Date: 04-24-2010

Case Style: Kerry Lewis v. Boy Scouts of America, et al.

Case Number:

Judge: John A. Wittmayer

Court: Circuit Court, Multnomah County, Oregon

Plaintiff's Attorney: Paul Mones, Portland, Oregon

Defendant's Attorney: Chuck Smith, Mitchell Lang & Smith, Portland, Oregon

Description: Kerry Lewis sued the Boy Scouts of America on a negligence theory claiming that Defendant failed to exercise due care when it failed to supervise an assistant Scoutmaster who repeatedly sexually abused him. The lawsuit claims the Boy Scouts were negligent for failing to take steps to prevent child sex abuse after keeping a secret list of suspected pedophiles for decades.

The scout troop was sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints.

Defendant denied wrongdoing and it wen to great lengths to police their ranks and keep suspected pedophiles away from children.

Timor Dykes the assistant scoutmaster and a member of the Mormon congregation sponsoring the troop attended by Lewis, admitted that he had abused Lewis when he was a juvenile Boy Scout.

Dykes was suspended when he admitted that he had sexually abused other boys but was later re-instated. The Church did not notify Lewis' parents of the suspension.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict for $1.4 million. Nine to three verdict finding that the Boy Scouts of America was liable for 60 percent and its local chapter the Cascade Pacific Council was liable for 15 percent of the pain and suffering Lewis experienced plus $18.5 million in punitive damages.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: Editor's Note: The issue of punitive damages is yet to be decided.