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  1. Council Relations

    Discuss issues relating to Scout Councils, districts and working with professionals

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    • 11/6/2024, Alexandra Jones reporting from today's hearing: https://www.courthousenews.com/sex-abuse-victims-fight-to-thwart-boy-scouts-2-4-billion-bankruptcy-payout-plan/
    • Yes, another plan can be filed.  The bankruptcy portion of the profession is pivoting quickly in light of Purdue.  So, new plans are allowing claimants to "Not opt in" to a release and preserve their rights to sue a third-party.  Sound like a good idea?  Well, consider this.  If your attorney did NOT file a suit in State court against a Charter Org or Council, and the "window" has closed, you're screwed because the bankruptcy didn't "toll" your rights against any third party.  But let's say they did. Then you'd better hope you have a good attorney because most are NOT prepared to take dozens or hundreds or thousands of cases to trial in a timely manner.  Another issue is who you will be fighting, the insurers.  They are MASTERS at stalling so there's 3-5 years of your life.  One more reality, the third parties (charter orgs primarily) are NOT bottomless pits of money.  So, again, you'd better hope that your attorney is good and you're the first one they have in line before all their other clients.  If big judgements come in to the first group of Survivors that get to trial they could wipe out all the available funds, insurance included.  Then, the third party goes into bankruptcy, the insurance companies say "We've already paid out to the limits of our policies" and you're left fighting over scraps.  I hate to sound negative, but Scouting does not have to go into liquidation, they can refile a new plan and still allow Councils and other parties to participate.  You could then go it alone, but the risk could be greater and reward much less.  I know a lot of people will read this and say "I'm not getting anything now, I'll take my chances."  Of course.  I get that.  But reality must really be considered.  Going it alone could be years, with a potential dead-end if the party you sue goes into bankruptcy itself and you're back where you started, and if you get your day in court, how long will that be and what will be left to fight over?  The light at the end of the tunnel if this plan is overturned and Scouting does cast its Councils adrift, well, with all that's now known Councils in "good SOL States" will be motivated to pre-package a bankruptcy plan to get it over with quickly.  Its happened in Catholic Diocese cases.  But again, hovering over that are our good friends the Insurance attorneys.  To them, time is money and the longer they can prevent us all from getting it, the more they preserve their money and profits.    None of this is pretty.  It's a tragedy.  A very complicated tragedy that if this plan blows up you'd better have an attorney who can give you the right advice.
    • I was the Dist Membership Chair between 1995 and 2000. National polled our opinions of the early Tiger program and what changes would improve the program. I was shocked to learn that the changes in 1999 were the opposite of the suggestions we provided. I ran the district meeting that announced the changes to the packs, and they were not received well. Two packs quit their Tiger program, and several others didn't add the changes. We learned later that National based their program changes from polls of Tiger parents. Not pack leaders. That also explains why National went to the much more expensive blue shirts from the much cheaper Tiger T-shirts. That was another big deal for young, busy parents who were deciding whether to join. Barry
    • If I had to do it again, starting in 2nd or 3rd grade would have been plenty early enough.  Just like anything, the program got old fast.
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