Hurley McKenna & Mertz Lead Boy Scouts of America Reorganization After Bankruptcy
Contact: Tom Ciesielka, 312.422.1333, tc@tcpr.net
(February 21, 2022 – Chicago) Scouting abuse survivors will benefit from the revised Boy Scouts of America reorganization plan under the negotiations led by Chicago attorneys Christopher Hurley and Evan Smola of Hurley McKenna & Mertz. Working in conjunction with the Tort Claimants’ Committee in the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy proceeding, Hurley and Smola have negotiated important modifications, including an increase in the size of the plan to $2.7 Billion.
“The revised plan will do three very important things,” shared Hurley. “First, it now incorporates the
enhancement of child protection procedures for current and future Boy Scouts. The revised plan will also ensure independent governance of the settlement trust that will administer assets for the benefit of all survivors, and finally, this plan will now create a path to increased compensation for survivors of scouting abuse.”
Hurley McKenna & Mertz represents nearly 4,500 men who were sexually abused as children during their involvement in Boy Scout youth organizations. The Tort Claimants’ Committee is composed of nine former scouts and abuse victims and serves as the fiduciary for all abuse claimants in the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceeding of the Boy Scouts of America.
Hurley explained that the Boy Scouts’ initial reorganization plan failed to fully and fairly compensate the nearly 84,000 victims of sexual abuse who have filed claims against the organization. The original plan proposed by the Boy Scouts of America would have granted local Boy Scout councils and sponsoring organizations such as The Church of Jesus Christ [also known as the LDS or Mormon Church] legal immunity from lawsuits for sexual abuse, without requiring these responsible parties to contribute more than a small fraction of their available assets.
“That initial plan was outrageous, unfair and just plain wrong,” exclaimed Hurley. “Our continued fight against its confirmation forced the Boy Scouts of America and its local councils back to the negotiating table. Working with the Tort Claimants’ Committee, we have succeeded in getting the Boy Scouts of America to draft a new reorganization plan that reaches our goals of better child protection, independent governance of the Settlement Trust, and a better compensation structure for survivors.”
“Now for the first time,” Hurley added, “The Boy Scouts of America sexual abuse victims have a seat at the table to make sure that child safety is the organization’s first priority.”
The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy in February 2020, a move precipitated by the thousands of sexual abuse cases filed against the scouting group. Hurley McKenna & Mertz also represents one of the members of the Tort Claimant’s Committee – the committee tasked with negotiating on behalf of scouting survivors nationwide for abuse suffered at the hands of the scouting organization, its personnel, and policies that covered up rampant pedophilia and sexual assault.
Hurley McKenna & Mertz and the nine members of the Tort Claimants’ Committee have devoted thousands of hours over the last two years leading the fight to get justice for victims of Boy Scouts of America sexual abuse. The Tort Claimants’ Committee now urges abuse claimants who rejected the Boy Scouts of America’s previous reorganization plan to accept the new and improved one. More information on the restructuring can be found at tccbsa.com.
Read more about Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C.’s work representing victims of Boy Scouts of America sexual abuse here [https://www.hurley-law.com/practice-areas/boy-scouts-of-america-sexual-abuse/].
About Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C.
Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. is a partnership of trial lawyers dedicated to fighting for the rights of ordinary people who have suffered serious personal injuries due to negligence. The firm takes pride in advocating for changes in the law to protect the community. Visit hurley-law.com to learn more.
Alerts Sign-up