Eagle1970

Welcome Bzzy. You may have just joined, but you have covered enough in this post to have been here all along. Yes, so much of this is patently unfair. I did some significant research and found that the Matrix is clearly inequitable. In the state of my abuse, CSA cases are being allowed far past the SoL but are treated in the Matrix as discounted by 75-90%. Tolling of the long expired SoL's on the basis of concealment and fraud are moving right along in civil court, yet the drafters of the Trust slapped arbitrary limits by state. This has indeed pitted scout against scout and has left me with likely minimal compensation, while a scout in another state may receive far more for far lesser abuse. The harvesting of claims remains a huge concern and if they are not deeply investigated, that alone will result in substantial inequity. Your points regarding the aggregate dollars from insurance companies are also valid. But nothing in this Trust is worse than the outcome of a scout in one state receiving a theoretical $1 Million who suffered lesser abuse than a boy in another state who may receive a few thousand after greater abuse. And if claims proceed with little or no proof, that will make a mockery of the whole process. To me, the settlement is a mess.

I opted for (what was then called) Indian Guides through the YMCA for my boys. There was not a moment at an event or meeting where we fathers were not there with our boys. As I recall, parental attendance was required for the child to participate in an activity. It was more family oriented and inclusive of the fathers (and mothers for Indian Princesses). I never observed anything that was out of line, because the fathers would have quickly taken care of any questionable situation. We did tons of activities with our boys but we did NOT do camping. And camping was not only the situation of my abuse, but sadly shared my many victims. Much of it could have been headed off by BSA, but wasn't. I do not favor ANY child camping activities for this reason. My opinion has been that BSA should not have continued with the isolated camping trips. And as evidenced by my prior post with the information on the spy cams in the bathrooms just last year at the camp I was abused at 50 years ago, there is plenty of reason for me to have that opinion, still. Good news that the Stay has been denied. I am hopeful that survivors can get on with the remaining years we may have, without the bankruptcy dragging on.

Thanks for visiting us and I'm thrilled that you're happy. In my world, we call this trolling and I'm jumping on the hook. Survivors have been dealt a great injustice, once again. Just last night, our local news headline was the indictment of an adult abuser who, just last year, installed spy cams in the bathrooms of the VERY SAME BSA CAMP where I was molested 50 years ago. There are over a dozen new victims and hundreds who are unaware and worried that they may also have been victimized. I'm so proud to have refused to allow my children to be exposed to the potential of the abuse I suffered, which is still occurring to this day. I'm so proud to have found alternative adventures to lead them through. And I am so glad that my grandchildren have safer means to socialize and learn, without having to face exposure to what is clearly an ugly and unpredictable part of scouting. I realize you are young, but be aware you are posting in a group of men who were, in many cases, violently molested during BSA activities and are still being abused by the legal system. I'm sure there is a group for you within the the forum, where such feelings will be welcomed.

In my case, I will not proceed outside of bankruptcy. So this is it, for me. Missouri only occasionally allows the SoL to be tolled by fraud and perhaps that will benefit those who are able to pay or persuade an attorney to try. But it will be an uphill slug with low percentage victories and appeals. Not going to live out the time I have left even trying.

My file was shared with the local council, the "Catholic Insurance" organization, and who knows exactly where else. So, if the bankruptcy goes south, I have shared my most private details with multiple organizations (which also potentially places me at risk for retaliation) and the SoL still applies. I am so P##### off about this turn of events. Not that I was ever going to see much money (due to matrix sol), but I WAS going to have a feeling of some justice being served. Since the early promises, this has done nothing but further damage my life. I had built a big wall around my abuse and I allowed it to be shattered for the sake of the justice I was absolutely assured would occur. I wish I had never put myself through this. Not much of a surprise that in the end, the only ones having a good day are the attorneys on salary and, of course, the insurance companies.

I have not looked at the financials of the trust, lately. Has the trust even received $1B? I understood much of the $2.4B did not need to be paid while litigation was pending. Wouldn't be ironic if those who filed the motion to discard the $3500 election and lost the ruling actually end up with MORE $$? Not an impossible outcome, with the ongoing litigation AND the possibility of a huge advance of up to 1.5% or $1000.

While I feel bad for anyone in this position, if they were filling out their own forms, without assistance, then they likely didn't have lawyers or didn't seek their advice. But, yes, if an attorney filled it out and checked the box, that would not be good on them.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/boy-scouts-victims-cant-change-quick-pay-decision-judge-rules-2024-02-06/

Clearly, the trust has to have claims submitted before knowing the aggregate exposure and therefore the individual settlements. So, this is a step forward.

I first discussed my abuse with close family when I was in my late 20's. I told my parents and asked what I should do. My dad's attorney advised on the criminal and civil statutes, and that was that. It did not produce justice nor compensation. More like injustice, knowing that my Boy Scout employed abuser received a blessing from the state. So far as the bankruptcy goes, I will stone-clad guarantee you that this 3-4 year process (so far) has produced nothing but more heartache and pain-especially given that I was pretty much required to re-live all of the events in order to properly document and convey the information to the trust. Then we have the Matrix. When I filed my claim, I contacted the administrator and was told that because it was a bankruptcy there would be no impact of state statutes of limitation. Sure. The matrix cuts my claim by 80% on jurisdiction alone, so even with all of the aggravating factors, I stand to gain about as much as a survivor in an open state, whose only abuse was being shown some porn. And I am not making light of any abuse. Just making a point. There is nothing, again, nothing in this settlement that will fix anything. And, yes, I believe BSA should have paid with termination of its charter, because that is the only way in my mind this cannot happen to anyone again. Ever. And if I let it eat at me, I now have not only my abuser to despise, but the BSA, the state of Missouri (which ALMOST opened a window, except for the insurance lobby, church and Chamber of Commerce) and now the inequity in the trust, the slow legal system, the insurance companies, the court system. So, no, there's no getting on with my life. I try to see the bright side of things, but I now despise ALL of the aforementioned, and there will be no forgiving. I, long ago, abandoned the Catholic Church. But the effing Chamber of Commerce?

So it sounds like this will stop the Trust to some extent. In all of the various cases I read about, with appeal after appeal, I'm stuck between Justice Served and Justice Denied. If we have gone through this for nothing, it will clearly be the latter.

Thanks so much for the detailed response. The trust is pretty quiet about moving forward beyond the $3500 payouts and related issues. I wonder if they are going to start evaluating claims anytime soon and running them through the matrix. Like I said, I completed my entire submission on day one of the opening, so I would think I would know earlier than some. Obviously, those with aggregious medical issues get bumped up. Frankly, I'd rather just wait than be in that group. Though nobody here is getting any younger.

Back on the Trust Settlement... How can the Trust distribute anything while this is under appeal? They clearly have been paying out the $3500 to those who agreed to it. But where does it go from there? I see a new website design, but no movement on my claim since I submitted it on day one. And if anyone can enlighten me on the status of the appeals process, or where I can follow the appeals, I would appreciate that.

My abuse was also perpetrated by a BSA EMPLOYEE. It doesn't lessen anything suffered by a scout abused by another boy. But it DOES directly implicate BSA, with no way to mitigate responsibility. Because of what I personally experienced, I hoped BSA would cease to function. I stopped the cycle with my generation, as I refused to allow my children to participate. The outcome that allows BSA to continue following BK is a big win for supporters of the organization. And any talk of this token settlement for victims being a bad outcome for BSA is extremely insensitive and very uninformed.

Not in the early 70's when I was abused. I heard that my abuser (BSA Camp Employee) was just a little funny that way. It was laughed off. So you go ahead and preach the Gold Standard, while I will alternate between crying and laughing. But you know what, OJO? I'm not here to debate. I'm here to discuss pertinent information on the settlement. Frankly, admin, I would like to see the forum stick to the topic at hand so the forum itself does not result in additional damage to any victim/survivor. Myself included.

We can agree that distributing a sizable portion of BSA assets to law firms is a crying shame. Beyond that, the fact that BSA is allowed to survive at all, after its employee molested me and so many others were victimized.... that's the bad deal. But just fyi, this is a forum where survivors are trying to work through grief. So, go troll Elon and give the BSA victims some peace please.

And for the sake of the vast majority of the survivors, I hope the judge is a little more swift in her ruling than she indicates.

Another delay. Just wondering how you can select a quick-pay option "without understanding its ramifications". The form was very clear, to me. And this will stop the quick-pay resolution in its tracks for an unknown period of time, and that will slow the progress of the entire flow of claims. PER BLOOMBERG: Hundreds of claimants seek to correct paperwork error Judge said she will take time to issue ruling The Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy judge asked sex abuse claimants’ lawyers for a legal standard that would allow some claimants to correct potentially costly mistakes they made on paperwork. Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein said at a Monday hearing she would need time to determine if claimants who opted for a $3,500 payout from the youth organization’s $2.46 billion abuse victims’ trust can change the selection they made. About 500 claimants, or 0.4% of all claimants, have said they selected the quick-pay option without understanding its ramifications—that they would be unable to pursue larger recoveries.

I was unable to attend the town hall and realize it will be posted at some point on the settlement page. But, was there anything of substance?

Sure. It means that if your abuse occurred in Ohio, you are in a much better position. My state of Missouri has already made it abundantly clear that there is not going to be any lookback window included in potential legislation. So, good for Ohio claimants. Dilution for everyone else.

Did I read somewhere that this was First In First Out, as far as questionnaire submission? I represent myself so I can move it along, if that is the case.

I was not aware of that. Thanks for the info. The same still applies to non-settling entities.

Just received the email: Letter from the Settlement Trustee (Aug. 17, 2023): Processing Portal Opened for All Claims My commitment as Trustee is to provide compensation and a measure of justice to the Survivors of childhood sexual abuse that occurred during their time in the Boy Scouts of America (“BSA”). Every member of the Scouting Settlement Trust (“Trust”) team joins me in sharing these goals. To that end, I am pleased to open the claims processing portal to all Claimants, starting today.

More important than ever, the longer the insurers can hold on to the money, the less it is worth. The wife an I had breakfast at Denny's the other day for $48.70. (So much for the $1.99 Grand Slam!). Simply delaying the inevitable is a win for them (and a loss for survivors).

I was a strong NO on this. When I originally was working on my Proof, I called in for some information and was told that it didn't matter that my state was closed SoL, because it was a bankruptcy. Also was told "everyone would be treated equally". Of course I came to find out that the SoL absolutely mattered, as my state is 10% and along with that, we clearly are not being treated equally. However, I have come around, primarily because the victims are aging and dying off, so I just concluded that some justice for some was better than no justice for any.