Los Angeles County agrees to an $828 million settlement on the heels of its $4 billion payout to sexual abuse survivors

20 October 2025

In what may be the largest such payout ever by a U.S. county, Los Angeles County has reached a tentative $828 million agreement to settle more than 400 additional claims alleging sexual abuse by county employees—continuing a wave of litigation that springs from decades-old abuse in juvenile and foster-care settings.

The deal comes just months after LA County approved a record-breaking $4 billion settlement covering some 11,000 claimants whose allegations dated back as far as 1959. Under the new arrangement, each new claimant will have their case assessed based on severity of harm, with awards likely to range from six-figures to multiple millions of dollars, according to county officials.

Of particular concern to county leaders is the integrity of the claims-filing process. Changes to California law in 2020 temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for childhood sexual-abuse victims, creating a flood of lawsuits. Now investigators say the system is vulnerable to abuse: a Los Angeles Times investigation uncovered at least four plaintiffs in the earlier settlement who admitted they were paid to file false claims—according to county leaders, alarming evidence of emerging fraud.

As a result the county has announced a vastly strengthened vetting regime. Every claimant must now file a detailed summary of abuse under penalty of perjury, and those linked to a particular law firm—Downtown L.A. Law Group (DTLA)—will face heightened scrutiny including interviews and proof-gathering. DTLA denies any misconduct but has agreed to cooperate with review procedures. Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger acknowledged that “the system is vulnerable to fraud” and stressed that taxpayer funds must be protected while survivors are compensated.

The financial implication for the county—and indeed for public services—is severe. The two settlement rounds could cover up to 14,000 claims, and the total payout burden will stretch over decades, with annual payments rising through at least 2050. The added $828 million comes amid budget pressures already exacerbated by costly wildfires and other liabilities in recent years.

But for survivors the settlement offers both relief and frustration. While financial compensation addresses part of the harm, many say it cannot erase years of trauma, institutional failure and delay. Advocates point to the need for broader reforms: independent investigations, systemic changes at county facilities, improved oversight and the risk of further victims going unheard.

Among the proposed reforms: a new child-abuse hotline, improved screening of foster-care and juvenile-hall workers, and more transparency around future claims. County officials say these are essential to restoring trust and preventing recurrence.

What this settlement ultimately underscores is the cost of institutional neglect, legal reform and the shifting landscape of civil-justice claims. The temporary removal of filing deadlines opened the door for survivors—but also for critics who say the process lacked enough safeguards. For Los Angeles County the challenge now is balancing compassion for victims with the fiscal reality of large-scale payouts and the need to ensure legitimacy.

As board approval remains pending, the agreement must still clear the Claims Board and the Board of Supervisors. Should it pass, it will mark yet another chapter in one of the largest compensation efforts for abuse ever undertaken by a local government. For survivors the hoped-for outcome is recognition, accountability and a path forward; for citizens the pressing questions now are how the funds will be distributed, how future claims will be handled and how public services might be reshaped under the weight of these expenditures.