Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced a criminal investigation into potentially fraudulent sex abuse claims against Los Angeles County, including claims under the $4 billion settlement with Los Angeles County approved in April – the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history. This includes fraud potentially committed by claimants, lawyers, recruiters, and doctors.

“False reporting of sexual abuse undermines our entire justice system and is a grave disservice to actual victims who have already suffered unspeakable trauma,” said District Attorney Hochman. “My Office is taking the allegations seriously that some individuals were paid cash to have law firms file false sexual abuse claims against the County. This is criminal conduct that abuses the law and steals from victims and taxpayers. I thank the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for their unwavering support of victims of childhood sexual abuse and their commitment to work with and provide resources to my Office and law enforcement to bring any and all fraudsters to justice. My Office unequivocally stands with survivors, not greedy opportunists who profit from others’ pain.”

California Assembly Bill 218, which went into effect in 2020, extended the time to file civil lawsuits to recover damages for sexual abuse during childhood. The County is facing a total of more than 14,000 claims, alleging childhood sexual abuse in County juvenile probation and foster care facilities dating back to 1959.

On April 4, 2025, the County announced a $4 billion settlement with a reported 6,800 claimants. On April 29, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the settlement, the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history. After the settlement was announced, thousands of people filed claims, now totaling more than 11,000.

On Oct. 17, 2025, Los Angeles County reached a tentative $828 million settlement of more than 400 cases. The County is facing an estimated 2,500 additional cases, for a total of more than 14,000 claims — a figure that is expected to rise and represents potentially billions of dollars of liability against the County

If you filed a false claim or have information about false claims, please call LA County’s AB 218 Fraud Hotline at (844) 901-0001 or visit fraud.lacounty.gov/ab218 to report the fraud. Reports are confidential and you may remain anonymous.