At least 12 victims filed a lawsuit for sexual abuse at MacLaren Hall (it is now called the MacLaren Children’s Center). MacLaren Hall first opened in the 1940s. This place was supposed to be a haven for unwanted, abandoned, and abused children. Although it was supposed to house only children without criminal backgrounds, overcrowding at juvenile halls eventually resulted in children with criminal backgrounds being housed there, too. At it’s peak, over 4,000 children were housed at MacLaren Hall.
After operating for over four decades, MacLaren Hall shut down in 2003 after a class action lawsuit led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. For decades, MacLaren Hall evaded complaints of child abuse and neglect. The ACLU lawsuit was able to prove that the county failed to provide adequate medical care for the children at MacLaren Hall.
In June of 2022, a lawsuit was filed against the Los Angeles County on behalf of 12 people who claim that they were sexually abused during their time housed at MacLaren Hall. Allegedly, victims as young as 5-years-old were pulled out of their beds during the night and abused by MacLaren Hall employees. Victims claim that their reports of abuse were ignored, and that they were further physically abused for “snitching.”
Unfortunately, sexual abuse is very common in foster care. Foster homes like the MacLaren Hall were supposed to be safe for children in the foster care system. Instead, the failures of the county resulted in these innocent children being abused.
If you were housed at the MacLaren Hall and suffered sexual abuse, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit. For more information about the legal options available to you and whether you could either file a lawsuit or participate in a class action lawsuit, do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
Here at the Normandie Law Firm, our lawyers have decades of experience handling all sorts of personal injury claims, including sexual abuse claims. If you suffered childhood sexual abuse, our lawyers can help you. Our child sex abuse lawyers are ready to handle your claim effectively and help you recover the settlement that you are owed.
A Common Concern – How Long Does the Settlement Process Take?
For many victims of sexual assault, it can be extremely difficult to even think of starting the legal process. This is because the legal process can open up old wounds and be very stressful for victims. In many cases, victims will actually choose not to take legal action just because they do not want to deal with the situation for years until it finally resolves.
Things brings us to the most common question that we receive – how long does the settlement process take? How long can claimants expect to wait to get a settlement for their child sexual abuse cases? Some people feel more comfortable starting the legal process if they have an idea of how long the legal process is likely to take.
Our Recent Verdicts and Settlements
$54 Million
$600,000
$1.5 Million
$2.5 Million
$525,000
$1.2 Million
The Factors that Can Affect the Time to Settle these Cases
The time that it takes to settle MacLaren Hall sexual abuse lawsuits can vary significantly from case to case. In fact, there are many details that must be considered before estimating how long the settlement process could take.
Some of the factors that can affect the time that these cases can take to settle can include the following:
- Whether medical records are complete and available (in cases where the sexual abuse results in severe injuries, long-term medical care is likely; complete medical records can be unavailable, so treatment and costs might have to be projected by an expert)
- Whether the claim is an individual lawsuit or a class action lawsuit (as class action lawsuits must be certified before they can proceed)
- Whether the lawsuit goes to trial (cases that go to trial typically take much longer than cases that can settle before court or settle in mediation, for example)
- Whether the parties involved are cooperating (this includes the defendant as well as the claimant; many claimants ignore calls, emails, etc. not knowing that they are prolonging the settlement process)
- Whether the team handling the case is competent (many lawyers take on cases and then can’t handle them effectively)
For more information about the different factors that could affect the time that it can take to settle your MacLaren sexual abuse lawsuit, do not hesitate to hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.
How Long Can It Take to Settle My Case?
Foster care child sexual abuse cases can take just a few months or up to a few years to settle. Ultimately, the time that it takes to settle a case will depend on each case and the factors surrounding it. Unfortunately, class action lawsuits, by default, can take many years to settle. However, considering that the case is getting so much media attention, it is likely that the defense will be more pressured to settle.
As previously mentioned, an important factor to consider is the expertise of the lawyer and team handling your case. If your legal team is incompetent, then your case can be negatively affected – and things could take much longer than necessary. If the team fails to send the demand package out promptly, fails to respond to communications, fails to negotiate appropriately, etc., then your case can take much longer to settle. So, what if your legal team is incompetent? If your lawyer is negatively affecting your claim, then you should seek a second opinion. In some cases, switching lawyers is all it takes for the claim to start moving towards a settlement.
Here at our law firm, our childhood sexual abuse lawyers are completely dedicated to getting our clients a fair recovery as quickly as possible. We understand that it can be difficult for victims of sexual abuse to have to deal with the legal process; therefore, we are committed to securing a fair settlement within a reasonable length of time. We aim to settle these cases in six to eight months. Typically, a settlement within this period is possible as long as there are no issues with the case. If any issues arise, even minor ones, the settlement process can be prolonged. Minor issues can result in cases taking about twelve months to settle; moderate issues can result in cases taking closer to eighteen months to settle. We aim to settle even the cases with the most severe issues within two years. However, we will always be upfront with our clients – if we expect the settlement process to take more time, then we will make it clear. You will never be left guessing about how much longer you will have to wait.
For more information about the length of time that it could take to settle your MacLaren Hall sexual abuse lawsuit, do not hesitate to contact the experts here at our law firm immediately.
Contact Us Today
If you have further questions about how long it could possibly take to settle your MacLaren Hall child sex abuse lawsuit, do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm immediately. Our lawyers have experience handling sexual abuse cases and are ready to handle your claim and get you the settlement that you are owed. Here at our firm, we offer free legal services, including free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns, making sure that you have access to all the information that you need to begin or continue your lawsuit.
Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that you will not be required to pay upfront legal costs. In addition, our strict contingency structure ensures that you do not pay anything until after you win your claim.
If you are ready to speak to our lawyers, contact us today.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Sexual Abuse in After School Programs Lawsuit Attorney
WINGS for Kids – Sexual Assault, Rape, Molestation Abuse Lawyer
Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
