New Jersey Abuse Law Leads to Lawsuit Against Boy Scouts
Lawsuit Filed Against the Boy Scouts of America
The state of New Jersey has extended the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse, so victims can file a lawsuit up to the age of 55, or seven years after they realized they suffered abuse. This new law has led to a lawsuit against the Boy Scouts by four former scouts. None of the former scouts live in New Jersey, but claim the lawsuit should move forward because the Boy Scouts were headquartered in the state until 1979.
The four former scouts are from a group of roughly 100 who are seeking compensation from the Boy Scouts for sexual abuse endured during their childhoods. Thousands more former scouts could be entering the lawsuit across the country.
The Basis of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit has been filed by the four plaintiffs and their legal representation and alleges the following against the Boy Scouts during the time in which the organization was based in New Jersey:
- Files have been kept naming known and suspected child abusers by the organization
- Men who weren’t named in the files have been named in the lawsuit
- The organization knew for decades that it had a problem with abusers and pedophiles
The files are referred to as ineligible volunteer files and were released to the public in 2012 after an investigative report by The Los Angeles Times and multiple lawsuits against the Boy Scouts. The files hold the names of those whom the organization identified as child abusers or who might be involved in inappropriate actions.
The Boy Scouts released a brief statement in response to the new lawsuit being filed and it read in part:
“We care deeply about all victims of child abuse and sincerely apologize[s] to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting.”
Aside from making this brief statement, the Boy Scouts also reminded current members to report suspected abuse or actual incidences to the organization through their website.
Plaintiff Speaks About Abuse
One of the plaintiffs named in the current lawsuit, David, spoke to The Washington Post about the abuse he endured in his early teens as a member of the Boy Scouts in Amarillo, Texas. David said the abuse he suffered began between the ages of 12 and 13 on an overnight trip. He claims an assistant scoutmaster, who was named in an ineligible volunteer file, tried to fondle him while he was in his sleeping bag.
David was able to run from the assistant scoutmaster and noticed other campers laughing at him saying that the older kids knew what was happening. David said he witnessed the assistant scoutmaster abusing other kids and even saw him give some boys oral sex.
“We got to talk about it,” David told The Washington Post. “We’re at a place right now where … we can’t be silent anymore.”
Contact a Red Bank Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to sexual abuse in New Jersey? Contact a personal injury attorney, who will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. The skilled attorneys at Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. P.C. represent clients injured because of sexual abuse in Red Bank, Marlboro Township, Freehold Township, Holmdel and throughout Monmouth County and Ocean County, New Jersey. Call Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have offices conveniently located in Red Bank, as well as Hazlet and Brick.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
