Neff Injury Law has recently been retained to represent a client who was sexually assaulted by a Boy Scout leader over a two-year period.
In February 2020, the Boy Scouts of America declared bankruptcy. As part of that process, the bankruptcy court has created a deadline for claims related to sexual assault. All claims must be filed and received by November 16, 2020. More information can be found at the official website for claimants located here.
The hard deadline of claims being received by November 16, 2020 means that afterwards, a victim will likely not be able to pursue a claim against the parent organization, Boy Scouts of America. This is a significant deadline for the victims to preserve their legal rights. Even if a victim is unsure about whether to move forward, legal representation should be sought immediately in order to understand his or her rights.
Note that the bankruptcy deadline does not necessarily preclude claims against the perpetrator, the sponsoring organization, or the local Boy Scouts council. However, as noted in a USA Today article “Deadline Set for Abuse Survivors to File Claims in Boy Scouts Bankruptcy,” one can likely expect the local councils to deflect blame to the national organization which could not be included in lawsuits after Nov. 16.
From experience in representing sexual assault victims, we know that these cases are complex and gut-wrenching. Sexual assault cases must be thoroughly investigated and handled with care. If you or a loved one has suffered sexual abuse or assault, call our office today for a free consultation and learn how to protect your rights.