Introduction to the Settlement
Los Angeles County is poised to pay out an additional $828 million to victims who say they were sexually abused in county facilities as children, months after agreeing to the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history.
Background of the Settlement
The award, posted on the county claims board agenda Friday, would resolve an additional 414 cases that were not included in the $4-billion sex abuse settlement approved this spring. Both the supervisors and the county claims board will need to vote on the payout before it is finalized. The record $4-billion settlement covered more than 11,000 people, who say they were abused inside county-run juvenile facilities and foster homes as children. The individual payouts will range from $100,000 to $3 million.
Details of the New Payout
The newest payout would break down to an average of roughly $2 million per person. It involves cases from three prominent law firms: Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team, and Panish Shea Ravipudi. The firms declined to comment on the potential settlement until the vote by the Board of Supervisors.
Concerns Over False Claims
The announcement follows reporting by The Times that found nine plaintiffs who say they were paid by recruiters to sue the county over sex abuse. Four of them have said they were explicitly told to make up claims. All had lawsuits filed by Downtown LA Law Group, or DTLA. The firm has denied any involvement with recruiters who allegedly paid plaintiffs to sue. DTLA said previously it would never “encourage or tolerate anyone lying about being abused” and is conducting new screenings to remove “false or exaggerated claims” from its caseload.
Measures to Prevent Fraud
The county said any claims brought by DTLA will undergo an additional level of review before payments are made, citing reporting by The Times. The extra screening “may require plaintiff interviews and additional proof of allegations,” the county said. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who recently launched an investigation into the $4-billion settlement following The Times’ reporting, said the vetting will ensure “money goes only to the true victims of abuse.”
Impact on the County
County Counsel Dawyn Harrison says she wants to see the law changed so “unscrupulous lawyers don’t get windfalls at the expense of survivors of abuse.” “The conduct alleged to have occurred by the DTLA firm is absolutely outrageous and must be investigated by the appropriate authorities,” said Harrison. “Not only does it undermine our justice system, it also deprives legitimate claimants of just compensation.” The flood of claims was unleashed with the passage of Assembly Bill 218 in 2020, which changed the statute of limitations and gave survivors a new window to sue their abusers.
Future Implications
Since then, school districts and governments have faced many decades-old claims, for which they say there are no longer records kept on file to allow for vetting. County supervisors have been increasingly critical of the law, which they argue has left them defenseless against claims dating back to the 1950s. If the supervisors approve the new settlement, the county will have paid out nearly $5 billion in child sex abuse lawsuits this year — with more to come. The county is still facing an additional 2,500 cases, which they say will further strain the region’s social safety net.
Conclusion
The settlement and the issues surrounding it highlight the complex and challenging nature of addressing historical abuses while ensuring that compensation is distributed fairly and without fraud. As the county moves forward with the settlement, it must balance its obligations to victims with the need to protect taxpayers and maintain the integrity of the justice system.
FAQs
- Q: How much is the new payout for sex abuse lawsuits in L.A. County?
A: The new payout is $828 million. - Q: How many cases does the new payout cover?
A: The new payout covers an additional 414 cases. - Q: What is the average payout per person in the new settlement?
A: The average payout per person is roughly $2 million. - Q: Why are some claims undergoing an additional level of review?
A: Some claims are undergoing additional review due to concerns over false or exaggerated claims. - Q: How many cases is the county still facing?
A: The county is still facing an additional 2,500 cases.
