Lawsuit Information Center
This page will look at Barry Nidorf Juvenile Hall sex abuse lawsuits. Former juvenile inmates at Nidorf Juvenile Hall (which is commonly known as Sylmar Juvenile Hall) who were victims of sexual abuse at the facility are now bringing civil lawsuits against Los Angeles County and getting financial compensation. Victims who bring a successful claim can get settlement payouts for the harm caused by the abuse.
If you have a potential lawsuit for sexual abuse at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, call our California sex abuse lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or contact us online.
About Barry J. Nidorf “Sylmar” Juvenile Hall
Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall (BJNJH), also known as Sylmar Juvenile Hall, is a LA County juvenile detention facility located in Sylmar, CA. BJNJH is a short-term holding facility for “pre-determination” juvenile offenders. These are juveniles who are facing criminal charges and are remanded to custody until adjudication and sentencing. Once sentenced, juveniles are transferred from Sylmar and either released to their families or sent to a longer-term correctional facility. These lawsuits are about what happened when they were there.
Juvenile inmates at Sylmar Juvenile Hall are housed in 16 Living Units that have a maximum capacity of 30 to 35 detainees each. The facility has a max capacity of around 500. The Living Unit is where detainees eat, sleep, and attend to their daily activities. Four units house the high-risk offenders. Additionally, there is a Hope Center on-site for males and females to assist in treating inmates with acute behavioral issues.
Why the County Chooses Settlement
Trials are high-risk for Los Angeles County. Jurors respond strongly to evidence of abuse against minors, often awarding large verdicts. By settling Sylmar claims, the County avoids even greater financial and reputational damage.
Abuse at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Sylmar Juvenile Hall has a very bad reputation for harsh treatment of its juvenile inmates. Correctional staff at the facility are reportedly very physical and frequently use shackles, body slams, and other means of physical restraint to enforce order. California’s state juvenile detention system also has a very grim history of abuse and mistreatment of juvenile inmates.
Recent lawsuits and investigations have revealed that sexual abuse of juvenile inmates at BJNJH and other facilities was a major problem for years. The primary problem was administrative neglect and a lack of monitoring and oversight by the Los Angeles County Probation Department (LACPD). LACPD has operational control and authority over all the County’s juvenile detention facilities, including Barry Nidorf.
Sexual abuse of juvenile inmates at Sylmar Juvenile Hall is usually committed by correctional officers and other staff members at the facility. These abusers use their positions of power and authority, combined with their unmonitored access, to coerce juvenile inmates into sexual favors. The sexual abuse coercion usually takes the form of threats of physical harm or removal of privileges, combined with extra perks and benefits for cooperation.
All the juvenile detention facilities in LA County have been plagued by decades of sexual abuse allegations, cover-ups, and administrative negligence. The recurring themes across all facilities include:
- Sexual misconduct by correctional officers and staff members
- Failure to protect minors from known predators
- Negligent hiring and supervision of high-risk employees
- Intimidation, retaliation, and coercion against victims
- Deliberate indifference by administrators who failed to act on abuse complaints
And, of course, Sylmar was not the only one. The lawsuits involving Los Angeles County juvenile detention facilities are not limited to Barry J. Nidorf. Survivors have also come forward from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, Central Juvenile Hall, and MacLaren Hall. Our lawyers get calls from victims who have spent time at multiple detention centers. Each of these facilities has its own history of sexual abuse allegations, cover-ups, and administrative failures, but they all share the same oversight body: Los Angeles County. This means survivors from different facilities are part of a larger wave of litigation that is holding the County accountable for decades of systemic neglect and abuse in its juvenile system
Lawsuits For Sexual Abuse At Sylmar Juvenile Hall
LACPD holds full responsibility for the oversight and management of all operations at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. This includes the screening, hiring, training, and supervision of correctional officers and facility staff. As the governing authority, LACPD has a legal duty to ensure the safety, care, and custody of every juvenile in its care.
LACPD may be held legally liable for instances of sexual abuse if it knew—or reasonably should have known—about the risk of harm and failed to take appropriate steps to protect detainees. To establish liability in a civil claim, a survivor must demonstrate that their abuse was directly linked to LACPD’s negligence. This can include specific oversights, such as ignoring prior complaints against known abusers, or broader systemic issues like inadequate staffing policies, poor supervision, or failures in reporting and response protocols.
Every Sylmar Juvenile Hall lawsuit has reported a pattern of sexual assault, harassment, and coercion by correctional officers, facility staff, and, in some cases, other detainees.
The other major shortcoming by LACPD was a failure to investigate complaints. When juvenile inmates complained about sexual abuse by staff or correctional officers, administration at the facility routinely disregarded or dismissed these complaints without any type of investigation. In some cases, allegations were actually suppressed. The direct result of this was that predatory staff members were allowed to continue abusing inmates without any fear of consequences.
Civil lawsuits for sexual abuse of juvenile inmates at Sylmar Juvenile Hall seek to hold LA County legally accountable for allowing the abuse to occur by forcing the County to pay financial compensation to victims of abuse. LACPD will be held legally accountable for incidents of sexual abuse at Sylmar detention center if it knew—or reasonably should have known—about the risk of abuse and failed to take appropriate action to prevent it.
Statute of Limitations for Sylmar Juvenile Hall Claims
If you are a survivor of abuse at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, you should know this: the legal system may have failed you in the past, but it has not shut the door on your ability to seek justice. Our law firm is pursuing claims for survivors regardless of whether they are over or under 40. The statute of limitations is not the barrier many people assume it is.
We know this because of what already happened in Los Angeles. In the $4 billion settlement with the county, thousands of survivors were compensated, and many of those cases were far beyond the statute of limitations. Why did the county agree to that? Because they understood the risk. If lawmakers reopen the window again, even more survivors could file. Rather than gamble on that happening, the county decided to resolve claims now, even ones that were technically time-barred. That is a critical point for Sylmar survivors. It shows that deadlines are not stopping cases from being paid.
It is true that survivors whose claims are still within the statute may receive higher payouts, but those outside the technical limits are still being taken seriously. No one should assume their case is “too old.” In fact, Los Angeles County is still compensating people for abuse that happened decades ago, even as far back as the 1960s. We fully expect that the same approach will apply to survivors of Sylmar Juvenile Hall.
Under California law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse can file a lawsuit until age 40, or within five years of when they discovered that the abuse caused long-term harm. This is called the delayed discovery rule. But in practice, courts apply this rule narrowly. That is why it is critical to talk to a lawyer who understands how these cases work, rather than assuming the law blocks you.
Sylmar closed in 2008, which matters for the timeline. A survivor who was 17 in 2008 would still only be 34 in 2025. Those who were even younger are well within the statute of limitations today. Survivors from the early 2000s and late 1990s may also qualify depending on their circumstances. And those who fall outside the deadline still have a path forward, just as thousands of others did in the last L.A. County settlement.
The bottom line: do not disqualify yourself. The county has already shown it will resolve claims beyond the statute, and there is every reason to believe the same will happen again for Sylmar sex abuse survivors.
Why Los Angeles County Is Paying Claims That Are Past the Deadline
Many Sylmar survivors think their case is too old. But in the $4 billion LA County detention center settlement, thousands of claims were paid even though they were beyond the statute of limitations. This was not about goodwill. County officials are managing risk. If lawmakers reopen the window again, even more cases could be filed. Settling older claims now reduces future legal exposure and cost.
That same risk calculus applies to Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall survivors in 2025 and beyond. Claims that are within the statute may receive higher payouts, but time-barred claims are still being evaluated and resolved. Do not assume your case is “too late.” The County’s actions show otherwise.
- Past behavior predicts future practice: LA paid expired claims before; expect similar treatment in the next round.
- Not a loophole: It is a risk-management strategy to avoid a bigger wave if the law changes again.
- Action step: Speak with a lawyer even if you think you are outside the deadline.
Why Los Angeles County Is Settling Older Sylmar Juvenile Hall Claims
Many survivors of abuse at Sylmar Juvenile Hall believe their cases are too old to matter. They assume that if the statute of limitations has passed, the legal system will not consider their case.
But that is not what is happening. Los Angeles County has already paid out settlements to survivors whose claims fall outside the formal legal deadlines. And there is a reason for that.
The County wants to close its books. It is trying to settle as many outstanding claims as possible, even older ones, because it fears the law could shift again. Lawmakers have already expanded the rights of abuse survivors once. There is growing public pressure to do it again. If the statute of limitations is extended or reopened in the future, the County could be facing another wave of litigation. From a risk management standpoint, it makes more sense to resolve these cases now, before they become more costly and more public.
That means survivors who were abused at Barry J. Nidorf detention center and who have not yet come forward may still have leverage. The fear that a claim is “too late” should not stop anyone from speaking with a lawyer. The County has demonstrated its willingness to settle claims that are technically outside the statute, as it seeks to mitigate future legal exposure.
Survivors are being heard in ways they were not before, and their stories are being taken seriously. The law may set deadlines, but institutions like Los Angeles County are making decisions based on broader concerns, financial risk, political pressure, and the very real possibility that silence today becomes liability tomorrow.
If you were harmed at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, the time to act is now. Your claim might still matter, even if the abuse happened years ago. What the County fears is exactly what gives survivors power in this moment.
Factors Driving Settlement Amounts of Sylmar Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuits
Lawsuits involving sexual abuse at juvenile detention facilities often result in significant financial settlements. This is due in large part to the profound and lasting psychological trauma survivors experience, as well as the strong emotional response such cases can provoke in juries. To avoid the risks associated with a trial, many defendants opt to settle out of court. Several key factors influence the potential value of these claims:
- Severity of Harm
The extent of the abuse and its emotional toll play a central role in determining compensation. Survivors diagnosed with conditions such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, or clinical depression often receive higher settlements due to the long-term consequences on their mental health and overall well-being. - Evidence
While a survivor’s personal testimony can be enough to initiate a claim, supporting evidence greatly enhances a case. This may include medical records, internal reports, staff disciplinary actions, witness statements, or facility investigations, all of which can add credibility and increase the lawsuit’s value. - Duration and Frequency of the Abuse
Repeated or long-term abuse generally results in a larger juvenile hall settlement than isolated incidents. A pattern of misconduct indicates a deeper institutional failure, which not only heightens emotional impact but also strengthens claims of negligence. - Identification of the Abuser
Survivors are not required to name their abuser to file a Sylmar Juvenile Hall lawsuit. Many victims, especially those abused as minors, may not recall specific identities. But when the perpetrator is identified and a direct link to the abuse is established, the case is often viewed as stronger and may result in higher settlement compensation. - Age of the Survivor at the Time of Abuse
The younger the victim at the time of the abuse, the more significant the long-term impact tends to be. Abuse that occurs during early childhood can severely affect emotional development, education, and future relationships, leading courts to award higher settlements in recognition of the lasting harm.
Why Survivors Have Leverage Today
In the first round of LA County settlements that totaled a stunning $4 billion, thousands of survivors were compensated, including many whose claims were decades old. This show us that the County is willing to pay substantial settlement amounts to resolve these claims. For Sylmar survivors, this history means every new claim filed adds pressure and makes it harder for the County to ignore accountability.
Projected Settlement Amounts in Sylmar Juvenile Hall Abuse Lawsuits
The first major round of settlements involving abuse at Los Angeles County juvenile facilities, including Sylmar Juvenile Hall, resulted in payouts totaling approximately $4 billion. That figure was divided among more than 6,800 survivors, which places the average compensation at slightly under $600,000 per person.
These were not class action settlements with one-size-fits-all outcomes. Each claim was evaluated on its own facts. Some survivors received higher compensation based on the severity of the abuse, the duration of their detention, the psychological impact, and the strength of supporting evidence. Others received less. What remained consistent was the County’s willingness to resolve even those claims that fell outside the formal statute of limitations.
That willingness is not based on goodwill. It is a smart legal strategy designed to put this awful saga to bed as much as possible. Los Angeles County officials know and fear that the law could shift again, and that delaying resolution could create even greater financial exposure in the future. As a result, a second round of juvenile hall settlements is expected to follow the same path as the first and keep the door open for claims that come after the statute of limitations has passed.
For survivors of sexual abuse at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, this matters. The compensation being offered is meaningful. The County is motivated to settle the Barey Niforf lawsuits. The legal structure is already in place with a roadmap for future settlements. And survivors who come forward now are likely to see resolution terms similar to those from the first round.
Contact Us About Sylmar Juvenile Hall Sex Abuse Lawsuits
If you were sexually abused at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, contact our sex abuse lawyers today for a free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082.
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