JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
Nearly a year after catastrophic flooding killed 27 children at Camp Mystic in the Texas Hill Country, the all-girls summer camp is now fighting for its future in bankruptcy court. The Texas Newsroom's Lucio Vasquez explains what that could mean for ongoing lawsuits against the camp.
LUCIO VASQUEZ, BYLINE: Camp Mystic currently faces multiple lawsuits stemming from the July 4, 2025 flood. Twenty-five campers and two councilors were killed. More than 130 people died throughout the region when a wall of water rushed down the Guadalupe River. But the camp's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection may complicate the situation.
SAM TAYLOR: Nothing related to the litigation can proceed until there's a further order of the bankruptcy court.
VASQUEZ: That's attorney Sam Taylor, who represents families suing the camp, alleging they failed to protect campers and counselors during the flood. Now, Taylor says, this lawsuit plus four others against Camp Mystic are effectively paused.
TAYLOR: It's difficult to tell at this time how long it will last. I mean, it could be weeks or months.
VASQUEZ: None of the families suing the camp replied to NPR's requests for comment. Camp Mystic, which has been around for about 100 years, also hasn't commented after the filing. Under federal law, Chapter 11 bankruptcy generally triggers what's known as an automatic stay, which can temporarily pause lawsuits. Angela Littwin, a bankruptcy law professor at the University of Texas, says a judge can later decide whether some cases should move forward.
ANGELA LITTWIN: The most common outcome of these, of a bankruptcy like this, again, is that the lawsuits would not pick up, that they would be settled in the bankruptcy, and then a trust would be imposed, and the families would need to bring their claims against the trust afterwards.
VASQUEZ: Chapter 11 typically allows businesses to continue operating while they reorganize their finances. Court records show Camp Mystic is also prepared to pursue a liquidation plan if necessary. But Littwin questions whether Camp Mystic is in a position to realistically continue operating.
LITTWIN: It's going to be hard for them to establish summer camps again with the state restrictions, difficulty getting insurance and, possibly, difficulty persuading families to send their kids there again.
VASQUEZ: The camp canceled its 2026 season after facing public backlash over plans to reopen. This also came after Texas lawmakers approved new safety requirements for youth camps in response to the disaster. Despite the setback, attorneys for the families who were suing say they're continuing to push for accountability.
For NPR News, I'm Lucio Vasquez.
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