“The credibility of every individual claim will be reviewed,” the county said. “Plaintiffs determined to have submitted fraudulent claims will receive no money from the settlement.”
Fraud Safeguards Tightened Amid Ongoing Probe
The announcement comes as the county continues to investigate fraud allegations surrounding the earlier $4 billion settlement, following a Los Angeles Times report that the Downtown L.A. Law Group allegedly paid individuals to file false abuse claims. On October 7, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to launch an independent investigation into the matter.
Board Chair Kathryn Barger said the county has strengthened its fraud prevention protocols to ensure funds go only to legitimate victims.
“Our settlements balance our obligation to compensate victims and treat their experiences with compassion with the need to protect taxpayers from fraud,” Barger said. “The system created by A.B. 218 is inherently vulnerable to fraud, but the county established protections from the beginning and has now strengthened them.”
Under the new procedures, each claimant must submit a multi-page, sworn statement under penalty of perjury detailing the alleged misconduct and its impact. Cases flagged for potential fraud will undergo independent review by retired judges, and any claims handled by Downtown L.A. Law Group will face additional scrutiny, which could include interviews and requests for corroborating evidence.
The county also said it will refer any attorneys suspected of client solicitation through payments to the California State Bar for potential disciplinary action.
