IRVING (WBAP/KLIF)- The Irving-based Boy Scouts of America declares bankruptcy, overnight.
This comes in the wake of thousands of men who say they were molested as boys by scout leaders, decades ago. These allegations caused dwindling membership numbers.
Seattle Attorney Mike Beau filed several cases against the Boy Scouts. He tells WFAA-TV filing for bankruptcy is a strategic tool companies use for “tactical advantage ”
“That means there is a date to which all abuse survivors have to come forward or they lose their rights,” he said.
Experts say the bankruptcy will allow the organization to carry on while it works a compensation plan.
“The BSA cares deeply about all victims of abuse and sincerely apologizes to anyone who was harmed during their time in Scouting. We are outraged that there have been times when individuals took advantage of our programs to harm innocent children,” Roger Mosby, BSA’s president said in a statement.
The Boy Scouts says it plans to maintain its commitments to the best of its ability under bankruptcy laws, it also says local councils have not filed for bankruptcy and are independent from the national organization.
The organization is 110 years old.
