CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A state court jury in Oregon found the Boy Scouts of America negligent in a sexual abuse case Tuesday. The verdict awarded more than $1 million in damages to Kerry Lewis, now 38, who said he was molested by an assistant scoutmaster in a troop partially sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1983 and 1984.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "The Multnomah County Circuit Court jury took less than three days to find that the Boy Scouts of America National Council of Irving, Texas, and the local Cascade Pacific Council failed to protect the 38-year-old plaintiff from abuse as a youth. The jury found the national body 60% negligent for the abuse and the local council just 15% negligent, assessing economic damages of $840,000 and $210,000, respectively."
Lewis's attorneys want more than $25 million in punitive damages for their client, which the court will debate starting next week.
The jury also found the Mormons who sponsored the Boy Scout troop 25% negligent. The church has already reached a cash settlement with the plaintiff, according to the Journal.
"Attorneys arguing for the plaintiff, Kerry Lewis, called Boy Scouts officials reckless in permitting an assistant scoutmaster named Timur Dykes to work with a local troop even after Mr. Dykes had admitted to a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that he had molested Boy Scouts in the past. That denomination, known as the Mormons, had sponsored the troop to which the plaintiff belonged. The jury found the church 25% responsible for negligence, but since it had already reached a cash settlement with Mr. Lewis, the church won't make any additional payment after Tuesday's verdict."
The case drew attention in part because it represented the first time the BSA was forced to open secret files it has compiled on pedophiles in its membership dating back to 1964.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM
Four hours, 44,000 Black women, and one Zoom call
July 23 2024 2:17 PM
Record 1.2 million people show out for Cologne’s Pride parade
July 23 2024 10:51 AM
Here's how far-right activist Leonard Leo helped fund Bud Light boycott
July 23 2024 10:27 AM
Elon Musk’s comments about his trans daughter prove why she doesn’t speak to him
July 23 2024 9:16 AM
Nancy Pelosi endorses Kamala Harris for president
July 22 2024 4:07 PM
Charli XCX declares Kamala Harris IS brat & our next President's campaign agrees
July 22 2024 3:08 PM