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Los Angeles County Approves $444,000 in Settlements for Sexual Assaults by County Employees
On September 29, 2010, the Office of the County Counsel (OCC) for Los Angeles County, California recommended a $199,000 settlement of a claim alleging that a Los Angeles County Probation Department employee had sexually assaulted a teenage boy. In an unrelated case, the OCC recommended a settlement of $245,000 in a civil suit brought by a woman who claimed that a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department employee had sexually assaulted her during a traffic stop.
Alexis R., a 17-year-old Hispanic male, was placed in Camp Karl Holton (CKH), a juvenile facility, after he was detained on a bench warrant for being absent without leave from another facility, Camp Judith Resnick. Alexis alleged that while at CKH he was repeatedly sexually abused by a female probation officer who made him touch her inappropriately. He told his mother about the abuse and she reported it to the CKH administration.
An investigation revealed that the probation officer had often taken children from their living areas and spent time with them behind closed doors outside of regular hours. It further revealed that she had been terminated from her previous job due to improper workplace behavior, which had not been discovered due to an inadequate background check. Further, staff had noticed inappropriate behavior by the probation officer but had delayed reporting it to managerial officials.
Alexis filed a government tort claim, and the OCC recommended settling the claim for $199,000. He was represented by attorneys Matthew McNicholas and Judy Perez. See: Alexis R. v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Claims Board, no case number assigned.
In a separate incident, Grace G. alleged that she was driving in the City of Paramount at approximately 2:50 a.m. when a uniformed, on-duty employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department pulled her over and sexually assaulted her. She filed suit against Los Angeles County in Superior Court.
The county’s risk management investigation verified the viability of her claim, and on November 18, 2010 the OCC recommended a settlement of $245,000. Grace was represented by attorney Ben Shahramzad. See: Grace G. v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court, Compton Branch, Case No. TC 023 081.
Source: OCC letters to Los Angeles Board of Supervisors
Alexis R., a 17-year-old Hispanic male, was placed in Camp Karl Holton (CKH), a juvenile facility, after he was detained on a bench warrant for being absent without leave from another facility, Camp Judith Resnick. Alexis alleged that while at CKH he was repeatedly sexually abused by a female probation officer who made him touch her inappropriately. He told his mother about the abuse and she reported it to the CKH administration.
An investigation revealed that the probation officer had often taken children from their living areas and spent time with them behind closed doors outside of regular hours. It further revealed that she had been terminated from her previous job due to improper workplace behavior, which had not been discovered due to an inadequate background check. Further, staff had noticed inappropriate behavior by the probation officer but had delayed reporting it to managerial officials.
Alexis filed a government tort claim, and the OCC recommended settling the claim for $199,000. He was represented by attorneys Matthew McNicholas and Judy Perez. See: Alexis R. v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Claims Board, no case number assigned.
In a separate incident, Grace G. alleged that she was driving in the City of Paramount at approximately 2:50 a.m. when a uniformed, on-duty employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department pulled her over and sexually assaulted her. She filed suit against Los Angeles County in Superior Court.
The county’s risk management investigation verified the viability of her claim, and on November 18, 2010 the OCC recommended a settlement of $245,000. Grace was represented by attorney Ben Shahramzad. See: Grace G. v. County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Superior Court, Compton Branch, Case No. TC 023 081.
Source: OCC letters to Los Angeles Board of Supervisors
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Related legal cases
Alexis R. v. County of Los Angeles
| Year | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Los Angeles Claims Board, no case number assigned |
| Level | Tort |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 199,000.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |
Grace G. v. County of Los Angeles
| Year | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Los Angeles Superior Court, Compton Branch, Case No. TC 023 081 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 245,000.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |