Abused in an LA County juvenile hall, foster care or MacLaren Children's Center?
If you were hurt as a child in Los Angeles County's care, in a juvenile hall, probation camp, foster placement or MacLaren Children's Center, you may have wondered what the County's settlements mean for you. This page explains what they were, what they were not, and how California law may still apply to some survivors.
What the County's settlements were
On April 29, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $4 billion settlement of childhood sexual abuse claims against the County. When it was announced, it covered more than 6,800 claims, many of them involving MacLaren Children's Center and County Probation Department facilities, with some dating back decades.
In October 2025, the Board approved an additional $828 million settlement covering roughly 400 more claims involving County Probation and Children and Family Services workers.
Both settlements resolve claims that had already been filed, largely under a California law called AB 218. That law opened a three-year window for older childhood sexual abuse claims, and that window closed on December 31, 2022.
What that means for you
These settlements are not open programs that new people can sign up for. If you did not already have a claim on file, you cannot simply join them.
That does not automatically mean you are out of options. The question becomes whether California law, as it reads today, allows your claim. A lawyer has to evaluate that case by case.
California's time limits, in general terms
California's statute for childhood sexual assault claims is Code of Civil Procedure section 340.1. In general terms:
Abuse on or after January 1, 2024. Under AB 452, the statute sets no time limit to file a civil claim for childhood sexual assault that happened on or after January 1, 2024.
Abuse before 2024. Older claims are still subject to time limits. In general, a claim must be filed within 22 years after the survivor turned 18, or within 3 years after the survivor discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, that a later psychological injury was caused by the abuse, whichever is later. A 2026 law, SB 577, shortened that discovery period from 5 years to 3 and added a higher burden of proof and other requirements for survivors 40 or older who sue a public entity, such as a county.
There are exceptions, and special rules for claims against government agencies. Do not calculate your own deadline from a webpage. Talk to a lawyer before deciding it is too late.
What a confidential review looks like
A first conversation is private, and you set the pace. A review typically covers where and when you were in County care, what happened in general terms, what records may exist, and whether California's time limits may allow a claim. There is no obligation to move forward.
Claims against the County are reviewed carefully, so honest and accurate information matters from the very first conversation.
Please keep the details out of forms
A name, a phone number and a good time to call is enough. Please do not put details about what happened in a web form, email or text.
Frequently asked questions
Can I join the $4 billion or $828 million settlement now?
No. Those settlements resolve claims that were already filed, largely during the AB 218 window that closed on December 31, 2022. New claimants cannot simply join them. Whether you may have a separate claim under current law depends on your facts and needs a lawyer's review.
The abuse happened years ago. Is it too late?
Not necessarily, but time limits apply to abuse that happened before 2024, and California changed some of those rules in 2026. A lawyer has to look at your age, when the abuse happened, and when you came to understand the harm.
What if the abuse happened after January 1, 2024?
Under AB 452, California's statute sets no time limit for civil claims of childhood sexual assault that happened on or after January 1, 2024. Other requirements can still apply, so a lawyer should review the case.
Will my name become public?
Privacy matters in these cases. Depending on the type of claim, there may be ways to protect a survivor's identity in court filings. Ask about it during your confidential review.
Frank Stucki, Esq., MBA is licensed in California, Nevada, Washington and Utah; cases in other states are handled with local co-counsel licensed there.
Attorney Advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Settlements described here do not predict the outcome of any other case.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911.