False Accusations of SM

Scouters
I have a favor to ask, a Scoutmaster that is not on Scouts-L has posed a
question that I feel many of you might be able to help him with. I am
attaching his message to this post. Any comments sent back through the list,
I will forward on to him or you can send directly to him at the address
103113.2246@Compuserve.Com

Thanks, Olan Watkins

17110 S4/Boy Scouts [SCOUTING]
01-Apr-96 10:00:09
Sb False Accusations
Fm Ted Thomasson 103113,2246
To All

I would be interested in hearing how different Districts handle false
accusations of abuse by parents of scouts. I was a scoutmaster of a troop
and
I had a parent send a letter to our district office accusing me of
'emotional'
abuse of her son at summercamp. Fortunately, my A.S.M. was able to back me
up
and we had documentation to show that the parent was totally off-base but I
was told by our D.E. and S.E. that I was totally on my own as far as legal
support. Being a self-employed business man and faced with a potential
embarassing and financially devestating legal situation I have decided to
leave the Scouting program rather than put my business and family at any
additional risk. I was a S.M. for six years and took over a troop of 5 boys
and no camping program. When I resigned, the troop had an active membership
of 30 boys and camped 12 months of the year. The parents of the boys in
our
troop supported me through the entire ordeal, but could offer no financial
or
legal assistance. After hiring an attorney and spending hundreds of
dollars,
the parent that made the accusation suddenly disappeared from the scene and
has since left me alone. The troop did an investigation and provided a
written report to District and me, clearing me of all charges that were
made.
My attorney told me that I could sue this parent but the headlines in the
local paper would be 'SCOUTMASTER CHARGED WITH ABUSE' and when I finally
won,
it probably wouldn't be mentioned in the paper at all (What a choice!!!).

I have a bad taste in my mouth about the entire event. Districts response
to
the whole thing was to tell me 'you are on your own'. Why would anyone put
themselves and family in such a risky situation?

Just looking for answers!!
Ted

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