Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has alleged that 81 percent of claims in a $4 billion settlement for sex abuse victims, the largest in US history, may be fraudulent. Hochman urged a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to stop payments until Dec. 31 amid an ongoing criminal investigation launched in November last year, according to a motion filed on Thursday.
District Attorney's Allegations
The District Attorney's Office believes the percentage of fraudulent claims in the related lawsuits seeking funds from this settlement may be as high as 81 percent, Hochman's office wrote in the court papers. Hochman added that he filed the application with the interests of the real victims in mind, stating that this intervention is critical to safeguarding the rights of legitimate child abuse survivors and preserving the integrity of the settlement process.
Accountability for Fraudulent Claims
Hochman emphasized that the intervention will help ensure that individuals who have allegedly filed fraudulent claims are held accountable for exploiting the horrific abuse and trauma experienced by genuine survivors. A hearing is set to take place on Monday at 8:30 a.m. at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles.
Background of the Settlement
Hochman filed the motion one year after the LA County Board of Supervisors chiefs agreed to pay out to more than 11,000 claims of sexual abuse from victims previously in custody at juvenile halls, foster homes, and children's shelters. The agreement reached in April 2025 surpassed the $2.6 billion sexual abuse settlement reached with the Boy Scouts of America in 2022.
Timeline and Scope of Abuse
The claims relate to abuse allegations dating back to 1959, but the majority of cases range between the 1980s and 2000s, according to Los Angeles County officials. The sexual abuse is alleged to have taken place at Probation Department facilities and the now-closed MacLaren's Children's Center. Victims were able to sue because of a law that came into force in 2020, which suspended the statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse victims to bring cases for three years.
Reactions from Attorneys
Adam Slater, an attorney for one of the plaintiffs, said that while no amount of money can erase the horrors that they endured, this agreement acknowledges the profound harm inflicted on thousands of children over the course of decades. Patrick McNicholas, who represents 1,200 plaintiffs, told NBC LA that these people are living with a lifelong injury that will never heal, and this is a chance for them to be recognized, to obtain some closure, and hopefully to move forward.
Controversy Over Settlement Costs
But the settlement's total sparked controversy after it emerged Los Angeles County officials would pay the vast sum. Kathryn Barger, a LA County Supervisor, claimed the settlement's expense affected the government's ability to negotiate labor contracts. Hochman opened the criminal investigation in November last year after claiming there was a rise in potential fraudulent claims as a result of the statute of limitations being expanded.
Statement from the District Attorney
Hochman said in November last year, announcing the criminal probe, that false reporting of sexual abuse undermines the entire justice system and is a grave disservice to actual victims who have already suffered unspeakable trauma. He stated that his office is taking the allegations seriously that some individuals were paid cash to have law firms file false sexual abuse claims against the County, calling this criminal conduct that abuses the law and steals from victims and taxpayers. He concluded that his office unequivocally stands with survivors, not greedy opportunists who profit from others' pain.
