Right to Sue The Boy Scouts for Molestation

Protect Your Son’s Legal Rights with an Experienced Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Lawyer

One of the largest organizations for youth in the United States is the Boy Scouts of America. According to the organization, the Boy Scouts have approximately 2.1 million youth participants as well as 1 million adults who support the programming through volunteerism.

Unfortunately, not all adults with an association with the Boy Scouts have acted in a lawful and appropriate manner in regard to the young people in the organization. Instances of Boy Scout sexual abuse have caused serious harm and damage to boys across the United States.

The Duty of Care Boy Scouts Owe to Youth

When it comes to an allegation of the sexual abuse of a young in the Boy Scouts, the perpetrator is not the only person who can be targeted for a civil lawsuit. The Boy Scouts as an organization is likely to bear responsibility when it comes to injuries and damages sustained by a participant in Boy Scouts at the hands of an adult associated with the organization. The Boy Scouts of America as a legal entity has a recognized responsibility to take all reasonable steps to keep youth in their charge safe. This includes ensuring that young people in the organization are not sexually abused by adults associated with its programming.

A breach of that responsibility exposes the organization itself to liability for injuries and damages caused to a young person because of the illicit misconduct of an adult involved in Scouting. Both the perpetrator and the organization itself can be sued to recovery compensation for injuries, damages, and losses sustained by a young person who is the victim of sexual abuse.

Statute of Limitations on Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Strictly speaking from a legal standpoint, a civil lawsuit brought because a child was sexually abused by an adult is considered a personal injury case. The state of Texas maintains a law called the statute of limitations. This law governs the general timeframe in which a personal injury lawsuit must be filed.

The law has expanded the timeframe in which a lawsuit to seek compensation arising out of case in which a child was sexually abused. A victim of child sexual abuse can sometimes file a lawsuit five years after he or she reaches the age of 18.

Despite the more expansive statute of limitations associated with child sexual abuse cases, a Boy Scout who has been sexually abused can pursue a lawsuit even while as a manner. In such a situation, the case technically is brought by an adult on his behalf, typically that adult being a parent. A Boy Scout sexual abuse lawyer at The Doan Law Firm can provide more information on when and how to bring this type of lawsuit. A lawyer from the firm can be reached by calling (800) 349-0000.

Compensation in a Boy Scout Sexual Molestation Case

The nature of compensation received in a Boy Scout sexual molestation case depends on the specific facts and circumstances of the matter. With that said, common areas in which financially recovery is obtained in this type of claim include mental anguish, pain and suffering, and physical injury.

Oftentimes, punitive damages become an issue in a Boy Scout sex abuse lawsuit. Punitive damages are awarded when a wrongdoing engaged in particularly egregious conduct that gave rise to the breach of a duty of care and associated injuries, losses, and damages. This represents compensation paid above and beyond the other losses

Because an adult associated with the Boy Scouts is in a particular position of trust in regard to boys in his charge, making a case for punitive damages is a real possibility in a Boy Scouts sexual molestation lawsuit. Punitive damages are awarded in some cases when the conduct of a wrongdoer is considered to be particularly egregious.

The Largest Punitive Damage Award in History

In 2010, the Boy Scouts were it with the largest punitive damage award in a child abuse case in U.S. history. The jury in the case of Lewis v. Boys Scouts of America in Oregon awarded $18.5 million. In this case, the Boy Scouts permitted a serial child molester, whose conduct was brought to the attention of the organization, to continue to serve as a Scout Master.

Retain a Boy Scout Sexual Abuse Lawyer

The first step in protecting the rights of a child sexually abused through his affiliation with the Boy Scouts, is scheduling an initial consultation with a Boy Scout sexual abuse lawyer on the legal team at The Doan Law Firm. A skilled, compassionate, tenacious attorney from The Doan Law Firm can be reached through (800) 349-0000. The phone line is open around the clock, every single day of the year.

There is no charge for an initial consultation with a sexual abuse attorney from The Doan Law Firm. During a preliminary appointment, a lawyer will explain different tactics that are available to obtain judgment in a case involving a victimized child.