NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coalition of
Abused Scouts for Justice ("Coalition") announced today that it has
entered into a settlement agreement with another of the Boy Scouts
of America's (BSA) primary insurers, Century Indemnity Company and
its affiliated companies for $800
million, bringing the total compensation fund for the more
than 82,500 sexual abuse survivors to more than $2.6 billion, the largest sexual abuse settlement
fund in history.
Coalition Co-founder Ken
Rothweiler of Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg
& Jeck, P.C. stated: "The settlement announced today is the
result of months-long and hard-fought negotiations between
Coalition attorneys and various other parties. We have always said
that our goals in this situation are two-fold: making sure that
current and future scouts are protected and building the largest
compensation fund possible. Today was another step in the right
direction."
The announcement today significantly increases the value of the
BSA's proposed plan of reorganization for survivors during the open
voting period that ends December 28,
2021.
John Sakowicz, former Boy Scout
from Ukiah, California, stated:
"My reasons for voting 'yes' are manifold. First, it's a
historically large settlement at more than $2.6 billion. Right now, the BSA is bleeding
cash, and voting no means years of protracted litigation,
individual lawsuits, several local council bankruptcies, and many
survivors left with nothing. This plan is equitable to all of us,
no matter how complex our case or whether it has passed the statute
of limitations. The Coalition is focused on not making the perfect
the enemy of the good—this plan is real, it's here, it treats all
scouts fairly and provides closure."
Earlier this year, the Coalition announced settlements with the
Hartford Financial Services Group, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a group
of more than 250 Local BSA Councils. The new settlement also
increases the Local Councils' contribution to the settlement fund
by an additional $40 million. These
agreements have also been agreed to by the BSA, the Local Councils,
and the Future Claims Representative. Negotiations with other
insurers are ongoing.
Coalition Co-founder Anne Andrews
of Andrews & Thornton stated: "Not only is the Coalition
creating the biggest possible compensation fund for survivors—it's
the only fund on the table, and it vanishes with a 'no' vote. The
Coalition also continues to work with the Boy Scouts of America on
accountability and safety measures to ensure that no child will
have to endure the horrific harm and abuse our clients have
suffered."
Coalition member Adam Slater of
Slater Slater Schulman LLP added: "With this significant
settlement, the Coalition has grown an already historic
compensation fund to be distributed to all survivors. Furthermore,
our plan will continue to focus on protecting current and future
scouts, and elevating survivor voices to the highest levels of
decision-making throughout the BSA organization. It is the only
clear path to justice and closure for our clients and the survivor
community."
Gregory Nowicki, an Eagle Scout
from Lackawanna, New York, stated:
"To me, supporting this plan means closure for everybody. We've had
decades of holding in things, and this entire experience is about
realizing it wasn't just you. You're not alone. This allows us to
close a chapter, it allows scouting to survive and move forward in
the right direction. A no vote will delay this process five, ten or
more years, and many survivors are beyond the statutes of
limitation and would be left in the dark. What I care about is
closure for everybody, and a 'yes' vote allows that to happen in
the quickest possible way."
Virtual Information Meetings for Survivors
The Coalition is hosting weekly virtual meetings to keep the
survivor community apprised of updates ahead of the December 28, 2021 deadline to vote for the plan.
The next virtual meeting will take place Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM
PT. For information on the benefits of the plan,
instructions on how to vote, or access to the next virtual meeting,
visit scoutingabusesurvivors.com.
About The Coalition
The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice includes
approximately 18,000 abuse survivors, represented by 27 law firms
who collectively represent more than 63,000 sexual abuse survivors
of the Boy Scouts of America nationwide. The Coalition's goals
include: ensuring fair and equitable treatment for abuse survivors;
establishing the largest possible compensation fund for survivors,
to be distributed as expeditiously as possible; and focusing on the
future of the BSA, including youth protection.
Media Contact
Andrew Merrill / Brian Schaffer / Joan
Vollero
pro-casfj@prosek.com
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SOURCE The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice