Posted on 12/28/2012 6:32:41 AM PST by Perseverando
Organization often played legal hardball against accusers in molestation cases, say attorneys and families.
When a lawsuit alleged that two young brothers in Michigan had been molested “hundreds of times” by a troop leader, the Boy Scouts denied responsibility and pointed the finger at someone else — the boys' recently widowed mother.
The Scouts faulted the woman “for her failure to provide adequate parental supervision,” suggesting in court papers that she was responsible for any harm to her sons.
One of the boys' lawyers called that argument excessive.
“The day their dad died, the perpetrator began to befriend the boys,” Kelly Clark said. “Then the Boy Scouts turn around and file papers saying Mom was the problem?”
DATABASE: Tracking decades of allegations
The Scouts' legal tactics in the ongoing lawsuit are part of an aggressive approach that the youth group has long used in defending itself in child sex abuse cases, some victims, their families and lawyers say.
Since 1,247 confidential files were unsealed in October detailing allegations of sexual abuse in its ranks, Scouting has taken a more conciliatory stance.
“We have heard from victims of abuse and are doing our very best to respond to each person with our utmost care and sensitivity,” Scouting spokesman Deron Smith said in October, offering an apology, counseling and other assistance.
DOCUMENTS: A paper trail of abuse
But in the years before the files' release, some who alleged abuse say, their accusations were met with denial, blame and legal hardball.
“The knives are out and you'd better get your knife out because if you don't, they will tear you to shreds,” said Timothy Hale, who represents a Santa Barbara County teenager who was abused in 2007 at the age of 13 by volunteer Scout leader Al Steven Stein.
Stein had a history
(Excerpt) Read more at wsbt.com ...
Scouts Under Attack News
You are dead right.
Saw your mea culpa, so this will be polite instead of full flame mode!
The BSA was founded in 1910, i.e. we just celebrated our 100th anniversary two years ago. The group was BIG by 1920, so any statement that it was scaled up during WWII is inaccurate. The first Eagle was received around 1912 if I remember right, and the organization has been a huge part of American life since.
The organization still has roughly 2 million youth members today. It is still the single largest youth organization in the country.
Now to the point of the original article. The BSA defended themselves in court when they were sued. So what the article REALLY says is that the organization used the strongest defence it could conjure. Gee - what a surprise!
FDR who (as few people know) was the Democrat vice presidential candidate in 1920 actually used his famous name and very distant blood relationship with Teddy (who was a genuine supporter of scouting) to horn in on the movement with limited success a decade later when he tried to use them to support some of his alphabet soup agencies, particularly the CCC.
The BSA would have nothing to do with his politics but were, of course, supportive of the war effort during the 1940's just as they had been in World War I. They were also supportive of efforts at conservation, respect for nature and outdoor living just as they had been when the first Roosevelt president became involved with them shortly after their founding.
As I recall, TR and Lord Baden Powell became lifelong friends in the effort.
Too bad FR doesn’t let one delete a post that one wants back. ;-)
You have to understand their logic. For us it is a matter of behavior, for them it is a matter of self-identity. Thus they repudiate the great majority of perps who are best described as bi-sexual.
Thanks SandRat.
Prayers up for the BSA.
When my boy was in scouts in the 80s-90s, all the parents who participated in our cub pack were women except for two men -- one was a devout Christian and the other was an artist. The artist soon dropped out and took his son out of scouts because he heard the kids saluting the flag and the words "under God" really bothered him. So the mothers were the only ones to keep things going with that one wonderful man, whose wife, fortunately, could trust him completely to meet with all those divorced or abandoned moms every week. My husband just wouldn't participate and always used work as an excuse.
BSA was founded in 1912, long before Hitler came to power. When BSA was founded Hitler was still a bum in Vienna.
BSA was founded in 1912, long before Hitler came to power. When BSA was founded Hitler was still a bum in Vienna.
BSA was founded in 1912, long before Hitler came to power. When BSA was founded Hitler was still a bum in Vienna.
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