82,000 men have begun voting on $1.9 billion settlement with Boy Scouts

More than 82,000 men who say they were sexually abused in Scouting have begun voting on a reorganization plan to settle their claims and allow the beleaguered Boy Scouts of America to emerge from bankruptcy.

If the plan wins approval, the claimants will share in a settlement fund that stands at nearly $1.9 billion with contributions from the Boy Scouts' national organization, its 250 local councils, one of its insurers and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But even that sum will yield only a fraction of the claims' true value, say opponents, who contend that the plan lets the Boy Scouts and others off the hook for billions more in damages from decades of abuse.

"We can't tell you how to vote, but we can frankly tell you this plan sucks," Doug Kennedy, vice chairman of the court-appointed tort claimants committee that represents abuse survivors in the bankruptcy, said at a virtual town hall meeting Oct. 7.

A coalition of 26 law firms that represent some 60,000 claimants helped negotiate the terms and endorses the plan, which comprises $250 million from the Boy Scouts of America, $600 million from its councils, $787 million from insurer Hartford Financial Services Group and $250 million from the Mormon church, Scouting's largest sponsoring organization before cutting ties in 2019.

"The $1.887 billion is just the start," said attorney Ken Rothweiler, co-founder of the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice. "Current negotiations with insurers and chartered organizations are ongoing, and if appropriate settlements can be reached, they will add significant funds to compensate survivors."

Voting began Friday, and ballots must be returned by Dec. 14. The presiding judge in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware has scheduled a Jan. 24 hearing.

More than 92,000 claims were submitted, many by accusers recruited through TV and internet advertisements by mass tort law firms. About 10,000 claims were weeded out as duplicates or otherwise invalid.

The massive response exceeded all expectations and easily surpassed the number of claims in the sex abuse scandal that engulfed the U.S. Catholic Church nearly two decades ago. A researcher hired by the Boy Scouts to analyze its internal records in 2019 identified 7,819 suspected abusers and 12,254 victims — a fraction of those who ultimately filed claims.

The tort claimants committee contends that the proposed settlement is "grossly unfair." Among other things, it says the plan fails to tap more than $1 billion in cash and assets held by the local councils and requires Hartford to pay only "a small fraction of the coverage" it is obligated to provide.

The committee, which comprises nine Scouting survivors, was appointed to represent the interests of victims, but it does not speak for all.

"It is an insult to every survivor," Chairman John Humphrey said. "The 82,200 known survivors deserve better. Some have been waiting over 50 years to see the Boy Scouts held responsible and to do better in protecting Scouts today."

The Boy Scouts of America said it is "deeply saddened by the pain and suffering that survivors of past abuse have endured" and is "committed to fulfilling our social and moral responsibility to equitably compensate survivors while also ensuring that Scouting's mission continues."

"If confirmed, this Plan is poised to establish the largest sexual abuse compensation fund in the history of the United States," it said, noting that the fund's size is "far from final" and does not yet include contributions from the Scouts' other insurers and chartered partners.

"We are confident that this global resolution is the best path forward for survivors and for Scouting," it said.

The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, which is urging a yes vote, has said that most claimants will receive between $3,500 and $2.7 million.

"Voting yes will promptly deliver a degree of justice and closure to survivors, and accountability for the Boy Scouts organization," Rothweiler said in a statement. "In contrast, the tort claims committee is the Party of No: no settlements, no reorganization plan, no guaranteed payment for survivors whose cases are beyond the statute of limitations, and no end in sight to the litigation."