The Supreme Court declined to halt a $2.46 billion bankruptcy settlement for the Boy Scouts of America, rejecting an emergency request from childhood sex-abuse victims who argued that the agreement unlawfully bars them from suing groups that ran local scouting programs. The victims sought to halt the settlement while the court considers a similar dispute involving Purdue Pharma. The settlement prohibits victims from suing third parties for damages, and the court's decision has implications for other major bankruptcy deals.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has temporarily halted the Boy Scouts of America's $2.46 billion settlement following sexual abuse claims, giving the court more time to consider a request by 144 abuse claimants seeking to block the settlement. The claimants argue that the settlement prevents them from pursuing lawsuits against non-bankrupt organizations that are also responsible for the abuse. The stay suspends all work on the settlement, including evaluating claims and mailing checks to abuse survivors, and the Court's decision will have significant implications for both the Boy Scouts organization and the abuse survivors.
The documentary "Scout's Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America" exposes the organization's history of covering up cases of sexual abuse. The film features interviews with Michael Johnson, a former director at the Boy Scouts, who recounts his struggles to reform the system. While the documentary includes powerful testimonies from survivors, it fails to delve deeper into the culture of shame and stigma surrounding the abuse.
The Boy Scouts of America's National Jamboree, traditionally conservative, now includes affinity spaces for LGBTQ youth, scouts of color, and girls, reflecting the organization's push for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The event, which marks a milestone after a tumultuous period of sexual abuse scandals and bankruptcy, has seen a decline in attendance but has been embraced by participants. The creation of community spaces for historically excluded populations has been met with excitement and curiosity, signaling a shift towards a more welcoming and inclusive scouting environment.
An 11-year-old Boy Scout named Keoni Hubbard from Lexington, Massachusetts, tragically died in a boating accident during a camping trip in New Hampshire. Keoni was described as a selfless child who loved scouting. The community and his school are providing support and grief counseling for those affected by the tragedy. The Boy Scouts of New Hampshire expressed their condolences to Keoni's family and asked for thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
The Boy Scouts of America will establish a $2.4 billion fund for about 82,500 people who were victims of sexual abuse as it emerges out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The organization will also implement new measures to support survivors and prevent abuse in the future, such as background checks for all staff and volunteers, mandatory youth training, and a ban on one-on-one interactions with children. A survivor will also have a seat on the organization's board, and any allegation of abuse must be reported to law enforcement. The Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 to create a compensation fund for thousands of men who were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders.
The Boy Scouts of America will pay out $2.4 billion from a Victims Compensation Trust to more than 82,000 survivors of sexual abuse as part of a settlement. The youth organization filed for bankruptcy in February 2020, when it was facing hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits involving thousands of alleged abuse survivors. The settlement is the largest sexual abuse settlement fund in history. The Boy Scouts of America have since enacted a number of protocols to "act as barriers to abuse."
The Boy Scouts of America has emerged from bankruptcy after a three-year Chapter 11 case, resulting in the largest sexual abuse settlement fund in US history. The $2.46 billion settlement resolves claims by more than 80,000 men who say they were abused as children by troop leaders. The settlement was supported by 86% of abuse claimants and the Boy Scouts’ two largest insurers. The amount of money individual abuse survivors stand to gain from the bankruptcy plan ranges from $3,500 to $2.7 million, depending on the severity of the alleged abuse, where and when it occurred, and other factors.
A federal judge has upheld the Boy Scouts of America's $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan, which would allow the organization to continue operating while compensating tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children while involved in Scouting. More than 80,000 men have filed claims saying they were abused as children by troop leaders around the country. The plan's opponents say the staggering number of claims, when combined with other factors, suggest the bankruptcy process was manipulated.
A US judge has upheld the Boy Scouts of America's $2.46 billion settlement of decades of sex abuse claims, rejecting appeals by some of the group's insurers and abuse claimants. The settlement, which would create the largest sexual abuse settlement fund in US history, was a good faith effort to resolve claims by more than 80,000 men who say they were abused as children by troop leaders. The Boy Scouts organization said it was "enormously grateful" to abuse survivors who spoke out about their experiences and who voted to support the settlement.
A federal judge has upheld a $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan for the Boy Scouts of America, which would allow the organization to continue operating while compensating tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children while involved in Scouting. More than 80,000 men have filed claims saying they were abused as children by troop leaders around the country. The plan's opponents say the bankruptcy process was manipulated, but the judge found no fault with the plan's initial approval. The bulk of the compensation fund would come from the Boy Scouts' two largest insurers, Century Indemnity and The Hartford.
