Oregon Boy Scouts sued in sex abuse case

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

By ANTONIA GIEDWOYN, kgw.com Staff

An attorney for a man who claims he was abused by a local Boy Scout leader as a child in the 1950s filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Boy Scouts of America and the Oregon chapter of the Boy Scouts.

The plaintiff was allegedly abused by Donald Santy during a two-year period.

Santy was a Scout leader and executive director of the Boys Club of Portland in the 50’s and 60’s.

“It is not unusual for an individual such as Donald Santy to have several positions of trust at the same time, such as here, where he is both a trusted Boy Scout Leader, and the trusted executive of the Boys Club,” said attorney Kelly Clark. “My client, then approximately 10 or 11 years old, without a father figure in his life, latched onto Donald Santy, whom he thought cared about him and whom he could trust. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, that trust was betrayed.”

The 60-year-old plaintiff, whose name was not released, lives in Portland. According to Clark, the plaintiff never told anyone about his abuse until recently.

COURT DOCUMENT: About $3M sought for emotional damage

In 1961, Santy was arrested on charges related to sexual abuse of children. Those charges were not connected to this plaintiff, Clark said.

It’s unclear where Santy lives or whether he is still alive, according to Clark.

The Boys Club, now known as the Boys and Girls Club of Portland, is not a defendant in the case since the plaintiff and the Boys and Girls Club settled out of court.

http://www.kellyclarkattorney.com/news/oregon-boy-scouts-sued-in-sex-abuse-case/