At the same time, statute of limitations reforms in some states allowed accusers to bring cases that had previously been barred, opening a legal floodgate that posed a significant threat to the Scouts.
"The Boy Scouts have been a cornerstone of the American identity for decades," said Paul Mones, who has represented Boy Scouts accusers for years and currently has "hundreds" of clients. "The question is ... will it have the same meaning after the Boy Scouts file bankruptcy?"