran allegedly gunned down by husband in attack outside home, police say
Biden Loves to Say His WH Bid Was Sparked by Charlottesville Rally, Which DOJ Says the SPLC Helped Plan
Trump claims Iran ‘starving for cash,’ ‘collapsing financially’ after extending ceasefire
EXCLUSIVE: Planned Parenthood set for massive taxpayer windfall if Senate fails to act
China decries Japanese prime minister for World War II shrine support
Anthropic’s moral compass architect suggested AI overcorrection could address historical injustices
Supreme Court liberals side with Clarence Thomas on Taliban suicide bomber lawsuit, 3 others dissent
ActBlue employees pleaded the Fifth 146 times in depositions. Here’s what they didn’t want to answer
Myrtle Beach man with lengthy arrest record charged with stabbing two people in popular beach destination
Sheriff leading Nancy Guthrie probe admits quitting past police job to dodge discipline
Iran Opens Fire on Three Ships in Strait of Hormuz, Seizes Two of Them
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.
Federal court blocks Newsom’s bid to shackle ICE in Trump immigration win
Dem senator likens ICE operations in American streets to oppressive British regime during Revolutionary War
Idaho murders: New book on Kohberger reveals previously unseen evidence, claims sheath could be inadmissible
Trump Rips SCOTUS a New One: Dems Don’t Need to Add Justices Because the Court Is ‘Already Packed’ for Them
Marine veteran allegedly gunned down by husband in attack outside home, police say
Biden Loves to Say His WH Bid Was Sparked by Charlottesville Rally, Which DOJ Says the SPLC Helped Plan
Trump claims Iran ‘starving for cash,’ ‘collapsing financially’ after extending ceasefire
EXCLUSIVE: Planned Parenthood set for massive taxpayer windfall if Senate fails to act
China decries Japanese prime minister for World War II shrine support
Anthropic’s moral compass architect suggested AI overcorrection could address historical injustices
Supreme Court liberals side with Clarence Thomas on Taliban suicide bomber lawsuit, 3 others dissent
ActBlue employees pleaded the Fifth 146 times in depositions. Here’s what they didn’t want to answer
Myrtle Beach man with lengthy arrest record charged with stabbing two people in popular beach destination
Sheriff leading Nancy Guthrie probe admits quitting past police job to dodge discipline
Iran Opens Fire on Three Ships in Strait of Hormuz, Seizes Two of Them
“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.
