The family of the victim, now 20, sued the Boy Scouts, alleging the organization was negligent in its handling of the matter.

A judge ruled earlier this month that the plaintiffs could use the Scouts’ secret “perversion files,” which outline years of molestation claims and incidents, as evidence in the trial, a ruling that opened the door to possible public release of the files.

“We regret there have been times when the BSA’s best efforts to protect children were insufficient, and for that we extend our deepest apologies to victims and their families,” officials with the Boy Scouts said in a statement Thursday.

The lawsuit stemmed from a 2007 incident involving volunteer Scout leader Al Steven Stein, then 29, who was charged with abusing the 13-year-old Scout and two other boys.

Stein pleaded no contest to a felony child-endangerment charge. He was placed on five years’ probation but violated it by having photos of nude children stored on his cellphone. He was sentenced to two years in prison but was paroled early and is now registered as a sex offender in Salinas.

Scout officials said they could not disclose terms of the settlement. The victim’s attorney could not be reached for comment.

“While we can’t comment on the specifics related to this…

The settlement between the family of Cliff Douglass and the VA appears to be the largest payout for a wrongful death claim related to a case at VA Puget Sound since 2001, according to records obtained by the Center for Investigative reporting and The News Tribune through the Freedom of Information Act.

“I’m happy for the family that they have some closure,” said Tacoma attorney Jessica Holman Duthie, who represented the Sammamish man’s family. “But it’s nothing (compared) to the pain and suffering he went through.”

Douglass’ sister said the lawsuit led to an internal investigation and helped her understand that the incident led to changes at the VA.

“I don’t think we can ask for more than that,” Connie Olberg said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle confirmed the settlement but declined to comment.

The case received widespread media attention last spring as allegations surfaced describing VA employees misrepresenting long delays in care for its patients in Phoenix. That scandal led to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki’s resignation in May and prompted Congress to pass legislation aimed at reducing a backlog in care for the nation’s largest hospital network.

“Clearly my…