Majority of Claims in $4B Sex Abuse Settlement May Be Fraudulent
WHO:
Fox News - Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman
Fox News - Downtown LA Law Group (DTLA), a law firm representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit
NY Post - Plaintiffs involved in the $4 billion settlement
WHAT:
NY Post - Hochman claimed that 81% of claims in the $4 billion sexual abuse settlement may be fraudulent.
Fox News - Hochman stated that the nine plaintiffs who came forward represent a small fraction of a "significant number of fraudsters involved in these settlement claims."
Fox News - Hochman claims that 80% of claims in the $4 billion sexual abuse settlement may be fraudulent.
Fox News - Los Angeles County agreed to pay $4 billion to settle more than 11,000 claims of sexual abuse, making it the largest sexual abuse settlement in U.S. history.
NY Post - Hochman filed a motion to freeze payments related to the settlement while investigating the claims.
Fox News - Hochman stated that nine plaintiffs claimed they were paid by recruiters to join the class-action lawsuit, with four of them asserting their claims were entirely fraudulent.
WHERE:
Fox News - Los Angeles County, California
WHEN:
Fox News - The settlement was agreed upon in April 2025.
Fox News - Hochman held a news conference in November 2025.
Fox News - Hochman spoke at a press conference on December 16, 2025.
Fox News - A court review of Hochman's request is scheduled for a Monday following the article's publication.
WHY:
Fox News - Hochman argues that the investigation is necessary due to insufficient vetting of claims by prior agencies.
Fox News - Hochman described the actions of those allegedly committing fraud as "greedy and heinous conduct."
HOW:
Fox News - Hochman's request to freeze payments would only apply to cases stemming from juvenile halls, which constitute the bulk of the cases in the lawsuit.
Fox News - Hochman is asking a judge to freeze payments for six months while he continues his investigation into the claims.
Fox News - LA County has imposed extra scrutiny on claimants, particularly those represented by DTLA, following the LA Times investigation.
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 19:40 UTC)
Attorney Hochman has raised concerns about the integrity of the $4 billion sexual abuse settlement, claiming that 81% of the claims may be fraudulent. He pointed out that the nine plaintiffs who have come forward represent just a small fraction of what he describes as a "significant number of fraudsters involved in these settlement claims." Hochman is seeking to freeze payments specifically for cases stemming from juvenile halls, which make up the majority of the claims in the lawsuit.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 12:08 UTC)
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has raised concerns that up to 80% of the claims in the historic $4 billion sexual abuse settlement may be fraudulent, prompting him to file a motion to freeze payments while he investigates. This settlement, which was agreed upon in April 2025 and is the largest of its kind in U.S. history, covers more than 11,000 claims, but Hochman has highlighted that some plaintiffs allegedly received payments from recruiters to join the class-action lawsuit. A court review of Hochman's request is set for a Monday following the article's publication, as he emphasizes the need for thorough vetting of claims to address what he calls "greedy and heinous conduct."