November 12, 2023
The Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) $2.46 billion sex abuse settlement, the largest of its kind in US history, is still being processed. As of October 2023, the settlement trust has begun processing requests for payment from claimants who chose a $3,500 “quick pay” option, but has not provided a timeline for making other payments.
The settlement was approved by a bankruptcy court in September 2022, after the BSA filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020 amid a surge in sex abuse claims. The settlement resolves the claims of more than 80,000 men who say they were abused as children by troop leaders and other adults involved in the Boy Scouts.
The settlement is being overseen by a retired bankruptcy judge, Barbara Hauser. The guiding principle of the trust is to treat each survivor with fairness, compassion, and respect.
FAQs
Q: Who is eligible to file a claim under the Boy Scout settlement?
A: To be eligible to file a claim, you must have been sexually abused by a volunteer or employee of the Boy Scouts of America, or by someone who was at a Boy Scout event or activity. The abuse must have occurred before February 18, 2020, when the BSA filed for bankruptcy.
Q: How much money will survivors receive under the settlement?
A: The amount of money that survivors receive will vary depending on the severity of their abuse and other factors. However, the settlement trust has said that it expects most survivors to receive between $10,000 and $250,000.
Q: How do I file a claim under the settlement?
A: To file a claim, you must submit a form to the settlement trust. The form can be found on the settlement trust’s website at https://www.scoutingsettlementtrust.com/s/.
Q: What is the deadline to file a claim?
A: The deadline to file a claim is October 17, 2024.
Q: What if I have questions about the settlement?
A: If you have questions about the settlement, you can contact the settlement trust’s helpline at 1-800-520-3088.
Q: What are some of the challenges that the settlement trust faces?
A: One of the challenges that the settlement trust faces is the sheer volume of claims. The trust has received over 80,000 claims, and it is working to process them as quickly as possible.
Another challenge is the fact that the BSA is no longer operating as a single entity. The BSA has filed for bankruptcy protection, and its assets are being held in trust. This means that the settlement trust is working to collect money from a variety of sources, including the BSA’s insurance companies and other assets.
Conclusion
The Boy Scouts of America sex abuse settlement is a major step forward for survivors of abuse. The settlement will provide survivors with financial compensation and help them to rebuild their lives.
However, it is important to remember that the settlement is still being processed, and it may take some time for survivors to receive their payments. In the meantime, survivors can contact the settlement trust’s helpline for assistance.
References
- https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/boy-scouts-abuse-settlement-faces-questions-us-supreme-court-weighs-purdue-2023-09-12/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/boy-scouts-processing-sexual-abuse-claims-in-2-46-billion-settlement/
- https://www.scoutingsettlementtrust.com/s/