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Los Angeles County’s $4 billion sex abuse settlement has come under scrutiny after a plaintiff stepped forward claiming he never authorized his inclusion in the case and had never been abused.
Melvin Dunlap, a 30-year-old fashion stylist from Missouri, says he was shocked to discover he was listed as “JOHN DOE M.D.” in court filings related to the massive settlement for people allegedly abused while in L.A. County’s juvenile detention facilities.
“I can put my hand on a Bible and say, ‘I ain’t ever been abused sexually,'” Dunlap told reporters. He provided evidence showing he sought to report the matter to the State Bar last July, including text messages and emails.
The lawsuit bearing Dunlap’s initials was filed by Downtown LA Law Group (DTLA) on October 15, 2024. It claims he was “physically assaulted, sexually harassed and abused” by staff at a Los Angeles detention center in Boyle Heights when he was 15 years old.
Dunlap maintains he has never been to juvenile detention and grew up thousands of miles away from Los Angeles.
DTLA is currently under investigation by the district attorney, State Bar, and the county after nine clients told media outlets last year they were paid to file sex abuse claims, some of which were allegedly fraudulent. The firm has requested dismissal of at least three lawsuits.
The law firm has denied all wrongdoing, stating that its lawyers “operate with unwavering integrity, prioritizing client welfare.” A spokesperson said the firm rejects most cases and could not discuss specific clients due to attorney-client privilege constraints.
“Having said that, no one in the firm to our knowledge has coerced its clients or anyone else to sign anything,” DTLA said in a statement.
Dunlap’s connection to DTLA began several years ago when they represented him in a 2021 personal injury case after he slipped in a hotel. He received approximately $1,700 from that settlement. He contacted the firm again last year after a driver ran over his foot in Los Angeles.
In July 2025, Dunlap says the firm called him to their downtown office, presumably to discuss his foot injury case. Instead, he claims he was asked to sign three packets of documents without explanation.
“I’m from the hood — you don’t just sign anything. So, I get to reading the papers and it’s talking about some juvenile delinquent California … case. And I’m like, I’m not even from California,” Dunlap recounted. “I’m from St. Louis. I ain’t ever been to juvie a day in my life.”
Dunlap says a firm representative insisted he sign despite his protests. Following the county’s $4 billion settlement agreement in April 2025, all plaintiffs needed to sign documents opting into the settlement and complete fact sheets detailing the abuse they allegedly experienced. Each case could receive up to $3 million, with attorneys collecting between 33 and 45 percent in fees.
According to Dunlap, he refused to sign and tried to leave, but was pressured to meet with a superior. He eventually managed to escape the office. Later, Andrew Morrow, DTLA’s main attorney on the sex abuse cases, texted Dunlap a photo of what appeared to be a retainer agreement dated September 29, 2024, bearing a signature and Dunlap’s printed name.
Dunlap insists he never signed a retainer for any sex abuse case and doesn’t recognize the signature. The firm stated it uses “electronic processes to verify signatures.”
Text messages reviewed by reporters show Dunlap confronting Morrow: “What the hell is wrong with y’all. I couldn’t even get a real apology just more pressure about signing sum papers I denied to sign over n over.”
Morrow reportedly responded that he would dismiss the lawsuit but warned Dunlap he was “giving up a lot of money from the bad people you said hurt you.” As of March 23, the lawsuit had not been dismissed, leaving Dunlap part of the settlement.
This case raises deeper questions about how DTLA acquired its sex abuse plaintiffs. Investigators identified ten people represented by DTLA in the sex abuse settlement who, like Dunlap, had previously used the firm for personal injury lawsuits.
Before any settlement money is disbursed, former presiding Superior Court Judge Daniel Buckley is vetting cases and interviewing people whose accounts raise concerns. The L.A. County district attorney’s office has requested a six-month delay in payments and has flagged hundreds of plaintiffs for further investigation.
Dunlap says he has no interest in the settlement money and believes it should go to genuine victims. “So how do I get my name out?” he asked, expressing his desire for the lawsuit to be dismissed.
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8 Comments
I’m curious to learn more about the specific circumstances around this false claim. Was it an isolated incident, or are there systemic issues that need to be addressed? Thorough investigations will be important to uncover the full extent of the problem and prevent similar abuses in the future.
This is a concerning case of potential fraud and abuse within the legal system. It’s important to get to the bottom of how this false claim was filed without the alleged victim’s knowledge or consent. Proper oversight and accountability are crucial to ensure the integrity of such settlements.
This case highlights the importance of verifying claims and ensuring consent before pursuing legal action, especially in sensitive matters like sexual abuse. The county’s $4 billion settlement raises red flags, and it’s good that this discrepancy has been brought to light.
I’m curious to know more about the investigation into this law firm and how they were able to include this individual without his knowledge. Were there any systemic issues or lack of oversight that allowed this to happen? Protecting the integrity of the legal process is crucial.
This is a very concerning case of fraud and abuse of the legal system. If these allegations are true, it’s appalling that someone’s identity was used without their knowledge or consent to file a false claim. The public deserves transparency and accountability in these types of high-profile settlements.
While the details are still emerging, this situation raises serious concerns about fraud, privacy violations, and the potential abuse of vulnerable individuals. Transparency and accountability will be crucial moving forward.
If the allegations against the law firm are true, this represents a serious breach of ethics and abuse of power. Misrepresenting victims for financial gain is unacceptable and should be met with strong consequences. The integrity of the justice system must be protected.
This highlights the need for robust verification and validation procedures when handling sensitive personal information, especially in high-stakes legal matters. If the facts are as reported, the victim deserves justice and the perpetrators should be held fully accountable.