Two Oregon men have filed lawsuits against Boy Scouts of America claiming they were sexually abused by former Scout leaders and that the organization knew about the leaders' abuse but allowed them to continue leading troops.
One of the men is seeking $5 million for alleged abuse by Calvin Malone, who was kicked out of scouting in California but later hired in Oregon and given access to hundreds of boys over a period of years, Oregon Live reported. Malone is currently incarcerated for raping a child and molestation in 1993.
Lawyers involved in the suit claim the Boy Scouts created a secret file on Malone after his rehire and alerted local leaders to be aware of Malone. The file has since been destroyed but it is referred to in letters written by Boy Scout officials, Oregon Live said.
The second man, known as “Mark Doe,” alleged Scoutmaster Clyde Brook sexually abused him severely and repeatedly in the 1960s. According to Oregon Live, a file kept by the Boy Scouts had information suggesting Brock had been reprimanded twice for taking nude pictures of children and showing them to boys in his home.
Brock was allowed to resign and abuse allegations against him involving 10 boys was never investigated. Doe’s lawsuit is seeking $9 million in damages.
Current law in Oregon allows childhood sexual abuse victims to sue up until age 40 or within five years of when they realize the abuse has caused them harm.
“Parents enrolled their boys in Scouts because they trusted the program and its leaders,” co-counsel Peter Janci told Oregon Live. “The Boy Scouts of America betrayed the trust of the parents and the children they swore to protect.”