LA County last year agreed to pay a record $4 billion to settle thousands of claimsof sexual abuse in county-run juvenile facilities and foster homes. Recently, nine people told the Los Angeles Times they were paid to sue, and one man said a false abuse claimwas filed without his consent. There are many perspectives on the controversy. This is from unions representing workers. One from a child advocate is here.
A recent report by The Los Angeles Times raised concerns about potentially false claims tied to Los Angeles County’s $4 billion sexual abuse settlement. It should serve as a wake-up call for state leaders.
This is not simply a local issue.
Los Angeles County is a political subdivision of the state of California and receives substantial state funding to operate its juvenile and adult justice systems. When failures of this magnitude occur, the state not only has the authority to act, it has the responsibility.
AFSCME Local 685 and Teamsters Local 986 represent the probation officers and supervisors who carry out this work every day. These workers supervise youth, protect communities and operate in increasingly difficult conditions.
They are also now dealing with the fallout of a settlement process that denied them the most basic element of fairness — the ability to defend...
Although on appeal the court distinguished that there was new information in the claim, the court ultimately found the new information was not material, nor was it plead with particularity. The U....