In 2012, the public emergence of the BSA’s detailed records of thousands of sexual abuse allegations disclosed that the organization knew atrocities were happening within the BSA and failed to take action to protect children. According to BSA executives, the “ineligible volunteer files” were part of their system to protect children by accounting for individuals who should not be permitted to work with BSA. However, sex abuse survivors and their lawyers allege that this amounts to a massive cover-up that “put scouting’s image and financial interests – its ‘brand’ – ahead of the safety of the scouts.”
Consequently, the Wall Street Journal indicates BSA’s legal bills have nearly quadrupled from 2015 to 2017 due to litigation and settlements for sex abuse survivors. The organization has already shelled out more than $11 million on its legal defense and doubled its insurance reserves since the records went public.