Boy Scouts, which this year rebranded as Scouting America, was facing nearly 300 abuse lawsuits when it filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware in February 2020. The bankruptcy came after several states passed laws allowing adults to file previously time-barred lawsuits against their childhood abusers and negligent institutions. The 115-year-old nonprofit said it anticipated at least 1,700 abuse claims when it entered Chapter 11, but an aggressive blitz of law firm advertising and publicity brought an avalanche of claims. Within a few months, the number of alleged victims topped more than 80,000, though not all the claims would end...

More than 170 people are filing suit against local councils of the Boy Scouts of America in Maryland for childhood sexual abuse. The cases flooded in last week against the Baltimore Area Council, the National Capital Area Council, the Del-Mar-Va Council, Laurel Highlands Council, Mason-Dixion Council and Chester County Council. Councils fall under the larger umbrella of the Boy Scouts of America and are largely run by volunteers. The Councils being sued represent areas from western Maryland to the eastern shore. The survivors allege sexual assault by scout leaders or personnel. The lawsuits do not include...

Survivors of child sexual assault are once again asking Colorado lawmakers to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot. If passed by voters, it would allow for civil suits in cases that happened decades earlier. Right now, survivors of child sexual abuse have six years after they turn 18 to bring a civil suit. But most don't come forward for decades. By then, the statute of limitations has run out and their left with trauma that often requires a lifetime of treatment. State Sen. Jessie Danielson and state Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet are bringing a bill, for...

The Tennessee Senate unanimously approved a bill on Thursday that would extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse felonies. It is now headed to Governor Bill Lee's desk for his signature. The bill extends the length of time that a survivor of child sexual abuse can file a lawsuit against their abuser. Currently, offenders can only face prosecution for crimes like rape, sexual battery or solicitation of a minor for up to 25 years after a survivor turns 18 years old. They can also only face civil lawsuits for those crimes up to 15 years after a...

A group of women from across the country have joined a "club" they never wanted to belong to, nor did they ask to join. They are survivors of childhood sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by International House of Prayer founder Mike Bickle and members of his staff. They say the systematic grooming and abuse spans decades and includes dozens of women and men. IHOPKC abuse survivor, known as Gracia, says, "Over 100 women have confided in me, sharing firsthand accounts of rampant sexual abuse at IHOPKC and the systemic cover-ups that enabled it." They, along with other...

One by one, the speakers walked up to the small table early Wednesday, then sat and faced the panel of lawmakers in front of them. Several came from across the country — Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee and Texas. For some, it was their first time in the Missouri Capitol building. They came to testify in support of two bills under consideration by Missouri lawmakers dealing with child sexual abuse. One would eliminate the statute of limitations in lawsuits involving child sex abuse. The other would prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements in child sex abuse settlements. But the...

Last week, Christian County judge Jessica L. Kruse ruled against motions made by Kanakuk Kamps and ACE Insurance Co. in a fraud case filed against them by sexual abuse survivor Andrew Summersett. Despite their arguments that Summersett’s claim was filed after the statute of limitations, the case will proceed. Summersett is suing Kanakuk, ACE and other individual parties for fraudulent concealment and civil conspiracy related to sexual abuse he experienced as a child at the hands of Kanakuk camp counselor Pete Newman. Newman was a serial offender during his tenure at Kanakuk and is currently serving two life sentences...

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Lawmakers are trying to give victims of childhood sexual abuse a better chance to hold their abusers accountable with a new bill. The legislation would repeal the statute of limitations, for taking abusers to court for damages in civil court. Speakers on Tuesday shared their stories about how this bill would help victims who struggle with coming forward. “Please do not allow abusers to continue to hide behind the law, survivors deserve to be met with systems that support and empower them on their journey to justice, no matter how long it takes for...

Senator Angela Paxton has filed Senate Joint Resolution 51 and Senate Bill 1167 aimed at eliminating the civil statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse, allowing them to seek justice at any time. This legislation would ensure that survivors are no longer denied their day in court due to arbitrary deadlines and aligns civil law with the criminal justice system, which has already removed such limitations for these heinous crimes. "Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often face lifelong trauma, and many do not come forward until decades later due to fear, shame, or suppressed memories," said Senator...

The Maryland Supreme Court on Monday upheld a landmark state law that eliminates time limits for people to file lawsuits over child sexual abuse, making it easier for survivors to sue institutions that enabled their abuse. With a 4-3 vote, the state’s highest court found the Child Victims Act of 2023 to be constitutional, overcoming a key question about whether the act ran afoul of a 2017 state law that extended the deadline for survivors to sue.  The controversial law went into effect on Oct. 1, 2023. People have sued schools, churches and state-run juvenile detention centers. Before the law became effective, the Archdiocese of...