Del Amo Behavioral Health Lawsuit & Investigations

Del Amo Behavioral Health System in Torrance, California, has faced repeated allegations and investigations over patient safety, including claims of sexual abuse and assault. Court filings and media reports describe incidents where patients, including minors, were allegedly assaulted due to lapses in supervision and policy enforcement. Regulators have also scrutinized the facility for issues such as understaffing, patient neglect, and failure to properly report serious incidents. While many of the claims remain in litigation or investigative stages, Del Amo has developed a reputation as a facility with ongoing safety and accountability concerns.

At Kayla’s Survivors, our legal team is actively pursuing claims against Del Amo Behavioral Health for sexual abuse, assault, and misconduct. If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of their staff or other members of the facility, you may be eligible to recover compensation. Get started with your case by calling (800) 509-9747 or tell us what happened online – always 100% free and confidential.

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Lawsuit Timeline: Del Amo Behavioral Health System

June 25, 2025 – Investigative Report on Underreporting of Abuse

• Incident/Report: Investigative journalism. The Capitol Forum published a report revealing that Universal Health Services has consistently failed to report severe patient abuse – including physical and sexual assaults – to state regulators. According to the report, hospital administrators admitted to state officials that if they reported every incident, they “would be reporting all the time,” indicating a pattern of underreporting.

November 14, 2022 – Lawsuit Filed Over 2021 Minor Patient Sexual Assault

• Incident Date: June 16, 2021. A 13-year-old patient (identified as “Kaila”) was sexually assaulted by two male adolescent patients in a restroom at Del Amo Hospital. The assault involved non-consensual intercourse after the boys threatened her, and it was facilitated by lax supervision – staff had allowed the minor female patient to use the boys’ bathroom despite her mother’s explicit warnings. Hospital staff also gave Kaila another patient’s medication prior to the attack, impairing her ability to resist. Del Amo failed to perform a rape kit exam or any medical evaluation after the assault, and did not inform the survivor’s mother until two days later, upon discharging her on June 18, 2021 . Further, the hospital never reported the sexual assault to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or law enforcement. As of January 2023, the lawsuit was ongoing. Court records show Del Amo attempted to strike references to past incidents, arguing they were irrelevant, while the survivor’s counsel maintained they demonstrate the hospital’s notice of systemic issues.

2017 – State Investigation of Unreported Patient-on-Patient Sexual Assault

• Incident Date: 2017 (exact date not publicly reported). A minor patient at Del Amo alleged that he was sexually assaulted by another patient while in the facility’s care. Del Amo’s staff failed to investigate the claim or report it to authorities as required. The state cited Del Amo for this failure. An “Immediate Jeopardy” deficiency – the most severe regulatory violation indicating risk of serious harm – was issued in this period for safety lapses (Del Amo had received an IJ citation in 2014 as well, though that one was for a wrongful death). The 2017 sexual assault investigation likely resulted in corrective action requirements. There is no record of a specific fine in 2017 for this incident, but the finding added to Del Amo’s documented history of serious patient safety violations.

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Get A Help From The Legal Team At Kayla’s Survivors

If you or a loved one has suffered abuse, assault, or sexual misconduct as a result of being a patient at Del Amo Behavioral Health System, call (800) 509-9747 or request a free case evaluation online. Our attorneys are here to listen and provide support – 100% free and confidential.

The sexual abuse attorneys at Kayla’s Survivors have helped recover over $1 billion for survivors and have held countless facilities accountable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible to file a claim against Del Amo Behavioral Health?

Any patient who experienced sexual abuse, assault, or related misconduct while under the care of a behavioral health facility may be eligible. Parents or guardians may bring claims on behalf of minors. Survivors who are now adults may pursue claims for incidents that occurred when they were children.

Is there a deadline to file a claim against Del Amo Behavioral Health?

In California, survivors of childhood sex abuse generally have until age 40 to file a lawsuit. The state also created a special “lookback window” under Assembly Bill 218 that allowed older claims to be filed until December 31, 2022. For adults, most sexual assault claims must be brought within 10 years of the assault or within 3 years of discovering related injuries. For more information, see California’s statute of limitations for sexual abuse and assault claims.

What compensation is available to survivors?

Survivors may pursue financial compensation for medical treatment, therapy, pain and suffering, and the long-term emotional and psychological impact of abuse. In cases of gross negligence or systemic failure, punitive damages may also be available to hold the facility accountable.