Ferris has the day off. 

As follows:

1. By hook or by crook, a spot on the Youth Protection Committee and a board of one kind or another. I am not shy and will contact the TCC about it or whatever it takes.

2. Be a survivor resource for any LC that wants one, beyond they survivor board member if they find one. 

3. Visiting the HABs to see the eventual monuments.

4. Go to some national event as a means to confirm the good side of Scouting and see if it can be healing.

That's off the top of my head. I am in the balance on locally. I'm not sure if that's in the cards or healthy for me. I already visited my summer camp, which allowed me a creepy and nostalgic experience. I mapped locations in my POC and was able to confirm my recollections, which was comforting. The camp has changed a great deal and at the same time not so much. I immediately knew what was missing and what new. Most of the staff lodges were gone, the nature center where I worked was replaced (more or less) and the snake pits absent, the waterfront had no lifeguard house and the water was incredibly high, and an open-air chapel was built in memory of my friends who died. It needed some TLC which I almost set out doing by figure of my connection to the family that was killed in a car crash. The main lodge and dining hall looked and smelled exactly the as I remember, but felt much smaller. The main new things were the cinderblock showers with individual stalls. Some of you who know this camp will no doubt no the one of which I speak.

I appreciate the invite and will give my forty cents. I am feeling generous as the season, and maybe even hope, can spring eternal. 

As some who've read my innumerable posts and droning know, I had reengaged with Scouting in the late fall of 2019. Then, February 18, 2020 struck and I was sucked into a vortex. A manic blackhole of slashing emotions, manic involvement in this process and a gnawing desire to do something that would afford me a measure of control. I think my survivor status and media commentary got me dismissed from the LC Executive Board. That is an unconfirmed, though rationale assumption. I no longer appear on the list of members, but that could also be due to inaction. So, as to forgiveness and moving on, maybe I can be one example. I was ready to help kids do some of what I accomplished and gained from Scouting, and avoid what I encountered on the dark, hidden and ugly side. 

As part of the mania and gnawing, I somehow found the announcement of the TCC selection that was soon to happen in Wilmington. I talked with my wife about it and hurriedly filled out my application and booked my ticket. My wife was about as sure I should do that as she was about reengaging several months earlier. When I went, the room was full of TCC hopefuls, attorneys and BSA folks. It was as surreal as surreal can get. Men and boys - I recall one teenager - were there for various reasons. It felt like a room of boys. Sadness and longing after years of silence and lack of acknowledgment. That said, two things stood out. First, I spoke at length with a man who was, in his estimation, denied Eagle for reporting his abuser. His paperwork was "lost" at least twice. He has persisted to try to find it for 30 years. No luck. The Scouter abuser was an important person and was not removed. The boy continued anyway and is still involved today. I gave him my Eagle pin and we cried. Second, when I interviewed with the committee lead by the US Trustees Office, represented by Mr. Buchbinder and one other whose name I don't recall, I told him I did not want BSA to go out f existence. I was there for my family, recompense, other survivors from my Troop and all those kids in and yet to be in Scouting. He told me that opinion was nearly universal among the applicants who preceded my in the magic tent.

So, I will allow any one who wants to respond do so before I continue. Feel free to ask questions. I love talking, as some of you are well aware. I hope this helps and provides a starting point from the perspective of one survivor. Again, thanks for starting this thread. 

PS - Forgive typos. I'm supposed to be cleaning the house. My wife ran errands. Fill in the blank. Oh. I am almost done so ask not to be accused of being un-Scoutlike.  

If anyone would like me to weigh in on this, shoot me a DM. I may otherwise not see any reply. I stumbled onto this thread based on the name. I don't want to step into this if you want it to be a discussion among active Scouters. I respect that desire, if so. If no one hollers either way, I will take that as my answer. I do appreciate the topic. It's thoughtful series of questions and could be a very deep and multifaceted discussion. 

1 hour ago, Eagle1993 said:

They have agreement to receive a loan (I believe from a trust) to deal with their cash flow

I believe Ms. Lauria said a "foundation," but I didn't hear any elaboration. Could be wrong. I'm highly skilled in that area. 

22 hours ago, MattR said:

You're all rather passionate about your views and they're all valid. And yet repeating the same arguments over and over again ... isn't going to get anyone outdoors.

Footnote: I have been advised by counsel that there is a key Chapter 11 rule we may be overlooking. It is as follows:

In bankruptcy court, every single solitary thing may very well have been said already, BUT every single solitary thing may not have been said by everyone. In an effort to avoid any and all possible omissions, reruns are to be expected. Nay, required.

Please accept my recitation of this rule as a moment of levity.

4 minutes ago, Eagle1993 said:

Roman Catholic Church is not yet a participating chartered organization.

Right. Not yet. I add it as a footnote.   Partly a self-interested notation.

51 minutes ago, Eagle1993 said:

Yes, I should have clarified.  The UMC & LDS are also protected (just like LCs).

Are you excluding from your assessment the Roman Catholic Church entities referenced in the March 17 term sheet?

Boy Scouts Abuse Settlement Attacked for Preventing Future Lawsuits

https://amp.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2022/04/07/661698.htm

3 hours ago, MYCVAStory said:

whatever side you're on I think we all want this confirmation hearing portion to take as long as it needs to at this point.

"Needs to" being the fudge factor. Mr. Patterson's interpretive "needs to" dance and Ms. Wolff's will look very different when performed live on stage. I won't even mention certain pro se parties. This here block-o-issues is slated for three hours, 1.5 to each side. Say wha? 

Third Party Releases and Channeling Injunction (Including Definition of Abuse Claims, Jurisdiction and Authority, Substantial Contribution Arguments, Contribution of Insurance Rights to Trust, Direct Action Rights, and Due Process)

17 minutes ago, Eagle1993 said:

I believe that is true.  However, the judge seemed clear the timeline was nice, but not anything she plans to hold to.  She is going to allow the sides to argue their point.  I do expect if she sees no value and it is beyond time limits, she may use them.  

Well, we have a wedding Friday so that overflow option will be walking down the aisle. Patterson, Kornfeld, Brady and Round 2 of Pachulski up after lunch. Far from over with the supporters. Mr. Pachulksi said he will take a long time on the STAC.

1 hour ago, Eagle1993 said:

Sounds like we are already behind schedule (or soon will be).

Well behind. Pretty soon we will have chewed up the entire allocated block with just the supporters. If they take 4 hours, the objectors are entitled to equal time, righto? 

51 minutes ago, vol_scouter said:

The original attorneys (I believe that Lauria was one of them) told the BSA that it would be only 90 days.   They indicated the same in front of a few thousand at the National Annual Meeting.  The attorneys and the BSA believed based upon history and the ineligible volunteer files that there would be 8,000 to may as high as 12,000 claims.   This whole process has been a nightmare for all involved.

These attorneys/firms, the leads having switched firms in the midst, have been on this case since 2019. Anyone have an estimate of the income stream of 2019-2020 vs 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and surely well into 2023? We used to call cases and deals like this "lawyers' full employment acts."

Conversely, when will we know the amount PSZJ will be contributing to the Settlement Trust? They've committed to return 10% of their overall fee and sticking it in the piggy bank, which pink piggy is not nearly as large as she should be.

2 hours ago, MYCVAStory said:

Agreed.  I had flashbacks to Wilmington where Survivors gathered when the TCC was being selected and she walked out, said "The BSA is sorry, we'll give Survivors 90 days to get their claims in, and wrap this up quickly."  NO BSA professionals spoke, NO understanding of how difficult it would be for Survivors to come forward, let alone do it in 90 days.

Yup. I was directly in front of her. She was ice cold. Sorry to say that in advance of the big wedding, but that was my sincere take. 

23 hours ago, MYCVAStory said:

TONE DEAF comment of the day: Lauria's step-daughter is getting married so she isn't available Friday..."We've been waiting a long time for this."  UHHHHH....yeah....most of us have been waiting decades for our abuse to be addressed.  Unbelievable.

Add to it the girlish gleam in her eye and happy smile. Seriously? Also, this bride to be was not her stepdaughter when this case was initiated. Just sayin'. I'm very tempted to write a letter to the court. C'mon, man. My disgust is showing, again. At the very least she could have acknowledged the reality of survivors' attenuated quest for closure and made her announcement with a measure of apology. 

Closing out this week's edition of BSA TV's Series, "As the Bankruptcy Turns," I enjoy neither the cliffhanger nor the sinking feeling in my gut. One is not necessarily related to the other. The gut dive stands alone like the cheese, which continues to get more binding. 

12 minutes ago, Eagle1993 said:

the vast majority will likely see less money and the BSA may fail. 

Zero is definitely less than a little. 

Q2: Why does Tanc keep his computer/camera in a dresser drawer? If you're not watching, you don't get it. If you do, you know exactly what I mean. 

Q: How much training did it take Ms. Wolf to develop her talent for asking a 10 second question over the span of one minute or more, especially after her witness answered that very question two seconds prior. Good grief, Charlie Brown. It's like watching paint dry, and I'm taking about six layers of oil impasto. 

39 minutes ago, MYCVAStory said:

Hoping I'm wrong.

Likewise, for multiple reasons:

1. I am ready to stop poking myself in the eye, banging my head on the table and punching stuff.

2. If BSA does not exit and formal BSA is dismantled, small 's' scouting will not die. Without an overall umbrella and COs like UMC who have signed on to enhanced YO measures, we go back to kids in the woods with adults. Now, however, there are no formal oversight bodies (BSA, COs and YPC), practices, protocols or reporting procedures. I don't think the vast majority of people countenance this reality one teeny tiny bit.

3. Tens of thousands of BSA survivors will walk away with nothing but 2+ years of bloody torment.

18 minutes ago, Eagle1970 said:

I believe the proof of claim process was flawed.  Had it required personal completion and real signatures with much more detail, many weak or even fraudulent claims would have never been filed.  Now they have to do what they can on the back end, after law firms have substantial money invested. 

Agreed. I recall seeing the filings and argument over e-signatures and ballot. I was stunned. I remember reading my POC over and over and over, then staring at that signature line with the preceding warning about the penalties of perjury. Stunned, confused and aghast, frankly. Is it typical? I don't know. 300-1200+ cut and paste electronic signatures in short order, as in seconds removed from review of the POC and close to the Bar Date? Nope.

17 minutes ago, johnsch322 said:

Not just the Judge but also the BSA and the insurers. All of the California cases will be filed by the end of the year and if the bankruptcy does not go thru all of them will be scheduled for trial and all by jury. If it is a cramdown then the insurers, LC's and CO's will start facing massive legal bills and then the subsequent awards. 

See answer 2, above.

4 minutes ago, Eagle1993 said:

I still think she approves; however, the neutral path and some council contributions are the areas that seem weak points if the judge raises concerns. 

Agreed. She didn't like the IRO upon first hearing, wondering why everyone didn't have access to it. Mr. B loves the $20,000 price tag. Not.

1 minute ago, Zebra132 said:

Is there court today? I'm not getting anything when I log in

 

I believe we're now on to next week, based on everyone's calendars. 

15 hours ago, BadChannel70 said:

I don't know if this Independent Review/Neutral will survive but it's a lot more comprehensive than the TDP.

I think not. Jason Amala (of the Pfau/Zalkin cohort) badly damaged the prospect of accessing the upside recovery during his testimony, as well.

As to the expert damages report, I find firms who charge $2500+ if you have good documentation to hand them. But, no one will do it for me as a pro se plaintiff/claimant. Tell me they only work for attorneys. What am I, chopped liver? (Don't answer that.)

1 minute ago, Eagle1993 said:

I just don't see this working, but who knows, I'm not a lawyer.

Raise your right hand and repeat after me. The insurers are looking for good counsel and have gotten a judge to waive the education and bar exam requirements. You're in! Sidle up to the bar, my friend.