Boy Scouts Sex Abuse Claimants Could Get Settlement Payment by about Nov. 15

By Haidee V. Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
October 30, 2019

https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/local/2019/10/30/confidential-amounts-judge-oks-boy-scouts-settlement-abuse-cases/2505729001/

Father Louis Brouillard with members of the Boy Scouts of America in an undated PDN photo (Photo: Contributed by USATODAY Network)

Men who were molested decades ago by a priest who also served as a Boy Scouts of America scout master could receive settlement payments by middle of November.

District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood approved the Boy Scouts' proposed settlement with 44 additional child sex abuse claimants, all represented by attorney Michael Berman.

All the settlement amounts, however, are confidential.

Berman said the 44 claimants could expect to receive their settlement payments by "approximately Nov. 15."

Each child sex abuse claim was evaluated on its own merit, so the amount of payouts vary.

"A lot of my clients have had a very hard life. It's a challenge for them every day," Berman said Thursday.

He represents 63 clergy sex abuse survivors, including those whose lawsuits included the Boy Scouts as a defendant.

The Boy Scouts, represented by attorney Patrick Civille, also settled with dozens of claimants represented by other lawyers.

The Boy Scouts offered to settle the 44 claims during negotiations in Hawaii. A more recent negotiation, in San Francisco, resulted in 13 additional claims by Berman's clients that the Boy Scouts also want to settle. The 13 still need court approval to be finalized.

Priest, scout master

The 44 claimants include those who said they were raped or molested by Father Louis Brouillard on Guam, as well as in Minnesota. Brouillard served as a scout master, and many of the abuses happened during swimming lessons at Lonfit River or on camping trips. Others occurred on church grounds.

In 2016, Brouillard acknowledged he abused boys while he was on Guam, his home from 1948 to 1981. He died in 2018 in Minnesota.

The federal judge, in her multiple orders posted on Wednesday and Thursday, said not publicly disclosing the settlement amounts is "warranted under the circumstances" to prevent jeopardizing other ongoing settlement discussions.

"Any third party claiming a need to know the settlement amount may file a motion seeking disclosure, which the court will address on an individual basis," the judge said in her orders.

More settlements to come

The Capuchin Franciscans, also a defendant in most cases, has also offered settlements that are pending court approval. While the plaintiffs have settled with the Boy Scouts, they have yet to settle with other defendants, such Archdiocese of Agana.