Lawsuit settlement

[SouthernKudzu]

I am part of the lawsuit against the BSA. My Scout Master was a fine man. I liked him, respected him and learned from him. My abuser was another Scout. An older, bigger Scout who was an helper/assistant to our Scout Master. He held our merit badges and promotions over us plus threatened the four of us if we did not comply or told on him. We were afraid of him. The Boy Scouts DID NOT hurt me, another Scout did.

I attribute my love of the woods, and camping to the Scouts. I have tent camped all over North AL, North GA, Eastern TN and Western NC. Today, due to my heart and Lupus, camping is renting a log cabin.

Anyway, I received an email with a specific dollar amount I am to receive. I did not join this law suit for money. My wife of 30 years, and I are financially fine. I joined to add my voice and possibly have input to prevent this from happening again. This email had 4 pdf attachments and had this: "The deadline to submit a Reconsideration Request along with your $1,000.00 administrative fee on your claim is March 15, 2025".

Is this legitimate? Has anyone received this? Today, it's hard to know whether something like this is a scam or not.

Thank y'all,

Southern Kudzu

[acco40]

From the Scouting Settlement Trust (https://www.scoutingsettlementtrust.com/s/article/7-34-How-Much-Time-Do-I-Have-to-Submit-a-Reconsideration-Request)

To request reconsideration, you must do two things within 30 days of receipt of your Allowed Abuse Claim Notice (the “Reconsideration Deadline Date”). First, you must upload your Reconsideration Request Form to your Portal account. Second, you must pay your $1,000 reconsideration fee to the Trust (unless a fee waiver (discussed further below) has been granted by the Trustee). Again, both must occur by the Reconsideration Deadline Date.

Completing and submitting the Reconsideration Request Form 
You must complete all fields within the Reconsideration Request Form and upload it to the Documents tab in your Portal account using the Document Type titled, “Reconsideration Request”. The Reconsideration Request Form is available on the Trust's website under “News and Key Documents/Trust Forms” or through this link.

Once the Reconsideration Request Form has been uploaded successfully, you must email info@scoutingsettlementtrust.com to inform the Trust that you are filing a Reconsideration Request prior to the day of your Reconsideration Deadline Date. Please title the subject line of the email “Reconsideration Request SST-XXXXXX" and include your claim’s SST number. Do not attach your Reconsideration Request Form to the email; as stated above, the Reconsideration Request Form must be uploaded to your portal account. 

Submitting the $1K Reconsideration Fee or have obtained a waiver of the Reconsideration Fee
Payments must be made in accordance with the Reconsideration Payment Instructions. Please email info@scoutingsettlementtrust.com to request the payment instructions with the subject line “Request for Reconsideration Payment Instructions SST-XXXXXX" and include your claim’s SST number. 

Is this legit?  I'm no lawyer but it appears to be sketchy from where I am sitting but I'd talk to a lawyer to be sure.

Edited yesterday at 12:40 PM by acco40

[acco40]

Furthermore (from the Wagstaff law firm  https://www.wagstafflawfirm.com/boy-scouts-of-america-bsa-settlement-trust) . . .

At their website there is the ability to ask their Senior Counsel about the case.  I'd recommend you do that.  I wouldn't be surprised if some outside firm is trying to scam by asking for $1,000.

 

Due to an overwhelming number of claims for sexual assault damages against the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), the organization has recently filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. As a part of the bankruptcy proceedings, a Scouting Settlement Trust was established, offering a pathway for survivors to file claims and receive financial compensation for the harm they suffered.

KEY FEATURES OF THE SETTLEMENT TRUST

The goal of the Settlement Trust is to fairly and efficiently provide financial compensation to survivors, though the process will take significant time due to the sheer volume of claims and the complex nature of each case.

The assets from BSA, its local councils, and other contributing entities, such as insurers, were pooled to create a compensation fund. The fund continues to increase as assets become available. Many survivors chose to file their claim as an “Expedited Claim” and receive a flat fee, likely a lower amount than Survivors who filed a “Direct Abuse Claim.” Survivors who filed Direct Abuse Claims prior to August 26, 2024 are eligible to have their claim processed and evaluated through the Trust.

HOW THE TRUST VALUES CASES

The Trust is responsible for determining the value of each survivor's claim. A “Claims Matrix” has been created by the Trust which establishes six tiers of abuse types and provides the potential value range for claims in each category. Each case is evaluated individually according to the Matrix, taking into consideration various factors specific to each claim. This ensures fairness, consistency, and efficiency.

Factors That Influence Case Valuation:

• Severity of the Abuse: The Trust assesses the nature and severity of the abuse suffered by each survivor using the tiers established in the Claims Matrix. This includes looking at the type of abuse, number of times the claimant was abused, and duration of abuse.
• Impact on the Survivor: In addition to the severity, the long-term physical, emotional, and psychological impact on the survivor is considered. This can be evidenced by medical records, psychological evaluations, and other documentation.
• Connection to the BSA: The Trust also evaluates the direct connection between the abuse and the Boy Scouts organization or its affiliates (local councils or chartered organizations). Evidence of connection to Scouting can include names listed on membership rosters (many of these rosters are contained in a Document Repository and can be searched), photographs, or other memorabilia from Scouting.

The Trust uses a scoring system or tier-based structure to assign values to cases. Survivors with more severe and long-term impacts are entitled to higher compensation than those with less severe claims.

ISSUANCE OF SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS

Once a claim has been evaluated and valued, the Settlement Trust will begin the process of distributing payments to survivors. However, there are important considerations survivors should be aware of in terms of payment timelines and processes.

Phased Payment Structure:

• Initial Payment: Most survivors will receive an initial partial payment, which represents a portion of their total award. This is common in large settlement trusts where funds must be distributed across many claimants.
• Holdback Amount: The remaining portion of the settlement will be held back until the Trust finalizes all claims and ensures that there is enough funding to cover all eligible survivors.
• Full Payment: Once the Trust has a clear picture of the total number of eligible claims and available funds, the remainder of the settlement will be paid out.

Estimated Timeline

One of the most common questions survivors ask is, “When will I receive my settlement?” Unfortunately, due to the complex nature of each claim and the volume of claims (tens of thousands), the Trust cannot provide an estimated timeline for issuing initial payments of valid Direct Abuse Claims. Your legal team will be in touch with you as soon as any information is provided by the Trust about your claim.

While the process of claim evaluation and payment distribution will take time, the Trust's framework is designed to fairly assess each case and ensure survivors receive the compensation they deserve.

Edited yesterday at 12:40 PM by acco40