Tens Of Thousands Will Receive Money From Boy Scouts $850 Million Settlement

Tens of thousands of sexual abuse claims were filed against the Boys Scouts of America, some dating back decades. A settlement of $850 million has been reached as part of the organization’s bankruptcy case.

According to PEOPLE, over 92,000 sexual abuse claims were filed against the BSA last year, which came ahead of the deadline for submitting claims. The organization filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February of 2020 due to the wave of decades-old sexual abuse allegations.

The reached settlement is among the largest ever seen in a case surrounding sexual abuse claims in U.S. history. It is also a total dollar amount that is expected to increase, lawyers say.

“It is important that people see this dollar amount and know this is not the end; this is just the beginning. There are billions of dollars in insurance money, and the fight to get that money is continuing,” Jordan Merson, an attorney representing a group of survivors, told USA Today.

The BSA also reached a statement Friday morning, saying it is “pleased to report that we have made substantial progress in our Chapter 11 case as part of our ongoing efforts to reach a global resolution that will equitably compensate survivors and ensure Scouting’s future by resolving past abuse cases for both the national organization and local councils.”

It also considered the settlement agreement a “significant milestone and is the biggest step forward to date.”

Paul Mones, one of the attorneys representing plaintiffs, told USA Today, “There was never going to be an agreement that any survivor would be happy about. What we attempted to do in this negotiation was, under the circumstances, and with all of the various competing interests, the best deal possible.”

Attorney Ken Rothweiler added: “This initial settlement of $850 million is the largest settlement of sexual abuse claims in United States history. I am pleased that both the BSA and their local councils have stepped up to be the first to compensate the survivors.”

The BSA said in its statement that there was still “much to be done” to obtain approval from the Court to “solicit survivors to vote for the BSA’s amended Plan of Reorganization.”

“However, with this encouraging and significant step forward, the BSA is wholeheartedly committed to working toward a global resolution,” the statement said. “Our intention is to seek confirmation of the Plan this summer and emerge from bankruptcy late this year.”

One 65-year-old victim in the case said: “As a former Boy Scout who is a sexual abuse survivor, I am gratified that the Boy Scouts are taking responsibility for the sexual abuse that occurred to me and others that we have had to live with for decades. This acknowledgment by the Boy Scouts will start the process of healing for many of us who have suffered.”

At the beginning of the bankruptcy filing stages, the organization had over $1 billion in assets, the Washington Post.