The Impact of the Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy Filing on Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on February 17, 2020. This filing complicates an already complicated situation for survivors of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Scout leaders and other adults within the organization who were planning on filing suit under New York’s Child Victims Act. These lawsuits must now go through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which has set a deadline for filing.
It is now more than ever important for child sexual abuse victims to understand this process and to timely file their claims in order to seek the damages they deserve.

Impact of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on Child Victims Act Lawsuits

Childhood survivors of abuse by Scout leaders who wish to recover damages from the BSA for past abuse must file their claims by November 16, 2020 to be eligible for compensation through the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy proceedings. The deadline and process was filed by Judge Laurie Silverstein in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Victims who fail to meet this deadline will be barred from filing suit against the national organization in the future. The Boy Scouts has been required to run a nearly $7 million awareness campaign encouraging people to come forward.

The November 16th deadline is also an important date to keep in mind, as the BSA’s bankruptcy filing does not prevent lawsuits in New York State Supreme Court against separately incorporated regional Boy Scout councils such as the Greater Niagara Frontier Council in Western New York and the Leatherstocking, Baden Powell, and Seneca Waterways Councils in Upstate New York.

Moreover, regardless of whether you bring a claim against the BSA in Bankruptcy Court or against a regional council in State Supreme Court, your identity throughout the entire process will remain confidential, unless you choose to make it public.

NYC Child Sex Abuse Attorney

If you or a loved one has been the victim of child sexual abuse, including by the Boy Scouts of America, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Although no amount of money will undo the harm caused, it can bring a sense of justice and closure for victims. For more information or to consult with an experienced NYC child sex abuse attorney, please call Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 1- 212-385-4410.