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Government

Sep. 9, 2025

Santa Monica weighs fiscal emergency as abuse claims mirror dioceses' crises

Attorneys say the city's plight mirrors that of Catholic dioceses hit by AB 218 lawsuits--though without the same level of bankruptcy filings.

The City of Santa Monica is weighing a fiscal emergency due to civil sexual abuse payouts, though attorneys say it may not signal broader financial crises for other local governments.

"I think the wave has crested," said plaintiffs' attorney Paul A. Mones. "There will still be some payouts because there are cases still working their way through the courts."

The "wave" refers to cases filed under AB 218, a 2019 law that created a three-yea...

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