LAUSD Reaches Tentative $325,000 Settlement Over Alleged Late-1970s Abuse at Warner Avenue Elementary

The former student sued LAUSD in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that a psychologist at Warner Avenue Elementary School in West Los Angeles sexually abused the student in 1978 and 1979, according to City News Service. The lawsuit claims school administrators negligently supervised the student.

As City News Service described the lawsuit, the psychologist repeatedly took the student out of class to an isolated office, used food and drinks to build trust, and warned that the student’s family would be split up if the student told anyone. The psychologist is not named in the reports, and City News Service did not report whether criminal charges were ever filed.

LAUSD denied that school employees were negligent in supervising the student and said it did not know about the psychologist’s alleged misconduct, City News Service reported. No court has ruled on the claims.

The $325,000 accord was reached on Friday, October 16, 2026, during a mandatory settlement conference before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Upinder Kalra that began October 12, City News Service reported. A jury had already been seated and had heard testimony from the former student. The judge excused the jury after the settlement was reached.

The settlement is not final. It depends on approval by the LAUSD claims board, according to City News Service. This article may be updated if the claims board acts on the agreement.

Claims about childhood sexual abuse from decades ago can run into time limits. In 2019, California passed AB 218, which revived childhood sexual abuse claims that would otherwise have been barred as of January 1, 2020, and allowed them to be filed within three years of that date (Code of Civil Procedure §340.11). That window has since closed.

City News Service did not report when this lawsuit was filed or which time limit it was filed under. The case shows that claims about abuse at a school long ago can still reach a courtroom.

For childhood sexual abuse that happened before January 1, 2024, the deadline to sue is generally the survivor’s 40th birthday or five years after discovering, as an adult, that the abuse caused a psychological injury, whichever is later. Starting January 1, 2027, SB 577 shortens that discovery period to three years. Abuse that happened on or after January 1, 2024, has no time limit (Code of Civil Procedure §§340.1, 340.11). Anyone weighing a claim over abuse from before 2024 should have their dates checked before the change takes effect.

Claims against a public school district for childhood sexual abuse do not require the usual government claim first (Government Code §905; Code of Civil Procedure §340.11). SB 577 also raises the proof required of survivors 40 or older who sue a public entity over abuse from before 2024: in lawsuits filed on or after January 1, 2026, they must show by clear and convincing evidence that the entity knew of misconduct and failed to take reasonable steps, and that it negligently discharged a mandatory duty. Our page on abuse at public and private schools explains more.

Privacy matters in these cases. In this lawsuit, the former student was identified only by initials, according to City News Service.

This information is a general overview and is not legal advice; your situation may differ, and consulting a legal professional can help you understand rights that may apply to you.

Wilshire Law Firm’s sexual abuse practice handles claims against public and private schools and other institutions across California. Our headquarters is in downtown Los Angeles, home to our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers.

An older case often turns on dates, records and the rules for public school districts. A legal professional can review those dates with you, explain the options that may be available, and deal with the district and its insurers for you. You can also meet the attorneys on our legal team. Our recent coverage includes a former student’s lawsuit against Sequoia Union, three lawsuits against Elk Grove Unified and an athletic trainer’s arrest at Archbishop Mitty High School.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Suspected abuse can also be reported to local law enforcement or the county’s child welfare agency.

Time limits for some older abuse claims change on January 1, 2027. If a teacher, counselor, psychologist or other staff member harmed you at school, whether recently or many years ago, a legal professional at Wilshire Law Firm can talk with you confidentially about the dates and options in your situation. Case reviews are free and available 24/7, and there are no fees unless you get paid.

Contact Wilshire Law Firm today.