US Edition$31.5 million settlement reached in lawsuit over California girl’s starvation death
Settlements total $31.5 million for the family of Arabella McCormack, citing systemic failures by institutions that allowed prolonged abuse and starvation, attorney says funds cover sisters' lifelong care.
- Last week, San Diego Superior Court Judge Richard Whitney approved settlements totaling $31.5 million, including $10 million each from the city and county plus $8.5 million and $3 million from Pacific Coast Academy and Rock Church.
- The suit alleges San Diego County social workers closed complaints, teachers at Pacific Coast Academy failed to report an emaciated child, and a San Diego police officer gave paddles to the family.
- Medical filings say Arabella McCormack was found severely malnourished with bruises, cuts, and 13 bone fractures when deputies and paramedics arrived at her family in Spring Valley about 2 a.m. on Aug. 30, 2022.
- Their attorney said the settlement fund will support the two younger sisters, now ages 9 and 11, living with their foster mother, but acknowledged it "isn't going to be enough and never could be enough" to replace their sister.
- Criminally, prosecutors allege murder and torture charges against Leticia McCormack, Adella and Stanley Tom, while the San Diego police officer settled separately for $6,000 plus community service.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Associated Press News
$31.5 million settlement reached in lawsuit over California girl's starvation death
A lawsuit over the death of an 11-year-old California girl who was allegedly tortured and starved by her adoptive family has reached a settlement.
City, county to pay $10 million each in large settlement following Spring Valley girl's death
Arabella McCormack, 11. (File photo courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff’s Department) The city and county of San Diego, along with two private entities, have agreed to legal settlements totaling more than $31 million in the death of an 11-year-old Spring Valley girl. The settlements resolve a lawsuit brought on behalf of Arabella McCormack’s two younger sisters. All three girls were allegedly abused by their adoptive parents and grandparents. T…
East Bay Times
$31.5 million settlement reached in child’s starvation death suit against city and county of San Diego, others
A lawsuit alleging systemic failures that led to the starvation death of an 11-year-old girl at the hands of her adoptive family has resolved with settlements tallying $31.5 million dollars — including $10 million each from the city and county of San Diego. The neglect lawsuit was brought on behalf of Arabella McCormack’s two younger sisters, who were 6 and 7 years old when Arabella died in August 2022. The three children had been living with a …
$31.5M settlement reached in child’s starvation death suit against city and county of San Diego, others
A lawsuit claiming systemic failures that led to the starvation death of an 11-year-old girl, allegedly at the hands of her adoptive family, has resolved with settlements tallying $31.5 million — including $10 million each from the city and county of San Diego. The neglect lawsuit was brought on behalf of Arabella McCormack’s two younger sisters, who were 6 and 7 years old when Arabella died in August 2022. The three children had been living wit…
San Diego County agrees to pay $10M over adopted girl’s death; total now $31.5M
On Friday, the county of San Diego agreed to pay $10 million as part of a legal settlement over the death of 11-year-old Arabella McCormack, bringing the total to more than $30 million. The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of Arabella’s surviving younger sisters, described numerous failures to report and investigate child abuse prior to the girl’s death. A San Diego police officer, LaWanda Fisher, who was also named in the civil lawsuit as di…
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