$4 Billion Deal in LA County's Juvenile Abuse Cases Sets Historic Benchmark

Los Angeles County has reached a tentative $4 billion agreement to settle approximately 7,000 claims of sexual abuse connected to its juvenile detention centers and foster care programs. If approved by the county's Board of Supervisors, the deal will be paid out in installments over five years, marking what is believed to be the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.

The cases primarily stem from incidents that occurred between the 1980s and early 2000s, including abuse at various juvenile halls and the now-defunct MacLaren Children's Center, once a central facility for children in foster care. This agreement resolves the bulk of lawsuits filed under California Assembly Bill 218, a law that temporarily extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims and triggered a wave of litigation across the state.

In a statement issued Friday, LA County Chief Executive Officer Fesia Davenport expressed regret on behalf of the county, stating, “I apologize wholeheartedly to everyone who was harmed by these reprehensible acts. The historic scope of this settlement makes clear that we are committed to helping the survivors recover and rebuild their lives — and to making and enforcing the systemic changes needed to keep young people safe.”

Scope and Historical Significance

According to Adam Slater of Slater Slater Schulman LLP, which represents more than 3,500 of the claimants, the settlement eclipses all previous abuse-related settlements, including the Boy Scouts of America's $2.46 billion deal. Slater noted, “This settlement marks a fundamental acknowledgment by the county of Los Angeles for the profound harm it inflicted. The settlement size is reflective of the enormous number of victims and the tragedy and horrors that they suffered as a result of the neglect of LA County.”

Despite its scale, the agreement does not resolve all outstanding litigation. Some cases remain active, including those brought by survivors represented by Manly Stewart & Finaldi, which is not part of the settlement. Attorney John Manly confirmed that his firm continues to pursue claims independently of the county’s agreement.

Legal Context and Broader Impact

The legal grounds for the wave of lawsuits stem from A.B. 218, a California law passed in 2019 that extended the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The bill created a three-year window during which previously time-barred claims could be filed, leading to a surge in cases not only against Los Angeles County but also against school districts and religious institutions across the state.

This legal opening has had sweeping consequences. In 2023, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to an $880 million settlement to resolve similar abuse claims involving clergy members. Other dioceses, including San Francisco and Sacramento, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid mounting liabilities tied to their own abuse cases.

Avoiding Fiscal Collapse

In contrast to other institutions that sought bankruptcy as a strategy to manage legal exposure, Los Angeles County structured its $4 billion settlement to avoid such proceedings. By spreading payments over five years, the county intends to fulfill its financial obligations without compromising operational stability or triggering insolvency.

“By structuring the settlement payouts over five years, Los Angeles County has ensured that justice is served in a way that remains fiscally responsible,” said Todd Becker of the Becker Law Group in a press release. “This approach provides survivors with the compensation they deserve while allowing the county to maintain control, manage its financial exposure, and meet clear benchmarks along a well-defined timeline.”

What’s Next

The settlement still awaits final approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. If ratified, it will initiate a multiyear compensation process for thousands of survivors, many of whom have waited decades for recognition and redress. At the same time, the county has pledged to continue implementing systemic reforms to prevent future abuse and improve oversight within its youth services programs.

This unprecedented legal resolution not only provides a measure of justice to the victims but also signals a broader cultural and institutional reckoning over decades of ignored or mishandled allegations of abuse within public systems tasked with protecting vulnerable children.