L.A. County Approves $828 Million for 414 Abuse Claims, Pushing Payouts Near $5 Billion
The vote launches a funding plan with stricter fraud safeguards following reports that some plaintiffs were paid to sue.
Overview
- The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to resolve 414 AB 218 cases involving alleged abuse in county probation and child welfare systems.
- County finance officials will transfer $400 million from the Provisional Financing Uses fund for a first payment due Dec. 1, with the remainder budgeted through the Judgment and Damages fund over several years.
- All claims will face enhanced review including sworn multi-page summaries under penalty of perjury, potential hearings before an independent allocator, and newly permitted county interviews with claimants.
- A third tier of scrutiny will apply to cases linked to Downtown LA Law Group or to plaintiffs who reported recruiter involvement, as county attorneys investigate alleged paid sign-ups the firm denies.
- Roughly 2,500 additional AB 218 cases remain to be decided, and officials say prevention measures are underway, including a dedicated reporting hotline expected by the end of the year.