California lawmakers reach deal to tweak childhood sex abuse law but rebuff damage caps

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Set us as preferred SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers said Thursday that they plan to make “modest” changes to a controversial law that gave victims of childhood sexual abuse a new window in which to sue, but will stop short of a damage cap.The proposed legislation, offered in the final days of the legislative session, would require older victims to provide additional proof that they were abused as children, but does not limit the amount they could receive in payouts — a demand made by local governments and school districts that have shelled out billions of dollars in recent settlements.The proposal follows years of heated debate over a 2019 state law that removed the statue of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims.The law paved the way for thousands of victims to sue their abusers but has been criticized for draining the coffers of local governments.Since the law was enacted, L.A.

County has agreed to pay more than $5 billion to settle more than 12,000 claims stemming from alleged sexual abuse committed by government employees in foster homes and juvenile halls.California Legislators advanced bills, backed by California’s powerful trial lawyer trade group, aimed at policing the state’s legal industry, which has been bruised by ‘a wave of inappropriate attorney conduct’ highlighted by The Times.Santa Monica last year declared a financial crisis after officials revealed that the city faces more than $229 million in sexual abuse allegation claims from a former city employee.

California school districts have paid nearly a half-billion dollars to settle older claims of sexual abuse.The new bill, known as Senate Bill 577, tweaks a proposal put forward last year by Sen.John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), who tried unsuccessfully to shepherd through a compromise between local government entities, survivors groups ...