Los Angeles County, home to nearly 7,000 claims of childhood sexual abuse, has agreed to a staggering $4 billion settlement. This settlement, if approved, would be the largest in U.S. history, surpassing even notorious cases such as those involving the Boy Scouts of America and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The unprecedented nature of this settlement can be traced back to AB 218, a 2020 state law that allowed victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue, even if the statute of limitations had expired. This led to a flood of lawsuits against California counties, including Los Angeles, responsible for the care of children in foster homes and juvenile halls.
Thousands of men and women have come forward with harrowing stories of molestation and rape by probation officials in the county’s juvenile facilities, dating back to the 1980s. The now-closed MacLaren Children’s Center, described as a “house of horrors” by plaintiffs’ attorneys, has also been implicated in numerous abuse cases due to a lack of proper background checks on staff.
County Chief Executive Officer Fesia Davenport has issued a heartfelt apology to all those affected by these reprehensible acts, acknowledging the failures of the government in protecting vulnerable children. The county has since implemented various measures to prevent future abuse, including improved vetting of foster parents and probation staffers.
As the settlement negotiations unfolded, estimates of the county’s potential liability skyrocketed from $1.6 billion to $3 billion, shocking even seasoned attorneys involved in the cases. Despite the $4 billion settlement, some lawsuits remain unresolved as negotiations continue with certain plaintiffs who opted out of the initial mediation process.
Attorney Patrick McNicholas, representing 1,200 plaintiffs, emphasized the historic nature of this settlement, which aims to provide justice to thousands of victims without bankrupting the county. The financial impact of this payout, amidst existing challenges like funding cuts and wildfire recovery costs, poses a significant strain on the county’s already fragile financial situation.
To finance the settlement, the county plans to tap into its rainy day fund, make budget cuts across departments, and take out bonds with a hefty interest payment due by 2051. The settlement funds are set to be disbursed between January 2026 and January 2030, overseen by independent allocators who will determine how to distribute the settlement among the thousands of plaintiffs.
While criminal prosecutions of county staffers accused of abuse have been limited, a few cases have been presented to the L.A. County District Attorney’s office. Two former probation department employees, Thomas Jackson and Altovise Abner, are among those under scrutiny for their alleged roles in the abuse cases.
As the county grapples with the aftermath of this historic settlement, the scars of childhood sexual abuse continue to haunt the survivors, demanding accountability and justice for the trauma they endured.
