Boy Scouts of America paid 1.4 million in sexual abuse case
Boy Scouts of America is an organization across the country that teaches young boys and men wilderness skills, life skills, and teaches them how to be responsible people that can have fun and do the right thing. Unfortunately, in the case involving Kerry Lewis who was formerly from Portland, Oregon, the Boys Scouts of America failed to protect him from and even allowed the former assistant Scoutmaster Timur Dykes to keep in contact with his troop after Dykes had admitted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints back in 1983 that he molested seventeen boy scouts. Dykes was convicted three times of various sexual abuse charges involved with the boy scouts and had admitted to abusing Lewis. Due to their failure to act and their reckless actions involving this case, the Boy Scouts of America must pay $840,000 or sixty percent of the 1.4 million and the Cascade Pacific Council will pay fifteen percent or $210,000 and finally, the church already paid its portion of $350,000.
The spokesman for the Boy Scouts, Deron Smith, said, “We are saddened by what happened to the plaintiff. The actions of the man who committed these crimes do not represent the values and ideals of the Boy Scouts of America”.
There are still nine other claims pending against the Boy Scouts of America and a separate trial to help determine if the organization will owe $25 million in punitive damages. The Oregon Supreme Court also released in February more than 1,000 files the Scouts kept on alleged pedophiles from 1965- mid 1984 that were used in this trial.
Cases like this are very sad and should be prevented. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be the victim of abuse, please contact a Tennessee Abuse Attorney right away. We will work with the police and help you have your case heard and your rights protected.
Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
