Los Angeles County has agreed to a $4 billion settlement to resolve nearly 7,000 claims of child sexual abuse linked to its foster care homes and juvenile facilities.
The historic payout comes after decades of allegations by survivors who say they were abused by staff in institutions that were supposed to protect them.
The settlement, approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, is the largest of its kind in the county’s history. Many of the abuse claims are tied to MacLaren Children’s Center, a shelter that operated until 2003. Survivors report a range of disturbing experiences, including physical and sexual abuse carried out by employees who were sometimes hired without proper background checks.
The abuse is said to have spanned from as far back as 1959 through the early 2000s, with the most claims emerging from the 1980s and 1990s. Former residents of these facilities have shared stories of trauma, describing how staff members would enter dorm rooms at night and assault them. Some of the workers had prior convictions for serious crimes, raising concerns about how they were ever allowed near children.
The legal breakthrough was made possible by a California law passed in 2020. This law reopened the window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits, even if the alleged crimes happened decades ago. The change led to thousands of new claims being filed against the county.
Though most of the victims have accepted the settlement, a small number have chosen to continue pursuing individual legal action. Two of the cases have also been referred to the district attorney for possible criminal prosecution.
Los Angeles County officials have publicly apologized to survivors, acknowledging that the system failed those it was supposed to protect. The county’s chief executive called the abuse “reprehensible” and promised to implement long-term reforms aimed at keeping vulnerable children safe in the future.
The financial impact of the settlement is expected to be significant. Officials plan to distribute the $4 billion over a five-year period to prevent overwhelming the county’s budget. Leaders say the goal is to support victims while also preserving essential services.
This agreement surpasses the previous largest settlement in the US related to child abuse—the $2.4 billion payout made by the Boy Scouts of America in 2022. For many survivors in Los Angeles, this new settlement marks a long-awaited recognition of the pain they endured and a step toward healing.