Listen to the article
The Los Angeles County childhood sexual abuse settlement scandal took a dramatic turn Wednesday as attorneys called for deeper investigation into allegations of fraudulent claims, just one day after the Board of Supervisors approved an $828 million settlement with 414 plaintiffs.
Attorney Courtney Thom, who previously prosecuted sexual assault cases in Orange County, revealed that her firm had identified suspicious claims long before a Los Angeles Times investigation exposed the issue.
“This is plain fraud,” Thom said during a news conference. “For months, if not years before the LA Times exposed this story of false claims paid out by the county, we called out these claims openly numerous times in court.”
The $828 million settlement approved Tuesday follows an earlier $4 billion settlement involving approximately 11,000 claimants. The financial impact on the county has been severe, resulting in 3% budget cuts across many departments, reduced county services, and curtailed spending.
Both settlements stem from claims made possible by Assembly Bill 218, which temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases. The allegations against workers in the county’s Probation and Children and Family Services departments date back as far as 1959.
County officials have promised rigorous vetting of all claims. Every plaintiff will now be required to provide a “detailed, multi-page written factual summary, under penalty of perjury, of the alleged misconduct and resulting harms.”
“The system created by AB 218 is inherently vulnerable to fraud, but the county established fraud protections from the beginning of the settlement discussions and has now strengthened the review process,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger in a statement.
The controversy escalated after a Los Angeles Times investigation found evidence that some plaintiffs were allegedly paid by vendors to sue the county, with at least two cases involving fabricated claims. According to the report, the plaintiffs in question were represented by Downtown LA Law Group (DTLA), which had more than 2,700 cases in the abuse settlement.
DTLA has denied paying anyone to file lawsuits and stated that no firm representatives were authorized to offer money for claims. The firm told the Times it has hired an outside company to investigate possible false claims.
“The allegations in this story are extremely concerning and describe conduct that is contrary to our firm’s values,” DTLA said in a statement to the Times. “While we do not believe they are accurate, we are taking them seriously.”
At Wednesday’s news conference, Akelia Jefferson, described as the first plaintiff in the abuse case against the county, shared her experience of being sexually abused while at Camp Scott, a juvenile detention facility.
“I was sexually abused at the hands of a guard for years,” Jefferson said. “Yesterday’s settlement of our cases proves there are real victims, real trauma, and a real need for government to step up and protect the children of Los Angeles.”
Attorney Gregory Yates, who represented Jefferson, said her coming forward “opened the floodgates and gave voice to thousands of victims of childhood sexual abuse.” He described a systematic pattern of abuse within county facilities, claiming that probation officers would “lie in wait for each new crop” of children.
“And the probation officer with the most seniority would have his pick of the crop,” Yates alleged. “How much more craven and despicable and perverted can you get?”
Attorney John Manley expressed frustration with the Board of Supervisors’ handling of the situation, saying he watched Tuesday’s meeting “with dismay and horror and disgust.” He placed blame on “a 35-year failure of the county and the county Board of Supervisors past and present and the probation department and probation union.”
County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison condemned the alleged fraudulent practices in a statement: “The conduct alleged to have occurred by the DTLA firm is absolutely outrageous and must be investigated by the appropriate authorities. Not only does it undermine our justice system, it also deprives legitimate claimants of just compensation.”
County officials have indicated that plaintiffs suspected of submitting fraudulent claims will face additional scrutiny from an independent allocator. Those found to have submitted fraudulent claims will be removed from the settlement process and receive no compensation.
The scandal represents a complex challenge for Los Angeles County, balancing its obligation to compensate genuine victims while protecting taxpayers from potentially fraudulent claims in one of the largest abuse settlements in California history.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
16 Comments
This is a complex and sensitive issue that requires a nuanced approach. While fraudulent claims must be addressed, the focus should remain on ensuring that genuine victims receive the support and justice they deserve.
Absolutely, maintaining the integrity of the legal process and supporting legitimate victims should be the top priorities in this case.
The potential for fabricated sexual abuse claims to undermine the credibility of the legal system is deeply troubling. Thorough investigations and appropriate safeguards are crucial to maintain public trust.
I agree, it’s a delicate balance, but protecting the integrity of the legal process and supporting genuine victims should be the top priorities.
Attorneys calling for deeper investigations into potential fraudulent claims is concerning, but it’s important to ensure the integrity of the legal process. Thorough and impartial investigations are necessary to uphold justice.
This is a sensitive and complex issue that requires a balanced and nuanced approach. Allegations of fraud must be taken seriously, but not at the expense of discouraging real victims from seeking justice.
This is a difficult and sensitive issue that requires careful consideration. While fraudulent claims are unacceptable, we must also ensure that legitimate victims are not discouraged from seeking justice.
The financial impact on the county is significant, and it’s important to understand the root causes and address any systemic issues that may have enabled fraudulent claims. However, the focus should remain on supporting genuine victims.
I agree, the priority should be ensuring that legitimate victims receive the support and justice they deserve, while also implementing measures to prevent abuse of the system.
This is a complex and sensitive issue that requires thorough investigation. It’s important to ensure that victims receive justice while also protecting against fraudulent claims that undermine public trust.
I agree, the financial impact on the county is alarming and highlights the need for robust safeguards to prevent abuse of the system.
The financial impact on the county is concerning, but the focus should remain on ensuring that genuine victims receive the support and justice they deserve. Thorough investigations are necessary to address any systemic issues.
Agreed, the priority should be on supporting legitimate victims while also implementing robust measures to prevent abuse of the system.
Allegations of fabricated sexual abuse claims are deeply troubling and undermine the credibility of the legal system. However, we must be cautious not to dismiss or discourage real survivors from coming forward.
Fabricated claims undermine the credibility of legitimate victims seeking justice. However, we must be cautious not to dismiss or discourage real survivors from coming forward.
You raise a valid point. Finding the right balance between protecting victims and preventing fraud is crucial in these cases.