California bar investigating law firm over alleged fake sex abuse claims
The State Bar of California is investigating the Downtown Los Angeles Law Group over allegations that the law firm told its clients to “fabricate stories of abuse.” (Image from Shutterstock)
The State Bar of California is investigating the Downtown Los Angeles Law Group over allegations that the law firm told its clients to “fabricate stories of abuse.”
Last year, the Downtown Los Angeles Law Group helped secure a $4 billion settlement for victims of child sexual abuse who claimed that they were harmed in Los Angeles County-run facilities, according to Legal Newsline and the Los Angeles Times.
On Jan. 20, a motion for a change in the protective order related to evidence in the child sexual abuse cases involving Los Angeles County’s foster care and detention centers was filed by the county’s attorneys, Legal Newsline reports. The state bar’s decision to investigate the Downtown Los Angeles Law Group was revealed in the motion.
As part of its investigation, the state bar had issued a subpoena for county records, some of which are confidential under the court’s current protective order. The motion asks for the release of those records.
According to Legal Newsline, recent articles from the Los Angeles Times alleged that some of the Downtown Los Angeles Law Group’s clients were paid by the firm or a third party or asked to make up claims of abuse.
“If true, these allegations could undermine the legitimacy of thousands of claims and distort settlement intended to compensate survivors of childhood sexual abuse,” the Jan. 20 motion says.
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