San Diego County is facing a growing number of lawsuits brought by former residents of county juvenile detention and foster care facilities who allege they were sexually abused while in the County’s care.
According to an August 22, 2026 report by the San Diego Union-Tribune, two recently filed lawsuits involving more than 80 former wards have pushed the number of plaintiffs accusing San Diego County of childhood sexual abuse in pending litigation to more than 300. The lawsuits include claims involving both county juvenile detention facilities and the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center, an emergency shelter for children removed from their homes.
The allegations span many years and include claims that children were sexually assaulted by county employees and, in some instances, threatened with retaliation if they reported the alleged misconduct. The recently filed complaints further allege that the abuse was not simply the result of isolated misconduct, but reflected failures in supervision, investigation and accountability.
Prior Allegations Involving the Polinsky Children’s Center
The recent litigation follows earlier lawsuits concerning the Polinsky Children’s Center. In 2024, NBC 7 San Diego reported that civil complaints filed on behalf of more than 100 former residents alleged sexual abuse by staff members between 1994 and 2020. Those complaints alleged, among other things, inadequate employee screening, staffing and monitoring, and failures to protect children placed in the County’s care.
Concerns about conditions at Polinsky also predated the recent sexual-abuse litigation. In 2022, ABC 10News reported that California social-services officials had identified licensing concerns and a pattern of noncompliance at the facility. Employees interviewed by the station raised concerns about staffing and supervision, with one employee stating that inadequate staffing could interfere with the ability to properly supervise children.
The same report discussed a California Department of Social Services review concerning children remaining at Polinsky beyond the maximum period contemplated for a temporary shelter. State officials subsequently met with County officials to discuss Polinsky’s noncompliance with temporary shelter requirements and the County’s proposed corrective measures.
San Diego County Responds
San Diego County has contested the allegations in the pending sexual-abuse cases. A County spokesperson told the Union-Tribune that the County has training, procedures and oversight intended to protect children and that it is investigating the claims and will address them through the legal process.
The cases remain pending, and the allegations have not been adjudicated. According to the Union-Tribune, it is not yet clear whether the various cases will ultimately be consolidated into a single proceeding.
Sauder Schelkopf Investigates Claims Involving Abuse in Institutional Settings
Sauder Schelkopf represents survivors in cases involving alleged sexual abuse and misconduct in institutional settings, including facilities responsible for the care and supervision of children.
Individuals who were housed at the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children’s Center or a San Diego County juvenile detention facility and believe they experienced sexual abuse or misconduct may contact Sauder Schelkopf to learn more about their legal rights.
Sauder Schelkopf is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in sexual abuse litigation, with a proven track record of securing significant settlements and achieving systemic reforms for survivors.
Notable Achievements:
- University of Southern California (USC) Settlement: The firm, in collaboration with co-counsel, secured a historic $215 million settlement on behalf of female patients of Dr. George Tyndall, a USC gynecologist accused of sexual misconduct since the 1990s. This settlement is among the largest in sex abuse cases and includes provisions for systemic changes in reporting and investigating sexual abuse on campus.
- Ohio State University (OSU) Litigation: Representing former students and athletes, Sauder Schelkopf is involved in litigation concerning sexual misconduct by Dr. Richard Strauss, a former OSU doctor. In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear OSU’s appeal, allowing the case to proceed to trial.
- As of April 2026, Ohio State University has paid approximately $61 million to settle lawsuits from 317 men who alleged sexual abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss, a former team doctor.
- In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear OSU’s appeal, allowing lawsuits brought by alleged sexual abuse victims of Dr. Strauss to proceed.
- As of October 2023, five lawsuits involving 236 men remained pending.
- University of Michigan Settlement: The firm achieved a class action settlement against the University of Michigan, resulting in landmark institutional reforms addressing on-campus sexual misconduct.
Through these and other cases, Sauder Schelkopf has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advocating for survivors of sexual abuse, achieving substantial financial settlements, and driving meaningful changes within institutions to prevent future misconduct.
About Sauder Schelkopf
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The National Trial Lawyers Association has also selected our attorneys as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
We Want to Hear from You
If you or a loved one experienced sexual misconduct, contact our attorneys confidentially by completing the form on this page. Our firm has a long history of standing up for survivors and holding powerful corporations accountable.