Boy Scouts settle with man who lost foot

The Boy Scouts of America reached a $7.5 million settlement Friday with a former Las Vegas man whose foot was amputated after a 2006 traffic collision.

Las Vegas attorney Don Campbell said the settlement came on the fifth day of trial, shortly before closing arguments were to begin in District Judge Michael Villani's courtroom.

Campbell, who represents plaintiff Jon Scott, had only praise Friday for the Boy Scouts and the organization's lawyers.

"In response to this tragedy, the Boy Scouts acted in precisely the way we expected they would," Campbell said. "They took responsibility for their actions, as did their counsel, who we found most professional."

Campbell blamed the organization's insurance carrier for forcing the case to go to trial.

California attorney Kenneth Ward, who represents the Boy Scouts, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Campbell said a senior Boy Scouts volunteer was delivering materials for the organization on May 26, 2006, when he cut across a couple of traffic lanes to get onto the southbound entrance ramp to Interstate 15, near Spring Mountain Road.

As he did so, his truck struck the rear of Scott's vehicle, causing it to spin and flip, Campbell said.

The collision forced the driver's side door of Scott's vehicle to open. Scott's left foot then came out of the vehicle, which landed on it.

"It literally ground off his foot from the ankle to the toes," Campbell said.

He said Scott's foot was so severely damaged that it had to be surgically amputated. It since has been replaced with a prosthetic device.

Campbell said Scott, then 39, lived in Las Vegas at the time of the crash and worked as a tile setter.

Scott now works as a bid supervisor for a construction company in Northern California.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0264.