Los Angeles County has made a significant decision this week by approving a $4 billion settlement to address nearly 7,000 claims of sexual abuse that occurred in juvenile facilities since 1959. This agreement, reached on April 4, marks one of the largest payouts for sexual abuse claims in U.S. history, surpassing a previous $2.6 billion settlement with the Boy Scouts of America in 2022.
The county’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of this settlement, which resolves lawsuits from thousands of individuals who reported mistreatment and sexual abuse while in foster care and juvenile detention. The ability to file these claims was made possible by a California law enacted in 2020 that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse victims, allowing them to seek justice for three years.
Adam Slater, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, expressed that while no amount of money can undo the suffering these individuals experienced, the settlement acknowledges the deep harm done to many children over the years.
A significant number of the claims stem from incidents at the MacLaren Children’s Center, a facility that closed in 2003. Originally opened in 1961, MacLaren was supposed to be a safe haven for children awaiting foster care placement. However, it was overseen by probation officials and later came under the Department of Children and Family Services in 1976. Reports from plaintiffs detail horrific experiences, including sexual abuse by staff, solitary confinement, and being restrained.
Fesia Davenport, the county’s chief executive, publicly apologized for the harm caused to those affected, calling the actions described in the claims "reprehensible."
This decision comes at a challenging time for Los Angeles County, which has a population of about 10 million and is grappling with financial pressures on its $49 billion annual budget. The settlement highlights the ongoing struggle for accountability and support for victims of abuse, particularly within systems meant to protect vulnerable children.