L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES $4 BILLION SETTLEMENT FOR VICTIMS OF SYSTEMIC SEXUAL ABUSE AT JUVENILE HALLS

Settlement to be paid over five years, balancing compensation for victims with fiscal stability for L.A. County; largest-ever resolution against a municipality for sexual abuse claims. 

LOS ANGELES (April 29, 2025) – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a historic $4 billion settlement between Los Angeles County and more than 7,000 victims of systemic sexual abuse at its juvenile detention facilities. The resolution of these sexual abuse claims represents a step toward RESTORATIVE JUSTICE for victims, who were children and predominantly youth of color, many of whom were in foster care enduring decades of abuse under a system meant to protect them. This resolution reflects the County’s responsibility to protect public safety and health while balancing fiscal responsibility — goals that are not mutually exclusive. Yet significant remedial steps remain for the County to undertake to ensure that today’s children in its care never experience this type of systemic abuse. A majority of the plaintiffs are represented by ACTS Law, Becker Law Group, Boucher LLP, Herman Law, McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP and Slater Slater Schulman LLP.

“This landmark settlement represents restorative justice for victims. Restorative justice is a societal recognition that a horrible wrong has been committed and compensation is justified,” said co-lead attorney Patrick McNicholas with McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP.  “It delivers long-overdue accountability, puts safeguards in place to prevent such failures in the future and ensures the county’s financial stability through a five-year distribution plan.”

“When our firm filed some of the earliest complaints three years ago, we knew the abuse they described was horrific, traumatic and widespread, but we truly had no idea about the magnitude of Los Angeles’ institutional sexual abuse problem until we began investigating and other survivors came forward,” stated co-lead attorney Adam Slater of Slater Slater Schulman LLP. “While no amount of money can erase the horrors that they endured, this agreement acknowledges the profound harm inflicted on thousands of children over the course of decades. But sadly, the problems at youth facilities are not restricted to Los Angeles — other cities and states need to right these historic wrongs.”

“The plaintiffs in this case, most of whom were children at the time of abuse, were subjected to horrific and unimaginable abuse by the very people who were entrusted to protect them,” said attorney Todd Becker of Becker Law Group. “Throughout this case, our strategy was guided by the victims themselves, with the primary goal being to help them find a sense of closure. Their perseverance in reaching this settlement is a testament to their courage and strength.”

“Most of these survivors have carried the burden of repeated sexual assaults in silence, unable or afraid to speak to anyone about it. The opening of the statute helped bring sunshine to decades of darkness for survivors suffering since childhood. It has, and will, save the lives of many survivors who had no place to turn. This resolution will bring closure and a sense of vindication for the shame and humiliation they have suffered. While the ultimate settlement number is significant, it can never bring full justice to the victims. Negotiations took place over many months and, despite the size of the settlement, the parties ensured no impact on public services would be expected,” said attorney Ray Boucher of Boucher LLP. 

“This crisis was the direct result of decades of institutional failures to protect the most vulnerable. Those failures imposed lifelong harm on countless individuals. This settlement is a necessary step toward righting those wrongs and reflects Los Angeles County’s commitment to accountability, justice and healing,” said attorney Boris Treyzon of ACTS Law.

“We recognize that the financial magnitude of this resolution draws public scrutiny. It should. The size of the settlement mirrors the scale of the injustice and the seriousness with which the County now accepts its responsibility. Difficult decisions like these define leadership. Healing historic harm is not optional — it is an obligation. In the end, this settlement is about more than numbers. It is about courage, responsibility and a solemn promise to the victims: you have been heard, you have been recognized, and you will be made whole,” explained attorney Danny Abir with ACTS Law. 

“This settlement, by our California team of lawyers, delivers long-overdue justice to thousands of brave survivors while balancing the need to ensure the county fulfills its responsibility without jeopardizing vital public services,” said Jeff Herman, Esq., founding attorney with Herman Law. 

Background Information

The first two plaintiffs filed their lawsuit in 2021 alleging they were sexually abused as children while residing at MacLaren Children’s Center (“MacLaren Hall”), a notorious temporary placement shelter for foster children that the County of Los Angeles operated for more than four decades in the City of El Monte. In December the following year, a complaint was filed on behalf of 1,200 plaintiffs who were mistreated, tortured and sexually abused while housed at Los Angeles County juvenile probation halls and camps. Collectively, these complaints alleged that county staff used their positions of trust and authority to sexually abuse minors in their care, often threatening to add more time to their detention if they did not comply. 

Importantly, the complaints alleged that Los Angeles County and supervisory employees were repeatedly informed about the sexual abuse and harassment occurring in county facilities, yet they failed to do anything in response. Instead, the defendants created an environment that covered up and harbored serial abusers while maintaining a facade of normalcy. 

In 2006, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated a two-year investigation into Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention centers. The DOJ concluded that there was a systemic failure to protect youth from harm by staff. Disturbingly, only four percent of staff had received formal training in child abuse within the last two years at the time the DOJ’s findings were released.

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ACTS Law is a full-service litigation firm committed to protecting the rights of individuals and businesses in catastrophic injury, sexual abuse, insurance bad faith and complex commercial disputes. With a client-first approach and extensive trial experience, ACTS Law delivers results while pursuing justice for its clients.
ACTS Law
16001 Ventura Blvd #200
Encino, CA 91436
Phone: 833-982-3714
www.actslaw.com 

Becker Law Group, based in Pasadena, California, specializes in complex litigation, including catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, sexual abuse and civil rights cases. Known for its compassionate advocacy and dedication to achieving justice for clients, the firm brings decades of experience to each case it handles.
Becker Law Group

Boucher LLP is a leading litigation firm based in Woodland Hills, California, that focuses on representing plaintiffs in complex and class action lawsuits. The firm handles cases involving sexual abuse, consumer protection, catastrophic injury, product liability and civil rights, delivering compassionate representation and substantial results.
Boucher LLP

Herman Law is a nationally recognized law firm dedicated exclusively to representing victims of sexual abuse. The firm provides compassionate, aggressive advocacy to help survivors seek justice and accountability through the legal system.​
Herman Law

McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP, a Los Angeles-based plaintiff’s trial law firm, represents clients in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, employment law, class actions, sexual abuse and other consumer-oriented matters such as civil rights, aviation disasters and product liability. Founded by a family of attorneys spanning three generations, McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP has been trying cases to jury verdict on behalf of its clients for more than five decades.
McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP

Slater Slater Schulman LLP is a leading, full-service law firm with decades of experience representing survivors of traumatic and catastrophic events. The dedicated attorneys in its Los Angeles office have considerable experience with complex, historical sexual abuse cases involving massive institutions, including academic, religious and youth organizations.
Slater Slater Schulman LLP