Maybe not. New legislation in California may open a window for civil action for cases that are decades old. If you are considering a claim as a survivor of child sexual abuse, we urge you to seek legal counsel.
This is, of course, an option. However, we encourage all survivors of child sexual abuse to seek legal counsel to ensure that all options are evaluated.
Six Catholic dioceses in California, including San Bernardino, Orange and Los Angeles, created a victim
compensation program allowing them to settle claims of clergy sexual abuse outside of court. This program is similar to others created in Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. To determine
if the compensation program is the best alternative for you, we encourage you to seek legal counsel.
AB 218 is a bill currently before the California governor for signature. When signed into law, this bill will open a window for child sexual abuse victims to pursue justice. The details are complicated and we urge
survivors to seek expert advice.
We will. The crimes perpetrated against children by adults in positions of power are abhorrent. We understand that when a child’s trust is betrayed in this way, it does enormous damage. Keeping it a secret feels like the only solution, but this creates even more damage over time. We will listen. We will care. We will seek the best remedy available for you.
This is an option. However, we encourage all survivors of child sexual abuse to seek legal counsel to ensure that all options are evaluated.
The “support fund” is a partnership between the Thacher administration and Board of Trustees to provide assistance with therapy related to the trauma of sexual misconduct endured as a student at Thacher School. The fund is managed and operated by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).
Six alleged perpetrators were identified: Willard “Bill” Wyman, Timothy Regan, Derick Perry, Dana Vancisin, Rod “Jake” Jacobsen, and John Friborg. In addition, the report details alleged concerted efforts by former Thacher administrators to cover-up complaints and deflect blame on to the teenage victims who went to them for help.
A June 2021 report from The Thacher School shows four decades of misconduct at one of America’s most elite boarding schools. Thacher school acknowledged four decades of sexual misconduct, harassment, and “boundary crossing” by faculty members at the $64,700-a-year private boarding academy. The 90-page report was released to the public by the Thacher trustees, who concluded that the school allowed “sexual misconduct to be minimized, ignored and dismissed.”
On February 17, 2020, the Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In response to increasing litigation stemming from years of failing to protect boys from being abused by its leaders, the Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, seeking relief from the mounting claims.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy is a specific bankruptcy process designed to facilitate the restructuring of a business to allow it to continue its operations while setting forth a plan to repay its creditors. In other words, Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection allows the Boy Scouts of America to keep its doors open while actively working out a plan to compensate survivors of abuse, and other debts it may have.
Bankruptcy can provide an avenue for survivors to receive compensation and justice outside of traditional litigation. It is often easier for survivors to seek compensation and justice in a bankruptcy context than to pursue individual claims against those that harbored and protected their abusers. However, survivors must file a claim in the bankruptcy to be eligible and important deadlines for filing a claim against the Boy Scouts of America now apply.
The bankruptcy court set a claims bar date for November 16, 2020. A claims bar date is the last date by which the bankruptcy court will accept new claims. In other words, it is the deadline by which all survivors of child sexual abuse by a BSA volunteer, leader, employee, or other affiliated member must file their claim.
Each potential case is different with different facts. Your situation must be evaluated carefully before any legal advice can be given. Please contact us for more information concerning your claim. Our consultations are free and always confidential.
Claims in the Boy Scout of America Chapter 11 bankruptcy may be filed by filing a claim form with the court detailing certain information needed to evaluate the claim. If you would like assistance with filing a claim, we can help represent you throughout the process. For more information, please contact us today.
A bankruptcy case can take some time, and any resolution will need to be approved by the bankruptcy court. At this time, we cannot provide an estimate of how long the Boy Scout of America Chapter 11 bankruptcy will take.
Yes. We realize it is difficult to reach out for help. Some of our clients have reached out to us before they have shared their history of abuse with close friends or family members. We realize these are difficult matters to discuss, and we are here to help. We are pleased to offer a free and confidential consultation to answer your questions and help you understand your rights.