The James Harris Law Firm represents former Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts across the country that were sexually abused as minors by scoutmasters, scout leaders, and other volunteers of the Boy Scouts of America. 

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During litigation, internal Boy Scout reports revealed that leaders of the Boy Scouts of America kept secret files of thousands of sexual abuse cases committed by scouting leaders and volunteers.  For over a century, the files were never released to the public and were hidden away by Boy Scout officials wanting to maintain the BSA name and image.

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In 2020, faced with mounting legal costs to defend itself against claims of sexual abuse, the Boy Scouts of America (“BSA”) filed bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.  The case is In re Boy Scouts of America and Delaware BSA, LLC, No. 20-10343 (Bankr. D. Del.).  As part of its restructuring plan, BSA will pay compensation to Sexual Abuse Survivors.   

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More than 82,000 people are part of the BSA lawsuit.  Under the deal, BSA will establish a $2.7 billion trust to compensate Sexual Abuse Survivors. The settlement terms include enhanced child-protection procedures and oversight by an official committee of the victim compensation process.  The money for the trust is coming from the Boy Scouts, local councils, insurers and organizations that have chartered scouting units and activities, including churches. The settlement is the largest sexual abuse settlement in history.

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The team of legal professionals, led by attorney James Humann, at James Harris Law has experience working with survivors of sexual abuse and litigating cases against perpetrators of sexual abuse and the institutions that protect them.  Our team is currently working with Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Survivors.  For every Survivor, the team’s goal is to develop the evidence necessary to demand the highest allowable compensation under the BSA Trust Distribution Procedures.