LA County Counsel Continues AB 218 Anti-Fraud Efforts by Opening a Formal Investigation into DTLA Law Group Relating to Potential Fraud in AB 218 Sexual Abuse Claims
Sends administrative subpoena to DTLA Law Group
Building on months of aggressive anti-fraud action, Los Angeles County Counsel has launched an investigation under Business and Professions Code Section 17200 (California’s Unfair Competition Law) into DTLA Law Group and others relating to potential fraud tied to false AB 218 claims. The County Counsel issued an administrative subpoena to DTLA Law Group seeking documents related to the firm’s business practices in handling AB 218 claims.
The investigation, launched by County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison, seeks to identify whether fraud and other unlawful practices were committed by lawyers, recruiters and doctors related to AB 218 claims and lawsuits filed against the County. The County urges residents to report any false sexual abuse claims or payments for false claims to Los Angeles County’s AB 218 Fraud Hotline at (844) 901-0001 or fraud.lacounty.gov/ab218.
This new investigation represents County Counsel’s latest escalation in holding bad actors accountable and protecting taxpayers from exploitation following the State Legislature’s passage of AB 218 without a single safeguard against fraud. County Counsel has been at the forefront of combating fraud before the settlements were first announced. In October 2025, County Counsel implemented stringent enhanced fraud protocols requiring every plaintiff, without exception, to complete detailed, multi-page written factual summaries under penalty of perjury, with DTLA claims and any others that are flagged for potential fraud undergoing additional review by independent allocators and retired judges.
County Counsel also formally referred the alleged DTLA conduct to the California State Bar, which has opened its own investigation and recently subpoenaed thousands of documents as part of its probe into whether the firm engaged in fraudulent practices, including potential misuse of third-party recruiters. County Counsel is seeking court permission to provide the State Bar with confidential case documents to support their investigation. County Counsel also previously referred the alleged DTLA conduct to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which is also investigating allegations of fraud potentially committed by claimants, lawyers, recruiters and doctors.
“The County serves as the social safety net,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “False AB 218 sexual abuse claims filed by lawyers for financial gain are deeply troubling – they undermine real victims and divert resources from the essential services the County provides. Such conduct is wrong and appalling. On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I urge anyone with information about this alleged scam to come forward and report what they know. Such information can be provided anonymously.”
“By investigating potential false AB 218 sexual abuse claims, we are sending a clear message that anyone who intends to defraud Los Angeles County will be held accountable,” County Counsel Harrison said. “My office will continue to use every tool available to protect the integrity of the process and make sure that no fraudsters profit at the expense of actual victims.”
On April 4, 2025, the County announced a $4 billion settlement with a reported 6,800 claimants. On April 29, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the settlement. After the settlement was announced, thousands of people filed claims, now totaling more than 11,000.
On October 28, 2025, Los Angeles County reached an agreement to pay $828 million to settle more than 400 cases. After entering into these two settlements, the County was served with an estimated 5,000 additional cases, for a total of more than 16,000 claims — a figure that is expected to rise and represents potentially billions of dollars of liability against the County, which will impact critical services for LA County residents.
LA County Counsel Media Contact: MediaInquiries@counsel.lacounty.gov
For more information on County Counsel’s Affirmative Litigation and Consumer Protection Division, please visit: counsel.lacounty.gov/alcp.