Lawsuit Filed Against Los Angeles County Fire Department and CDCR Over Alleged Sexual Abuse at Juvenile Camp

A lawsuit has been filed against the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) alleging that a dependent child suffered repeated sexual assaults while housed at Holton Conservation Camp in Sylmar, California. The suit was filed in the fictitious name of John Doe in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The complaint alleges that the plaintiff, was placed at Holton Conservation Camp as a dependent minor under the custody of LACoFD and CDCR. While there, the plaintiff claims he was subjected to acts of sexual assault, abuse, harassment, and molestation. Quoting from the complaint:

• Plaintiff was subjected to various acts of childhood sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and/or molestation.
• These acts of childhood sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and/or molestation were committed by other minor dependents and witnessed and/or encouraged by currently unidentified staff members, including but not limited to, supervisors, teachers, counselor, nurses, physicians, officers, custodians, other staff members.
• Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that due to the complete lack of supervision by Defendants LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, a public entity; CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, a public entity; and DOES 1 through 100, inclusive, were allowed to perpetrate acts of sexual assault, sexual abuse and/or molestation on Plaintiff.

According to the complaint, the defendants failed to adequately screen, hire, train, and supervise staff, and neglected to implement safeguards to protect minors in their custody. The complaint further asserts that staff knew or should have known of ongoing misconduct and prior reports of sexual abuse at the facility but failed to take action.

It is not clear when the alleged assaults took place. Quoting from the complaint:

• Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §340.1(a) as amended and made effective January 1, 2023, the statute of limitations has increased to 22 years after Plaintiff reaches the age of 18 (40 years of age) during which time the Plaintiff must assert his/her claim or 5 years after Plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered the resulting psychological injury or illness (delayed discovery) whichever is later.
• Plaintiff herein was under the age of 40 years old when this action was filed.

The lawsuit sets forth three causes of action:

1. Negligence – for failure to supervise staff and protect children in custody.
2. Breach of Mandatory Statutory Duties – alleging violations of reporting and child protection requirements.
3. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress – directed against the unidentified staff perpetrators for outrageous and malicious conduct.

The suit seeks general and special damages, statutory damages including treble damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and costs. Here is a copy of the complaint.