A new motion in Los Angeles County calls for investigating alleged fraud in childhood sexual abuse lawsuits. I understand the impulse to protect public dollars. But if we’re not careful, this kind of sweeping “fraud” narrative becomes a blunt tool that chills reporting, undermines legitimate claims, and retraumatizes survivors who have already waited too long to be heard.
Let’s ground this in facts, not fear.
False Reporting in Sexual Abuse Cases Is Low
Peer-reviewed research and national victim-service organizations consistently place false reporting for sexual assault in the low single digits:
- Meta-analyses and field studies put false reports around 2–10%, with many experts clustering near 2–8%.
- In child-protection investigations, a landmark national study found about 4% of allegations were intentionally false overall, and ~6% in sexual-abuse cases meaning the vast majority were not fabricated (some were unsubstantiated for other reasons).
- “Unfounded” does not equal “false.” Cases can be unfounded because of insufficient evidence, delayed disclosure, or victim withdrawal none of which proves fabrication. National guidance warns against labeling those as false.
Why the “Fraud” Frame Is a Slippery Slope
When headlines imply widespread fabrication, three harms follow:
- Fewer survivors come forward. Stigma and fear of disbelief already keep many silent. Amplifying “fraud” rhetoric pushes them further underground.
- Systems conflate ‘unfounded’ with ‘false.’ That shortcut contradicts investigative best practices.
- Institutions deflect accountability. The focus shifts from what happened and how to prevent it to blanket suspicion of claimants despite the real, documented scale of abuse, including massive, court-supervised settlements. (Los Angeles County alone moved toward a historic $4B settlement this year for systemic abuse in youth custody evidence of breadth, not fraud.)
What Survivors and Families Can Do Right Now
You can’t control the headlines, but you can strengthen your case and your safety.
Document relentlessly.
Create a simple timeline. Save texts, DMs, emails, photos, medical notes, school or facility incident reports, witness names. Back it up securely. (Documentation ≠ disbelief; it’s how we defeat delays and deflections.)
Know the terms.
Ask every official: Are you calling this “unfounded” or “false”? On what basis? Insist on written decisions. “Unfounded” often just means there isn’t enough evidence today not that it didn’t happen.
Seek trauma-informed care.
A prompt, trauma-informed medical evaluation (and ongoing therapy) supports both healing and evidence preservation.
Explore civil options early.
Civil cases can unlock therapy funds, relocation support, and reforms especially vital when public funding streams are unstable or politicized.
Preserve digital evidence correctly.
Don’t alter files. Screenshot with timestamps/URLs. If you must share, send copies, not originals.
Picking the Right Law Firm for a Child Sexual Abuse Case
There are too many firms chasing these cases with little real experience. You deserve counsel that lives and breathes this work.
Look for:
- Dedicated CSA experience. Ask for recent, comparable cases (schools, churches, youth facilities, foster/juvenile custody). Who led them? What were the outcomes?
- Trial-ready posture. Settlements are common but institutions and insurers move faster when they know your team will try the case.
- Trauma-informed practice. Private, survivor-centered intake; options for pseudonym filings; safety planning; collaboration with therapists/advocates.
- Investigation muscle. In-house or partnered investigators; records subpoenas; experts in child abuse pediatrics, grooming, and institutional liability.
- Clear communication & fees. Transparent contingency terms; you meet the attorneys who will handle your case not just an intake mill.
- Jurisdictional expertise. Up-to-date on statutes of limitations, revival windows, and government-claim procedures where applicable.
Red flags:
- Pressure to sign immediately without explaining risks/alternatives.
- No discussion of trauma supports or safety.
- A “mass-tort” feel: you never meet a lawyer, just call-center staff.
- Big promises, vague plans.
Accountability Is Vital
Targeted audits for credible red flags? Fine. But broad “fraud” dragnets that treat survivors as suspects are counterproductive and inconsistent with best-practice guidance. The data show false reports are rare; the need for accountability and prevention is not. When officials investigate, they should do so with narrow tailoring, expert input, and a clear distinction between verification and vilification.
Our Bottom Line
Survivors deserve a system that believes them enough to investigate well, protects them enough to prevent retaliation, and respects them enough to seek truth without theatrics. If you or your family is navigating a child sexual abuse case and worried about the noise let’s talk through your options, your safety, and a plan built on evidence.
To the survivors out there, please know this; we hear you, we see you and we believe you.
You’ve waited long enough. We’ll help you move the system. Contact us today 1866-753-5458