LA DA Seeks 6-Month Freeze on $4 Billion Abuse Settlement as 80% of Claims Face Fraud Doubts
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
LA DA Seeks 6-Month Freeze on $4 Billion Abuse Settlement as 80% of Claims Face Fraud Doubts
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Summary
Nathan Hochman asked a judge to halt payments for six months in Los Angeles County’s $4 billion sexual abuse settlement, saying up to 80% of juvenile-hall claims could be fraudulent.
The request follows an LA Times investigation that found nine plaintiffs said they were paid by recruiters to join the case, with four saying their claims were entirely false.
Hochman argued in a Wednesday filing that earlier screening by agencies handling the claims was too weak to detect fraud; the freeze would apply only to juvenile-hall cases, the bulk of the lawsuit.
Downtown LA Law Group, which represented all nine plaintiffs cited in the report, denied recruiting anyone and said it had already rejected more than 70% of cases and paid for an audit of 1,000-plus files.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers said the move delays compensation for real victims in what was billed as the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history; Judge Lawrence Riff is set to review the request Monday.
Did LA County's rush to settle create a $4 billion opportunity for fraud, punishing the very victims it aimed to help?
With 80% of claims now suspect, how can LA County separate real victims from fraudsters in its historic $4 billion abuse settlement?
Los Angeles County’s $4 Billion Sex Abuse Settlement: Fraud Allegations, Payment Freeze, and the Battle for Justice
Overview
In June 2026, District Attorney Nathan Hochman filed a motion to halt payments from Los Angeles County’s $4 billion sex abuse settlement, raising serious concerns about the legitimacy of many claims. The settlement, agreed to by the LA County Board of Supervisors in 2025, covers over 11,000 claims from people who were in juvenile halls, foster homes, and children’s shelters. Hochman argued that previous vetting was not enough to detect fraud and called for a deeper investigation to protect public funds. This move highlights ongoing worries about fraud and the need for stronger oversight in the payout process.