Los Angeles County finalizes record-breaking $4-billion sex abuse settlement, top in U.S. annals.
LA County Pays a Staggering $4 Billion for Child Abuse Scandal
In an unprecedented move, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently agreed to fork over $4 billion to victims of sexual abuse that occurred in county-run juvenile facilities and foster homes. This record-breaking settlement is the largest of its kind in U.S. history.
The decision marks the culmination of years of relentless advocacy by victims, who had long demanded justice for the heinous abuses they suffered under the county's watch. As many as 7,000 claims - most spanning the '80s through the '00s - were included in this monumental settlement.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger voiced her outrage, stating, "It’s enraging and sickening to think that those entrusted to protect the most vulnerable were the ones causing such harm."
Often portrayed as a haven for predators, LA County's juvenile facilities turned out to be hunting grounds for abusers, with few consequences for staff who exploited vulnerable children.
Adam Slater, a lead attorney for the plaintiffs, believes this settlement will provide some closure for victims, enabling them to move forward with their lives.
Comparatively, other high-profile sex abuse settlements pale in comparison. The Boy Scouts reached a $2.46 billion settlement, while the Archdiocese of Los Angeles paid out approximately $1.5 billion, and USC gynecologist George Tyndall's victims received $1.1 billion. Michigan State University, too, paid $500 million to Larry Nassar's victims.
LA County officials revealed that they plan to finance the settlement by taking out bonds and draining the rainy day fund. All settlement funds will be distributed to victims within five years, with the county anticipating bond payments for the next 25 years.
"Hundreds of millions of dollars that could have been spent on community services, parks, libraries, and beaches will now be tied up in repaying this debt until 2050," remarked LA County Chief Executive Fesia Davenport.
To prevent future abuse, the county has stepped up efforts such as bolstering the screening of foster parents and probation staffers, phasing out group homes, and making it easier to fire workers credibly accused of sexual abuse. Supervisors have also proposed tying department heads' salaries to their ability to curb alleged abuse.
On the first day of a two-day strike by 55,000 county workers, the historic settlement was officially approved, with 4 votes in favor and 1 abstention. As the county grapples with the settlement and ongoing financial pressures, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the future of its residents and services.
Worth Noting:
- Jimmy Vigil, a mental health case manager, brought light to the deep-rooted abuse issue after sharing his own experiences of abuse at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and the subsequent punishment for speaking out.
- Maryland lawmakers are working to limit future liabilities amidst thousands of sexual abuse claims, demonstrating the widespread nature of this issue across the U.S.
- The settlement was made possible by Assembly Bill 218, a 2020 state law that extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse victims. This opened the floodgates for an avalanche of litigation against LA County and its publicly-run institutions.
- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has agreed to pay a record-breaking $4 billion in a settlement pertaining to child abuse cases in county-run juvenile facilities and foster homes, which is the largest of its kind in U.S. history.
- This settlement, covering around 7,000 claims spanning several decades, is a culmination of years of advocacy for justice by victims of the heinous abuses they suffered.
- Supervisor Kathryn Barger expressed her frustration, stating it is sickening that those entrusted to protect the vulnerable were the ones causing harm in Los Angeles County.
- The settlement is being financed by taking out bonds and draining the rainy day fund, with all funds to be distributed to victims within five years.
- In an attempt to prevent future abuse, bolstered efforts include screening of foster parents, probation staffers, phasing out group homes, and easier firing of workers credibly accused of sexual abuse.
- Reportedly, department heads' salaries are proposed to be tied to their ability to curb alleged abuse in the county.
- Maryland lawmakers are also working on legislation to limit future liabilities amidst an influx of sexual abuse claims, highlighting the widespread nature of this issue across the U.S.
