Boy Scouts of America: Almost 100,000 make sexual abuse compensation claims

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Almost 100,000 alleged victims of sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have come forward to claim compensation from the group. A lawyer for the plaintiffs called it the biggest-ever US sexual abuse case. The claims were filed ahead of a deadline on Monday evening. Internal files published in 2012 revealed decades of abuse. BSA - which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year - has apologised to victims, saying it was "devastated". Negotiations will now begin between the alleged victims, the BSA and their insurers.

The organisation still has a considerable membership - more than two million youth participants ranging in age from five to 21. But this is about half of what it was in the 1970s, a decline that aligns with mounting scrutiny of the organisation. [...]

In 2012, the Los Angeles Times newspaper uncovered about 5,000 files detailing allegations against scout masters and troop leaders who had been deemed "ineligible volunteers". Most incidents had not been reported to police, and the BSA tasked themselves with removing those accused.

source: Article 'Boy Scouts of America: Almost 100,000 make sexual abuse compensation claims'; www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54971579; BBC News; 17 November 2020