Santa Clara County pays $5.5 million after years of abuse allegations against foster-care doctor

"Santa Clara County has paid $5.5 million to settle a lawsuit over its former chief pediatrician for foster kids, a one-time foster and adoptive parent accused of sexually abusing a boy in his care, according to his lawyer. The settlement agreement between the county and the former foster youth, a Northern California resident now in his 30s, is the first time the county has paid damages to one of Dr. Patrick Clyne's accusers and attorneys say more lawsuits are imminent."

"The settlement marks a major reckoning for Santa Clara County's child-welfare and public-health systems, which court records show were repeatedly warned for years that children in Clyne's care were being abused yet continued to employ him, place foster children in his home and allow him to examine young patients. Wyatt Vespermann, one of the lawyers who represented the former foster youth, confirmed terms of the settlement, which a county document shows was paid in September."

"The former foster youth said preparing his case took a tremendous toll on him. It is a very hard thing to stand up for yourself in my situation, he said in a recent Instagram post. But through perseverance and searching for some form of justice, I can sleep a little easier knowing I have made an impact against the evil that is out there."

Santa Clara County paid $5.5 million in September to settle a lawsuit brought by a former foster youth alleging sexual abuse by Dr. Patrick Clyne, the county's former chief pediatrician for foster children and a one-time foster and adoptive parent. The settlement is the first payment to one of Clyne's accusers and follows decades of reports and warnings that children in his care were abused while he remained employed, licensed as a foster parent and allowed to examine young patients. Dozens of foster children and boys who lived in his home have accused him; criminal investigations date back to 2001. Clyne denies wrongdoing and has not been charged, and additional lawsuits are expected.

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