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Government

Sep. 2, 2026

Putting a discount rate on a stolen childhood

SB 577 would make it harder for survivors of institutional childhood sexual abuse to pursue claims against California public entities by raising evidentiary burdens, adding procedural barriers and limiting potential recoveries.

Doug Rochen

Partner
DiCello Levitt, LLP

Email: drochen@dicellolevitt.com

California Western School of Law

See more...

Putting a discount rate on a stolen childhood
Shutterstock

Last year, Los Angeles County agreed to pay $4 billion to thousands of individuals sexually abused as children at MacLaren Children's Center and the County's juvenile facilities. This unprecedented settlement reflected decades of abuse in government custody, perpetrated by employees, concealed by institutions, and denied by legal counsel until overwhelming evidence forced acknowledgment.

Senate Bill 577 is the Legislature's response to this institutional...

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