A group of seven leading attorneys reunited in Westwood, sharing an upbeat yet relaxed atmosphere as they reflected on their recent achievement: a historic $4 billion settlement with Los Angeles County, the largest financial settlement in the county’s history.
Between sips of coffee and casual conversations, the attorneys described their collaboration, which brought together six law firms to advocate for thousands of clients who suffered horrific sexual abuse while in the custody of the county’s juvenile detention and foster care systems.
While the settlement marks a significant milestone, the true challenge lies ahead. The attorneys emphasize that their work has only just begun to ensure that the settlement provides meaningful support and resources for the victims involved.
Patrick McNicholas of McNicholas & McNicholas shared insights on the unique team dynamic that emerged throughout the process.
“I think this model, which we had to come together for this type of case with these significant injuries to these people, it’s much better to have a professional, collegial, cooperative approach, which maximizes the results for the clients,” McNicholas said. “It also brings a lot of dignity in the process.”
The coordinated efforts of the attorneys paved the way for an unprecedented collective approach to the case, with each attorney assigned specific roles to maximize efficiency and outcome.
Jim Lewis from Slater Slater Schulman and Blake Woodhall from Herman Law were co-leads for approximately 3,500 plaintiffs who resided at the notorious MacLaren Children’s Center in El Monte.
Meanwhile, Ray Boucher of Boucher LLP and Danny Abir from ACTS Law were responsible for structuring the settlement and the subsequent payouts, while Todd Becker of Becker Law Group served as the primary contact with the county’s legal team.
Boris Treyzon from ACTS Law represented the plaintiffs during trial preparations that would have unfolded had a settlement not been reached.
Michael Carney, who manages Slater Slater’s local office, also played a key role in assisting Boucher and Abir, alongside Justin Felton from Herman Law, who focused on the foster care plaintiffs.
McNicholas took charge of bringing the entire team together and coordinating their efforts, highlighting the collaborative spirit that defined their work.
“Looking around the room, I can’t imagine this getting done without each and every single person participating and at some point adding something extremely valuable,” Treyzon remarked.
The collective representation covered approximately 80% of the plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against the county over the sexual abuse allegations, with most cases originating from the 1980s to the early 2000s at various county facilities.
Since the lawsuits were filed in 2022, they benefited from a 2020 state law that opened a three-year window for filing claims, regardless of the statute of limitations.
Though the team remained open to the possibility of a trial, their focus was on securing a substantial settlement.
“Over a period of time, it became obvious that the lead counsel for the county was looking to facilitate a resolution,” McNicholas reflected. “At a certain point in time, it became more cooperative than adversarial.”
Throughout the negotiation process, two guiding principles emerged for the attorneys: they were committed to fighting zealously for their clients while balancing the financial implications for Los Angeles County.
Becker elaborated, “We wanted to maximize the amount of money that we could get without putting the county into bankruptcy, and so it became a balance of affordability on one side versus maximizing justice for our clients on the other side.”
The team engaged in approximately 25 dinners with the county’s legal representatives from Glaser Weil, during which they collaboratively strategized potential outcomes.
This strategic negotiation led to a staggering $4 billion settlement which will be paid out over the next five years, financed through a combination of county reserves, future budget cuts, and bonds that are expected to last until 2051.
For context, the magnitude of this settlement dwarfs previous significant payouts in similar cases, such as the $2.46 billion paid by the Boy Scouts of America and the $1.5 billion settlement by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Treyzon described the journey to this settlement as a “white-knuckle” experience, noting the intensity and effort required to secure approval from the Board of Supervisors.
Amid the celebrations, the attorneys acknowledged the extensive amount of work that preceded the public announcement of the settlement.
Boucher candidly stated, “Candidly, if (the county) hadn’t come to the point where they did, we would have walked away. It was a battle. It was not a couple of swings and misses and then you finally get a hit. It was a battle.”
The process of collaboration among the attorneys was unique in itself, given the typically competitive nature of plaintiffs’ firms.
As the discussions evolved, the initial reluctance to combine the groups of lawsuits transformed into a unified effort aimed at resolving all three pieces of litigation concurrently.
Lewis explained, “Our firm was pretty adamant that the structure of the settlement would not be all three groupings together, but over time, based on our continuous meetings and discussions both with the county and then internally with this group here at the table, we all saw the best way forward – and maybe the only way forward – was to try to resolve all three pieces of litigation at the same time.”
A shared history among some members of the group contributed positively to their ability to collaborate.
Boucher and McNicholas previously faced off in a similar case years ago concerning claims against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which established a mutual respect for each other’s legal prowess and built rapport that aided the negotiation process with the county.
However, conflict was an inevitability. Treyzon humorously suggested that the team encountered daily disagreements, prompting laughter around the table.
Traditional rivalries among attorneys were set aside as the group maintained constant communication, enabling them to navigate disagreements effectively.
Boucher pointed out, “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say every single day we were in negotiation, internally amongst us, there was some issue that we had disagreement on – and some very strong disagreement.”
He emphasized that successful collaboration involved moving physically between different rooms to facilitate constructive negotiation, illustrating the necessity for adaptation in their approach.
The collaborative spirit of the attorneys was remarkable, especially given the stakes involved.
“Successful negotiations require compromise,” Boucher added. He noted the distinct absence of ego-driven conflicts among the attorneys, contributing to a more productive negotiation environment than typically observed in comparable cases.
As they look ahead, the attorneys recognize that their work is far from finished.
Carney from Slater Slater emphasized that ongoing responsibilities will persist, particularly about managing client relationships and ensuring that clients receive their payments as stipulated in the settlement.
“The vast majority of our clients are going to get their payments in installments over the next five years, and that means we’re going to have to be working with them, watching them, taking care of them, for the next five years, and then beyond that as well,” Carney stated.
The settlement structures will provide clients with various payment options, including one-time payments for clients who choose to take a lump sum.
Concerns remain about the living situations of certain clients, some of whom still find themselves homeless, incarcerated, or in rehabilitation facilities, which could affect their ability to manage settlement funds effectively.
Woodhall from Herman Law shared a recent experience of tracking down clients, noting the challenges involved in reaching out to those in difficult living conditions.
He recounted visiting one client at a rehab hospital, where he was finally able to inform the client about the settlement.
This engagement demonstrates the ongoing commitment the legal team has to their clients and their journeys beyond the settlement.
The settlement signifies more than just financial recompense; it represents a crucial validation for the victims, whose lives have been marred by mistrust of institutions.
Woodhall articulated the significance of this acknowledgment, explaining how the settlement process is renewing the ability of survivors to trust once again.
“They don’t trust anybody because they’ve been failed over and over and over again, constantly and consistently,” he explained. “We’ve been speaking with the clients recently regarding the settlement; a lot of times they don’t believe it. They’ll say, ‘Are you sure? Is this really happening?’ because of, again, that lack of trust, and it’s completely understandable.”
Carney reiterated the dire circumstances many clients face while expressing hope that the settlement funds will contribute positively to their lives.
“They’ve got a long way to go, and so hopefully they can put that money towards happiness, counseling, whatever they can do to get their lives back on track,” he said.
For the attorneys involved, the settlement signifies both a monumental achievement and a new beginning.
While they revel in the success of this historic settlement, they understand the enormity of the work that awaits them.
As they venture into future cases, the attorneys foretell potential collaborations reminiscent of this unprecedented effort.
Felton of Herman Law expressed optimism, stating, “I think anytime you have a group of people who are so concerned about survivors’ interests, we’re going to end up in a room together working again.”
Abir acknowledged that their collective experience in this case could serve as a model for future collaborations.
“As a result of this and the way everybody works so well together, there’s no reason why we won’t do this in the future,” he concluded.
The legal community may indeed see this diverse group of attorneys unite again, driven by their shared commitment to advocating for those in need.
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