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Los Angeles County Settles for $828M to Compensate Victims of Sexual Abuse, Amidst Ongoing Investigation into Fraudulent Claims.
A Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting ended without approval for a proposed settlement worth nearly $1 billion, bringing the city closer to paying out thousands of claims related to sexual abuse in juvenile facilities dating back decades. The total cost could surpass $4 billion if the board ultimately approves both proposed settlements.
The county reached an agreement with lawyers representing over 400 victims who claim they suffered abuse while being cared for by the county's social services department or after it placed them in foster care and juvenile detention facilities. Under this latest settlement, individual awards would be decided based on factors including severity of alleged abuse.
Los Angeles County has been dealing with a number of sexual abuse scandals in recent years. The county approved a historic $4 billion settlement in April for allegations dating back to the 1950s. This is the largest such deal in US history and includes payments ranging from $100,000 to $3 million per victim.
As part of this settlement, officials said that claims brought by the law firm Downtown LA Law Group will be scrutinized more closely than usual. Investigators have already uncovered evidence that some people received money for filing claims, including nine plaintiffs who were paid for their lawsuits and four others who made fraudulent claims.
In response to these developments, Los Angeles County has established new safeguards to prevent abuse and respond quickly if it occurs, including a hotline for reporting child sexual abuse allegations against county employees.
A Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting ended without approval for a proposed settlement worth nearly $1 billion, bringing the city closer to paying out thousands of claims related to sexual abuse in juvenile facilities dating back decades. The total cost could surpass $4 billion if the board ultimately approves both proposed settlements.
The county reached an agreement with lawyers representing over 400 victims who claim they suffered abuse while being cared for by the county's social services department or after it placed them in foster care and juvenile detention facilities. Under this latest settlement, individual awards would be decided based on factors including severity of alleged abuse.
Los Angeles County has been dealing with a number of sexual abuse scandals in recent years. The county approved a historic $4 billion settlement in April for allegations dating back to the 1950s. This is the largest such deal in US history and includes payments ranging from $100,000 to $3 million per victim.
As part of this settlement, officials said that claims brought by the law firm Downtown LA Law Group will be scrutinized more closely than usual. Investigators have already uncovered evidence that some people received money for filing claims, including nine plaintiffs who were paid for their lawsuits and four others who made fraudulent claims.
In response to these developments, Los Angeles County has established new safeguards to prevent abuse and respond quickly if it occurs, including a hotline for reporting child sexual abuse allegations against county employees.