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Most cases dating back to 1959, subject to the proposed settlement, date back to the 1980s, 1990s and 2000. They include allegations of abuse at the Los Angeles County Department of Probation Center and the McClallen Children’s Center. If approved, it would be the most expensive financial settlement in Los Angeles County history.
Los Angeles County has reached a historic $4 billion interim agreement to resolve more than 6,800 sexual abuse cases decades ago.
If approved, the interim agreement considered by the Claims Board and the County-wide Board of Supervisors will be the most expensive financial settlement in Los Angeles County history.
“On behalf of the county, I sincerely apologize to everyone who harmed these reprehensible conduct,” said CEO Fecia Davenport. “The historical scope of this settlement reveals that we are committed to helping survivors recover and rebuild their lives.
Most cases dating back to 1959, subject to the proposed settlement, date back to the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and involve allegations of abuse at the Los Angeles County Department of Probation Center and the McClallen Children’s Center. McClallane was closed in 2003.
The investigation continued, and two cases were filed with the county prosecutors to consider the charges.
The interim agreement will settle most of the claims filed against the county under AB 218. State laws in 2020 have waived the restrictions on such cases and provided a three-year window that allows victims of childhood sexual abuse to take action.
The cost of the settlement has a major impact on the county’s finances for decades. Settlement payments include funds from reserve funds, issuance of judgment obligation debts, and proposals to reduce the department’s budget.
The county said it expects to continue through fiscal year 2030 with significant annual payments continuing through 2030, with a total of hundreds of millions of dollars in annual payments by 2030.
An independent team of allocation experts will determine how money is distributed.
The Requests Committee will consider the proposal for April 7th. If approved, the contract will take place before the entire Supervisory Board of Directors on April 29th.
The attorneys representing many of the claimants have issued a statement long postponing the interim settlement.
“This groundbreaking settlement represents the restorative justice of the victims. Restorative justice is a social perception that a terrible mistake has been made and compensation has been justified,” co-lead lawyer Patrick McNicholas said in a statement. “It exists as evidence of the resilience of survivors, the importance of being responsible, and the power of cooperation in fostering meaningful change. By balancing victims’ justice with their commitment to reform, this resolution guarantees both acknowledgement of past mistakes and a path to a safer, more compromised future.”
The lawyers alleged that some victims of abuse and torture were threatened by increased detention times if they failed to comply.
The county said operational changes have been made in recent years to combat sexual abuse at probation facilities. The following changes have been developed, according to the county:
Create a countywide hotline to report allegations of child sexual abuse against county employees. Development of systems for rapid investigation and independent review by external experts. Strengthening the county’s zero-tolerance policy, if any child sexual abuse allegations committed by an employee are demonstrated, the county will “sue immediately to the fullest extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, termination and referral to law enforcement.” It is intended to require the county department to provide notification to new employees and applicants of the Zero Tolerance Policy, and to discipline to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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