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Boy Scouts of America Plan Goes Effective April 19, 2023

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the request for a stay pending further appeals. On April 19, 2023, the Boy Scouts of America filed a notice with the bankruptcy court announcing that the plan went effective. This is a monumental step forward towards obtaining compensation for the abuse survivors who courageously came forward regarding their sexual abuse during their time in Scouting.

Almost 3 years ago, Anne Andrews formed the coalition called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice with the goal of negotiating a plan of reorganization that would equitably compensate survivors. This goal has been realized as a plan is in place to equitably compensate the 82,000 survivors who came forward regarding their sexual abuse. The $2.5 billion will stand as a record for the largest settlement in the history of sexual abuse.

The Settlement Trust will now be set up and administered by Retired Judge Barbara Houser. The Settlement Trust and Survivor’s Trust Advisory Committee (“STAC”) are hard at work preparing the questionnaire that we will use to submit your claim to the Settlement Trust. Sean Higgins, Partner at Andrews & Thornton, is a board member on the STAC and will play an integral role in advising the Settlement Trust.  Critically, the STAC will have significant say in future settlements with insurers and chartering organizations.

Survivor Town Hall – April 4, 2023

If you are interested in a more detailed discussion of the latest updates, the Coalition and the Tort Claimants Committee hosted a Town Hall Meeting on April 4, 2023.

The Town Hall presented information on the following topics:

    • An introduction to Retired Judge Barbara Houser, who will be the trust administrator;
    • Evaluation of the District Court’s ruling; and
    • Potential next steps.

To view the Town Hall meeting again, please visit: https://youtu.be/9SzlE6p6U_M