The Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 to address over 82,000 sexual abuse claims — the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history. A $2.46 billion settlement was approved in 2023, funded by BSA, local councils, the Hartford insurance company, and the Mormon Church. The claims window has largely closed but some state court cases survive. The BSA bankruptcy established the litigation playbook now being used against Royal Rangers, Assemblies of God, and LDS Church.
Direct sexual abuse by troop leaders and volunteers; institutional negligence in maintaining and concealing the "Perversion Files" — internal records of known abusers that were never disclosed to law enforcement.
BSA filed Chapter 11 in 2020. Reorganization plan confirmed 2023 with an $2.46B survivor trust. Claims processing is ongoing through the bankruptcy trust. New claims against local councils may still be viable in some jurisdictions.