Boy Scouts Found Negligent in Abuse Case

A jury in Oregon has found the Boy Scouts of America negligent in a case brought by a man who said he was sexually abused in the 1980s by an assistant scoutmaster. The jury awarded the man more than $1-million in damages.

In coming days the jury will consider awarding punitive damages; the man is seeking $25-million.

The Oregon man accused the Boy Scouts of not taking effective action to stop sexual abuse, even though the scouts for years had kept confidential files on adults who were barred from being involved with the organization for reasons that included alleged child molestation. The Boy Scouts said information in the files helped the organization protect young people.

In a statement after the verdict, the Boy Scouts of America said it was “gravely disappointed” and planned to appeal. “The case focused on a discussion about what society and the BSA knew about child abuse approximately three decades ago,” the Boy Scouts said. “Based on the standard of care of that time, the BSA believes it acted responsibly and that the evidence presented during the trial does not justify the verdict.”