Retired Judge to Investigate Claims in $4 Billion Sex Abuse Settlement

Los Angeles County has appointed retired judge Daniel Buckley to examine claims of potential fraud in what stands as the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history. The unprecedented $4 billion agreement has come under scrutiny following reports that some plaintiffs may have fabricated their claims.

Buckley, a former presiding judge of the county’s Superior Court, will specifically review cases brought by Downtown LA Law Group (DTLA) after an investigation by The Los Angeles Times identified nine individuals who claimed they were paid to sue the county. Four of these plaintiffs admitted they were instructed to fabricate their allegations.

While DTLA has denied paying any of its approximately 2,700 clients, the firm has agreed to cover the costs of Buckley’s investigation. In a letter sent to clients on Monday, Andrew Morrow, the firm’s lead attorney for sex abuse cases, acknowledged the implementation of “additional safeguards” and “vetting protocols” following recent reports, though he did not specifically mention the judge’s appointment.

“While we categorically deny this ever occurred, we take these matters seriously and welcome the implementation of additional review procedures to ensure false claims do not move forward in the process,” Morrow wrote.

The allegations have prompted serious concerns from county officials. On October 17, Dawyn Harrison, the county’s top attorney, requested an investigation from the State Bar, stating her belief that portions of the settlement might end up “in the pockets of the plaintiffs’ bar” rather than with legitimate victims.

“The actions described in the article, if true, are despicable and run afoul of ethical duties of attorneys and criminal law in California,” Harrison wrote to the State Bar’s interim executive director.

Most claims in the settlement will be reviewed by retired Superior Court Judge Louis Meisinger, who will determine awards ranging from $100,000 to $3 million. Award amounts will depend on abuse severity, life impact, and supporting evidence. Victims can choose to receive payments over five years or opt for a one-time $150,000 settlement.

If the judges identify fraudulent cases, the county can either resolve them with a $50,000 payment or seek their removal from the settlement. While removing cases saves the county money, it risks continued litigation that could result in larger jury awards.

The appointment of an independent arbiter for specific law firms in large settlements, while unusual, is not unprecedented. In a similar move, retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Barbara Houser, who oversees the $2.4 billion trust for Boy Scouts of America sex abuse cases, recently requested an “independent third party” to examine claims brought by Slater Slater Schulman after discovering “irregularities” and “procedural and factual problems.”

Slater Slater Schulman, which represents approximately 14,000 victims in the Boy Scouts case, also represents about 3,700 people in the L.A. County settlement—the largest caseload of any firm involved.

On October 14, Lawrence Friedman, a former Department of Justice attorney, filed a motion asking Judge Houser to reduce Slater’s attorney fees, estimated at a minimum of $20 million. Friedman seeks to remove the firm from the case, alleging it “run amok” and “dangled the prospect of lottery sized payouts” to clients without proper vetting.

Both judges vetting the L.A. County claims work for Signature Resolution, a firm specializing in resolving legal disputes outside the courtroom. Litigation management company BrownGreer will handle settlement administration, ensuring checks are distributed appropriately.

An additional 414 sex abuse claims resulting in a separate $828 million settlement announced on October 17 will be reviewed by a different judge, with funds distributed over three years. This settlement, involving claims from three firms that opted to litigate separately, is expected to receive final approval from the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

The county plans to provide the first payment to the fund administered by BrownGreer in January, though it remains unclear when victims will actually receive compensation. The additional fraud investigation may delay the process, as judges must evaluate all 11,000 claims before any money is distributed.

“They should have had their duck in the rows at the beginning,” said Tammy Rogers, 56, who sued over alleged sex abuse at a county-run children’s shelter in 2022. Rogers, who has faced financial hardships following shoulder surgery and her daughter’s funeral, expressed skepticism about receiving timely compensation.

Since The Times’ initial investigation on October 2, DTLA has moved to dismiss at least 14 plaintiffs, including three individuals who told The Times they had been paid to sue the county for sex abuse. Among them were Austin Beagle and Nevada Barker, a Texas couple who stated they were instructed to fabricate allegations about abuse at a county-run juvenile facility and were provided with a script by someone inside the firm’s office. Both reported receiving $100 from the firm.

For legitimate victims of abuse within the county’s system, these developments represent yet another setback in their long-awaited pursuit of justice and closure.