"L.A. County is bringing on a retired judge to tackle a $4-billion question: How can officials ensure that real victims are compensated from the biggest sex abuse payout in U.S. history - and not people who made up their claims? The county has tapped Daniel Buckley, a former presiding judge of the county's Superior Court, to vet cases brought by Downtown LA Law Group after The Times found nine people represented by the firm who said they were paid to sue the county by recruiters."
"Downtown LA Law Group, or DTLA, has denied paying any of its roughly 2,700 clients, but agreed to cover the cost of Buckley to examine their cases in the $4-billion sex abuse settlement. In a letter sent to clients Monday, Andrew Morrow, the lead attorney in the firm's sex abuse cases, noted there are "additional safeguards" and "vetting protocols" underway following recent reports of paid clients, but did not specifically mention the new judge."
""While we categorically deny this ever occurred, we take these matters seriously and welcome the implementation of additional review procedures to ensure false claims do not move forward in the process," wrote Morrow, the chairman of the firm's mass torts department. On Oct. 17, Dawyn Harrison, the top attorney for the county, requested an investigation from the State Bar based on The Times' reporting, saying she believed some of the settlement would flow to "the pockets of the plaintiffs' bar" rather than victims."
L.A. County has engaged retired judge Daniel Buckley to vet claims submitted in the $4-billion sex-abuse settlement to ensure legitimate victims receive compensation. The review follows reports that some Downtown LA Law Group clients said they were paid by recruiters to file suits. Downtown LA Law Group denies paying clients and agreed to fund Buckley's review. Lead attorney Andrew Morrow informed clients that additional safeguards and vetting protocols are underway and said the firm categorically denies any payments while welcoming extra review procedures. County counsel Dawyn Harrison requested a State Bar investigation, expressing concern that settlement money could flow to attorneys instead of victims. DTLA declined to comment.
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