Boy Scouts of America

CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Delaware
DecidedJuly 29, 2022
Docket20-10343
StatusUnknown

This text of Boy Scouts of America (Boy Scouts of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Boy Scouts of America, (Del. 2022).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE In re: ) Chapter 11 BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND Case No. 20-10343 (LSS) DELAWARE BSA, LLC ) ) ) Debtors. ) (Jointly Administered) tt)

OPINION Introduction This is an extraordinary case by any measure. This is a mass tort case. It involves sexual abuse claims. The debtor, Boy Scouts of America (“BSA”), is a household name. It is a national, nonprofit organization. Over the one hundred plus years of its existence, BSA delivered its Scouting mission through, and in partnership with, tens of thousands of non-debtor entities. This is a case about trust-——or more accurately——lack of trust. Boys and their families put their faith in a lionized institution, which failed many of them. These boys—now men-—~ seek and deserve compensation for the sexual abuse they suffered years ago. Abuse which has had a profound effect on their lives and for which no compensation will ever be enough. They also seek to ensure that to the extent BSA survives, there is an environment where sexual abuse can never again thrive or be hidden from view. This is a case that has been emotionally charged. 82,209 claimants filed proofs of claim asserting sexual abuse. Claimants have actively participated in this case through an official creditors committee, an ad hoc committee and pro se. The court has received over 1000 letters from claimants who each have their own story to tell, many for the first time.

Given what is at stake, it is not surprising that claimants hold strongly different views regarding how this case should conclude, even whether this debtor should continue to exist. This is also a case about an institution that seeks to continue with its mission. BSA currently serves over one million boys and girls across the country, providing them with opportunities to learn self-sufficiency and leadership skills that can contribute to the betterment of society.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 PHEPEtHION 2.00... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ L A. The Delivery of Scouting and the Relationship Between and Among BSA, Local Councils and Chartered Organizations □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 1. Boy Scouts of AMELiICA oo. eee □ 2. Local Councdls oo. □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 3. Chartered Orgamizations □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 4, Related Non-Debtor Entities 200.000 cette O B. Sexual Abuse Lawsuits □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ C. Overview of the Boy Scouts Insurance □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LO 1, Coverage Under BSA Insurance □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ cesses LO a. Coverage for BSA as the Insured... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LO b. Coverage for Local Councils as Additional Insureds................. 12 c. Coverage for Chartered Organizations as Additional Insureds .. 13 2, Overview of Local Council Insurance 0.0.0... □□□ □□ 3. Chartered Organization Insurance Policies 00.0.0 terete L4 4, Combined Single Limits ........0... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LA D. Prepetition Coverage □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LG E, Prepetition Resolutions and Attempts to Resolve Abuse Claims ........0......... 19 Il. Postpetition Events □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□ A. The Bar Date □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ DL B. □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ DE C. The Plan Process and Voting... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ DA 1. Solicitation... cece □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ DA 2. The Initial Voting Results 0.0.0... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 29 3. Continued Mediation and Further Insurance Settlements .................... 30 4. Additional Settiements with Chartered Organizations ........0.00....00. 34 5. The Resolution with the TCC... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OO 6. The Settlement Trust Agreement and the Trust Distribution Procedures, as Amended oo... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OO) a. The Settlement Trust Agreement. □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ GO b. The Trust Distribution Procedures □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OO

7. Chartered Organizations □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 4A a. Contributing Chartered Organizations □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ AD b. Participating Chartered Organizations ............cceeeeee teeters £6 c. Opt-Out Chartered Organizations □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ AF 8. Youth □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 48 9. Plan Modifications, Supplemental Disclosure and Voting...................52 10. The Confirmation Hearing 20.00.00... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OG &. The ObJectors □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OD b, Plan Supporters ......... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ JQ C. The Hearing □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ DO

L Additional Findings Related to Direct Abuse Claims... ceeceereereteee □□ A. The Aggregate Value of the Direct Abuse Claims □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OF B. The Potential Available Coverage of Non-Settling Insurance Companies for Allocated and Unallocated Claims □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OG C, The Plan is a 100% Plan with Respect to Direct Abuse Claims ........ eee, 69 I. The Settlements □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ D2 A. The Settling Insurer Settlements 20.0... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ □□ B. The Settling Insurer Settlements Meet the Martin Standard... TA TL. Hartford 00... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LO 2, CONMUIY. 0... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ EE

4, Clarendon □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OU C. The Buyback of the Abuse Insurance Policies 00.0... □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OO 1. The Abuse Insurance Policies Issued by Hartford and Century as well as the Proceeds of Those Policies are Property of the Estate oo... ee BF 2. The Automatic Stay Prevents a Sale Free and Clear of the Archbishop’s Trnterest □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ OO a. The Buyback of the Abuse Insurance Policies is Not Part of the Claims Resolution Process □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ DA b. A Violation of the Automatic Stay Does Not Depend on Whether the Prohibited Action May be Favorable to the Estate .............. 97 c. The “Dueling Debtor” Argument Favors the Archbishop ......... 99 ti

3. The Abuse Insurance Policies Can be Sold Free and Clear of the Lujan Claimants’ Direct Action Rights □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LOZ a. The McCarran-Ferguson Act Does Not Reverse Preempt Any Code Section or Plan Provision that Permits the Channeling of Direct Abuse Claims to the Settlement □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LOZ b. Section 363(d)(1) Does Not Apply to the Lujan Claimants’ Direct Action Rights □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LIQ c. The Abuse Insurance Policies Can be Sold Free and Clear of the Lujan Claimants’ Direct Action Rights Under § □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ 211 D. The Releases □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ LLG 1.

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Bluebook (online)
Boy Scouts of America, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/boy-scouts-of-america-deb-2022.