Los Angeles School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Compensation for Victims of Sexual Abuse in Los Angeles County Schools

A wave of Los Angeles school sexual abuse lawsuits has revealed how the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other school systems failed to protect students from sexual predators. 

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse deserve justice, and our attorneys at Injury Lawyer Team are here to help families pursue Los Angeles sexual abuse lawsuits to hold negligent schools accountable and secure fair compensation.

Allegations of Abuse Against the Los Angeles Unified School District

Scope of Abuse and Accused Educators

By 2025, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) faced nearly 250 pending lawsuits tied to decades of sexual assault scandals involving school employees.

High-profile cases illustrate how deeply misconduct was embedded across campuses:

• Mark Berndt (Miramonte Elementary) – accused of sexually abusing more than 100 children between the late 1990s and 2011. He pleaded no contest in 2013 to 23 counts of lewd acts and was sentenced to 25 years.
• Paul Chapel III (Telfair Elementary) – convicted in 2012 of sexual abuse of 13 boys over the course of 4 and a half years.
• Robert Pimentel (George De La Torre Elementary) – admitted in 2014 to sexually abusing 4 girls, with dozens more alleging abuse. He received a 12-year sentence.
• Scott Silva (Birmingham Community Charter High School) – convicted in 2019 on 25 counts of sexual misconduct, including child molestation and false imprisonment. He was sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison.
• Richard Alexander Turner (Athletic Trainer at Birmingham & Van Nuys High) – charged in 2022, he allegedly sexually harassed at least 9 girls across multiple campuses.

These scandals underscore how school teachers and other employees preyed on vulnerable children, leaving former students with lasting psychological injury and fueling a flood of California school sexual abuse lawsuits.

Settlements and Payouts

The financial fallout has been historic. Los Angeles Unified School District has already paid more than $300 million to settle sexual abuse claims, including:

• 2014 – $139.75 million for 81 Miramonte victims, the largest school sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.
• 2016 – $88 million for 30 students tied to the Telfair and De La Torre cases ($58M for 18 De La Torre victims; $30M for 12 Telfair victims).
• 2020 – $25 million to resolve multiple claims, including $10M for five Pimentel victims and $8.4M for four Chapel victims.
• 2024 – $3.55 million for two additional Miramonte sexual abuse survivors ($1.85M and $1.7M).

These payouts highlight the scope of litigation faced by the district and show how even decades-old cases continue to generate liability under California law that extends survivors’ rights to file civil lawsuits.

Bond Financing to Cover Abuse Claims

On June 3, 2025, Los Angeles Unified School District’s board members approved issuing up to $500 million in judgment obligation bonds to finance increased legal costs and settle additional claims without draining the district’s general fund.

Because these bonds worth a half billion dollars require no voter approval, critics warned the move could divert tens of millions in funding away from core education programs for district’s current students and foster youth.

Legislative Warnings and Fiscal Concerns

A Senate staff analysis warned that extent litigation beyond traditional deadlines could lead to uncertain but potentially significant long-term costs for local entities and school districts.

School business officials and watchdog groups expressed concerns that settlements were impacting local public agencies, diverting funding intended for classrooms, and placing taxpayers at risk.

Oversight by FCMAT

The Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), California’s team for K-12 districts, estimated in 2025 that school sexual abuse settlements could ultimately cost $2–3 billion statewide to settle all the claims. FCMAT’s chief executive officer, Michael Fine, warned that without systemic reforms, liabilities could bankrupt entire school systems and lead to a state fiscal crisis.

While ideas like a statewide victim compensation fund to eliminate claims brought directly against districts have been discussed in both the Senate and Assembly, lawmakers have not acted.

In the meantime, Los Angeles Unified School District continues to settle claims case-by-case while survivors of sexual abuse pursue justice through sex abuse lawsuits in California courts.

What California Laws Govern Public School Sexual Abuse Claims?

Survivors of sexual abuse in L.A. and across California deserve justice and high quality public education, and they have powerful legal rights under both state and federal law. These laws establish duties for schools, mandate reporting of suspected abuse, and give survivors the ability to bring school sexual assault claims in civil court when schools fail to protect them.

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), codified at Cal. Penal Code §§ 11164–11174.3, requires teachers, administrators, coaches, and virtually all school employees to act as mandated reporters. When they know or reasonably suspect a child is being sexually abused, they must immediately notify law enforcement or child protective services.

A school district that ignores reports or discourages employees from filing them can be held civilly liable for enabling abuse to continue. In many California school sexual abuse lawsuits, failure to comply with CANRA has been a central issue.

California Education Code

The California Education Code (§§ 200–234.1) reinforces schools’ obligations to provide safe learning environments. Provisions require school boards and administrators to protect students from foreseeable harm, including sexual harassment and abuse by employees or other students.

If a district such as LAUSD knew or should have known about prior misconduct but failed to take action, that negligence can form the basis of sexual abuse claims in court. These statutes ensure that both the school and individual wrongdoers can be held responsible for child abuse occurring on school grounds.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

At the federal level, Title IX (20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) prohibits sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding. Courts have repeatedly held that sexual harassment and sexual assault fall within this definition of discrimination.

This means survivors can pursue school sexual assault claims under Title IX when district administration knew, (or were deliberately indifferent to) alleged abuse. In recent years, Title IX lawsuits have been a powerful tool for former students seeking justice and institutional accountability against elementary schools and large districts like LAUSD.

What Damages Can Child Sexual Abuse Victims Recover?

Survivors of Los Angeles Unified School District sexual abuse have the right to pursue a wide range of damages through school sexual assault claims. These may include:

• Economic damages: costs of medical treatment, counseling, medication, and long-term care, as well as lost income or diminished earning capacity if the trauma impacts future employment.
• Non-economic damages: compensation for emotional distress, psychological pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the abuse.
• Punitive damages: in particularly egregious sexual abuse cases, courts may impose additional damages to punish the institution or perpetrator and deter future misconduct.

Because sexual abuse lawsuits in California often involve schools with significant resources, many survivors have obtained multi-million-dollar settlements or verdicts that cover both the financial and personal toll of the abuse. 

How Long Do Child Abuse Victims Have to Take Legal Action?

With AB 452, California eliminated the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault claims under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1. This means survivors can file sex abuse lawsuits in California at any time, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.

However, if a plaintiff is 40 years or older at the time of filing, the law requires additional legal limitations. Survivors must provide certificates of merit, signed by both their attorney and a licensed mental health professional, confirming there is a reasonable and meritorious basis to file claims.

This framework reflects California’s commitment to ensuring survivors of childhood sexual abuse are not denied justice simply because of the passage of time, while also requiring professional review in older cases.

How Injury Lawyer Team Can Help

At Injury Lawyer Team, we understand the devastating impact of childhood sexual abuse at the Los Angeles Unified School District and the courage it takes to come forward. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling sexual abuse lawsuits, holding schools and districts accountable when they fail to protect students.

We provide:

• Comprehensive case investigation – gathering school records, witness statements, and expert evaluations.
• Strategic legal action – filing civil lawsuits against abusers and negligent institutions.
• Supportive advocacy – working with trauma-informed professionals to minimize retraumatization.

We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we secure compensation. Survivors and families can also schedule a free, confidential consultation to learn about their legal rights and options.

If you or a loved one has been sexually assaulted, we invite you to contact us today to discuss how we can help you seek justice and pursue recovery.