Los Angeles Sued Over Firehouse Sexual Assault of Minor

The City of Los Angeles is facing a lawsuit from a man who alleges that he was sexually assaulted in a firehouse by a fire captain from 2000 to 2004 while participating in a youth program. The plaintiff, identified only as JG, filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging negligence, negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and negligent retention.

The suit was brought pursuant California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1, that permits certain suits for childhood sexual assaults to be brought without regard to any statute of limitations. Here is a link to that statute: California Code of Civil Procedure § 340.1.

Quoting from the complaint:

• Upon information and belief, at all times relevant and material hereto, Defendants sponsored, operated, supervised and/or controlled an informal youth outreach mentoring program (hereinafter referred to as “PROGRAM”), in which Firefighters had contact with children in the community.
• At all times relevant and material hereto, Defendant CITY was responsible for providing protection and safety and to ensure the well-being of minors attending their youth serving programs, namely the mentorship PROGRAM.
• Defendant CITY had a duty to exercise reasonable care in the training of employees and police officers, including PERPETRATOR, in the prevention of sexual abuse and protection of the safety of citizens and minors in their care.
• Defendant CITY had a duty to establish and implement policies and procedures in the exercise of reasonable care for the prevention of sexual abuse and protection of the safety of the citizens and minors in their care.
• At all times relevant and material hereto, Defendant CITY had a duty to use reasonable care in the investigation, training, supervision and/or monitoring of persons employed at its youth-serving program, namely, the PROGRAM.
• From approximately 2000 to 2004, when Plaintiff was approximately fifteen (15) to nineteen (19) years old, Plaintiff was sexually abused and assaulted by PERPETRATOR, a firefighter at DEPARTMENT, approximately 2-3 times each month for four (4) years. The acts of sexual abuse and assault took place at Fire Station 100 located at 6751 Louis Avenue, Lake Balboa, CA 91406 and at a home in Santa Clarita.
• At all times relevant and material hereto, PERPETRATOR was an individual to whom DEFENDANTS entrusted Plaintiff’s care and custody.
• The acts of sexual abuse and assault perpetrated by PERPETRATOR against Plaintiff included conduct which constitutes a “childhood sexual assault” as defined in CCP § 340.1(d).
• Upon information and belief, PERPETRATOR was at all relevant times a serial sexual predator who sexually assaulted and abused Plaintiff and other minors during his employment with Defendant.
• The sexual abuse, inappropriate physical contact and suspicious behavior by PERPETRATOR against Plaintiff, and other similarly situated children, was open, obvious, and notorious. PERPETRATOR had a reputation at for his propensity to sexually abuse and assault children in the care and custody of Defendant CITY.
• Defendant CITY’s agents and/or employees were told of and/or witnessed sexual abuse, inappropriate physical contact and suspicious behavior by PERPETRATOR against Plaintiff, and other similarly situated children, in Defendant CITY’s care and custody. Defendant CITY did nothing to protect Plaintiff from the abuse and, as such, the assaults continued with regularity.

Here is a copy of the complaint: