Los Angeles approves $4bn payout to settle thousands of sexual abuse claims

Los Angeles county officials approved a $4 billion payout to settle nearly 7,000 claims of sexual abuse in juvenile facilities since 1959, surpassing previous settlements including one with the Boy Scouts of America. The settlement acknowledges the profound harm caused by decades of abuse in foster care and detention facilities, with plaintiffs able to file cases due to a California law suspending the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. The county has faced significant financial strain from its $49 billion annual budget as it navigates ongoing legal obligations following this high-profile payout.