"More than 170 former Boy Scouts filed lawsuits against six local councils that oversee troops across Maryland, accusing the councils of failing to protect generations of children from alleged sexual abusers. In seven lawsuits filed last week, the former Scouts said the alleged abusers — who were either a Scout leader, a youth Scout leader or Boy Scout camp personnel — used their “power, authority and trust” to coerce them to engage in sexual acts. Many of the Scouts were between 7 and 10 years old when the alleged abuse occurred, according to the complaints, with accusations dating back to the 1950s. The plaintiffs in the suits, who were identified by initials, now range in age from their 30s to 80s. The lawsuits are part of a rush of filings expected before changes to the state’s Child Victims Act will limit how much survivors can win in court. The act, which went into effect in 2023, eliminated time limits for people sexually abused as children to sue their abusers. Earlier this year, Maryland lawmakers amended the act after it became clear that the state could face billions in liability."