With thousands of sexual abuse claims against them, sources indicate bankruptcy is “imminent” for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). This potential bankruptcy filing, expected in Delaware, could reach into the billions for the BSA. If so, the bankruptcy filing could mark the end of the century-old youth organization.
Across the United States ex-Boy Scouts continue to file claims against the BSA, numbers reaching into the thousands. Each of these claims raise similar allegations that children were sexually abused by leaders in the Boy Scouts. Further, some claims even state that the BSA deliberately quieted sex abuse reports and covered the tracks of predators in the Scouts.
As the onslaught of allegations continue to file in, the New York Post reports that experts anticipate the BSA to file for bankruptcy anywhere between a day or a couple weeks.
“It’s going to be a mess. If it takes a long period of time, it’s an open question whether the Boy Scouts will have any resources to keep operating while the bankruptcy is pending,” said Tim Kosnoff, an attorney representing Scouting abuse survivors through the legal movement Abused in Scouting (AIS).
Kosnoff and three other law firms with AIS represent over 1,800 Scouting abuse survivors, ranging in age from 14 to 93 years old. According to Kosnoff, a couple dozen Scouting abuse survivors AIS represents are over the age of 80.
“It’s kind of jaw-dropping when you realize this person as lived with this for so long,” Kosnoff remarked.
However, with the onslaught of lawsuits and declining membership, the BSA seeks to buoy the costs with raising membership fees and mortgaging BSA properties. While they have not made an official statement of bankruptcy yet, the Boy Scouts report they are “exploring all options available” to both continue their work and pay victims.
“No decisions have been made and we continue to fully meet our financial obligations to our vendors, creditors and other stakeholders,” the BSA said in a statement.