Boy Scout Abuse

Fighting for Child Abuse Survivors Across New York

The Boy Scouts of America has faced considerable backlash over its handling of sexual abuse allegations and failures to protect children within its organization.

Now facing numerous lawsuits from former scouts who claim they were sexually abused as minors, the Boy Scouts of America is fighting to protect its image and reputation – but the damage has been done.

If you are considering stepping forward to make your voice heard, The Perecman Firm, is available to help. Our award-winning attorneys focus exclusively on fighting for victims and families, and have the experience and resources to help abuse survivors hold the Boy Scouts of America accountable for its failures to prevent abuse.

Boy Scout Abuse Lawsuits Reveal Pattern of Cover-Ups

As with clergy abuse, sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts of America has been a persistent problem spanning decades.

Today, the BSA faces civil claims from survivors across the country who allege they were abused as members of youth programs that include Cub Scouts, Webelos, Explorer Scouts, and more. While each case is unique, all involve similar claims, including:

• Sexual abuse committed by scout leaders, volunteers, and older scouts.
• Violations of BSA prohibitions against pack leaders being alone with youth members (BSA policy since 1987).
• Failures to perform criminal background checks on pack leaders or volunteers (BSA policy since 2003).
• Failures to adequately investigate abuse allegations, report accused abusers, and protect youth members.

In recent years, the release of damning internal records have shown a spotlight on the BSA’s pattern of failures and cover-ups. These include:

• The names of nearly 8,000 suspected abusers, and more than 12,000 suspected victims.
• Internal files for “ineligible volunteers” maintained by the BSA since the early 1900s.
• A persistent failure of BSA officials to report sexual abuse allegations to authorities.
• A practice of encouraging accused abusers to resign so as to protect the BSA’s reputation.
• A dismissal rate of accused abusive scout leaders of one every three days before 1991, and one every two days after 1991.

In addition to highlighting an alarming pattern of failures, continued investigations reveal how the Boy Scouts of America consistently engaged in practices that shielded alleged offenders from criminal inquiry, and placed children at risk of being abused.

Thanks to the recently passed New York Child Victim’s Act, survivors of sexual abuse have until the age of 55 to file civil claims. While the Act contained a “window of revival” allowing all adult survivors – regardless of their age or when abuse occurred – to bring claims until a certain date, that date has been extended in response to delays created by COVID-19. Now, adult child sexual abuse survivors have until August 14, 2021 to bring claims previously barred under the old statute of limitations. Please see this announcement from the Governor of the State of New York.

Your Right to Justice: Civil Lawsuits Against the Boy Scouts of America

Survivors of child sexual abuse have endured tremendous trauma, the need for medical and mental health treatment, and incalculable pain and suffering. As more survivors step forward, victims and families nationwide can feel greater confidence knowing legal pathways exist to provide them with the justice and compensation they deserve.

At The Perecman Firm, our legal team is proud to represent survivors and families across New York City and the state of New York in civil sexual abuse lawsuits. This includes minors, parents, and adult-age survivors of child sex abuse.

To learn more about your rights and legal options, and how The Perecman Firm, can help fight for the justice and financial recovery you deserve, call or contact us online for a FREE and confidential consultation.