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A wave of potentially fraudulent sexual abuse claims is now under investigation by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, following the county’s historic $4 billion settlement with thousands of alleged victims.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the investigation Wednesday during a press conference, stating that his office is examining hundreds of suspicious claims that may have been falsely filed against the county.
“With respect to these fraudsters, and we estimated that there are a significant number of fraudsters involved in these fraudulent settlement claims, we’re going to go after them,” Hochman said. “We’re going to go after them aggressively. We’re going to go after them to put them behind bars, and we’re going to go after them to send a message… that you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be punished.”
According to Hochman, the surge in potentially fraudulent claims began after Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 218 in October 2019. This legislation significantly extended the statute of limitations for reporting child sexual abuse crimes, giving victims additional years to process and report their experiences.
The bill’s passage opened the floodgates for thousands of new claims across Los Angeles County. Many of these accusations targeted county employees who had worked in the juvenile probation system, with allegations dating as far back as 1959. The majority of claims, however, concerned alleged incidents from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.
On April 4, 2023, the county announced a landmark $4 billion settlement with approximately 6,800 claimants, marking the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history. Following the announcement, thousands more claims were filed. Just last month, an additional $828 million settlement was approved.
The DA’s Office reports that the total number of claims has now reached 14,000, with prosecutors expecting that figure—and the associated financial liability—to continue rising.
Hochman expressed concern that opportunists are exploiting the extended statute of limitations, particularly because many records from decades ago have been destroyed, making verification difficult. The district attorney specifically mentioned law firms that may have paid individuals to submit false sexual abuse claims against the county.
“This is criminal conduct that abuses the law and steals from victims and taxpayers,” Hochman stated. “I thank the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for their unwavering support of victims of childhood sexual abuse and their commitment to work with and provide resources to my Office and law enforcement to bring any and all fraudsters to justice. My Office unequivocally stands with survivors, not greedy opportunists who profit from others’ pain.”
The investigation highlights the complex balance between expanding access to justice for genuine victims and preventing exploitation of systems designed to help them. AB 218 was originally celebrated as a victory for survivors who often require years or decades to process childhood trauma before coming forward. The bill not only extended the statute of limitations but also opened a three-year “lookback window” allowing previously time-barred claims to proceed.
Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention system has long faced allegations of systemic abuse. The massive settlements acknowledge decades of institutional failures that left vulnerable young people in the care of abusers. For genuine victims, the settlements represent belated acknowledgment of suffering and provide financial resources for ongoing therapy and recovery.
However, the scale of the settlements—now approaching $5 billion—places enormous pressure on county finances, potentially affecting services for current residents. This financial pressure makes verifying the legitimacy of each claim particularly important.
When contacted for comment, Governor Newsom’s office told CBS Los Angeles it would respond if it had “anything to add.”
The district attorney has not yet disclosed how many claims are suspected to be fraudulent or provided a timeline for completing the investigation.
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6 Comments
This situation highlights the complexities of handling sensitive abuse cases, where the rights of both victims and the accused must be carefully balanced. A thorough and fair investigation is essential.
Agreed. Striking that balance is never easy, but it’s vital to ensure justice is served for all parties involved.
While the extension of the statute of limitations was well-intentioned, it seems to have opened the door for potential abuse. Rigorous vetting of claims is necessary to protect the system’s credibility.
Investigating false claims is crucial to upholding the integrity of the legal system and protecting legitimate victims. I hope the DA’s office can get to the bottom of this and bring any fraudsters to justice.
This is a concerning development, as false accusations can have devastating consequences for those wrongly accused. Thorough investigations are crucial to upholding the rule of law.
Fraudulent claims can undermine public trust and divert resources away from legitimate victims. I hope the DA’s office is able to identify and prosecute any bad actors in this case.