Boy Scouts Ordered to Pay Damages to Victim of Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse Case of Oregon Man Settled
On April 13, 2009 a Portland, Oregon court ordered the Boy Scouts of America to pay Lewis the sum of $1.4 million for their negligence which lead to the sexual abuse by assistant Scoutmaster Timur Dykes.
The Negligence
The crux of the issue as maintained by the plaintiff, Kerry Lewis, and his attorney was that even after Dykes had admitted to a bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the charter organization for Lewis's troop (and one-third to one-half of all Boy Scout troops in the 1980s) that he had sexually molested 17 boy scouts, Dykes was not prevented from associating with Lewis' scout troop--or any scout troop.
The Trial
The trial, which lasted three weeks, was only the second time jurors were able to see the formerly secret "perversion files" of the Boy Scouts of America organization.
The organization had admitted to keeping the files, information on pedophiles from 1965 to mid-1984, but had always maintained those files were confidential information. The Oregon Supreme Court disagreed, with the files being opened in February 2010.
The plaintiff's attorney argued that instead of the Boy Scout organization using the information in the files to keep scouts safe but instead kept the information secret.
Breakdown of Financial Responsibility
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which settled its portion of the lawsuit out of court, was ordered by the jury to pay 25 percent of the total settlement, or $350,000.00. The Boy Scouts of America organization was ordered to pay 60 percent, or $840,000.00. The Boy Scouts of America Cascade Pacific Council, to which Lewis' troop belonged must pay 15 percent or $210,000.00.
These awards represent the non-punitive damages to be awarded the plaintiff. A separate phase of the trial will determine punitive damages to be awarded.
Sources: AZ Central
KGW Portland
WRAL
Published by L.L. Woodard
Freelance writer/editor and freelance observer of life. Three decades of nursing experience in long-term care, from development of team care planning to hands-on patient care. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentGreat reporting.
I don't think I can stand much more of this. What's happened to the human race?
Being a Boy Scout is supposed to be a fun activity in a young boy's life. It's sad to see it took until this man was 38 years old to receive even the slightest bit of vindication for what he went through. It makes me wonder if there is anyway our children are safe these days?
Excellent reporting. I'm glad that this man finally found some measure of justice.
Good reporting on this...Just awful....leave our kids alone!!!
Great reporting.
Nicely written.
It is difficult to know who to be the more upset with--the church that was aware of the scoutmaster's admitted pedophilia or the Scout organization. Both make my stomach want to churn.
Excellent update and details of this shocking situation. I'm appalled that the sexual predator was allowed to associate with boys in the Scouts after being reported.
Great reporting.