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LOS ANGELES, September 29, 2026—Thousands of young people in L.A. County’s foster system sleep in their cars, couch surf with strangers, and struggle to access mental health care because County and State agencies have for years ignored their legal obligations. Now, the United States District Court for the Central District of California has ruled that seven of these young people have the right to hold these agencies accountable.
The court rejected attempts by Los Angeles County and California state to dismiss Ocean S., et al. v. Los Angeles Country, et al., a federal lawsuit brought in 2023 by seven young people alleging systemic failures on the part of the County and State to provide safe housing, behavioral health services, and basic support to transition age youth with mental health disabilities (ages 16 to 21 years) while in the foster system.
In a significant step, a federal court has largely denied defendants’ motions to dismiss the Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint, allowing the claims for disability discrimination, violations of Plaintiffs’ procedural and substantive due process rights, and violations of Plaintiffs’ right to behavioral health care services under the Medicaid Act to proceed. The decision is the latest in a series of rulings affirming the validity of plaintiffs’ claims. With this latest success, Plaintiffs can pursue the systemic reforms they’ve sought since filing suit.
“The Court’s ruling is clear: this case has merit, and will move forward,” said Tara Ford, Senior Counsel, Public Counsel. “For over three years, the County and State have chosen to wield litigation tactics to evade accountability and stall meaningful action to provide transition age youth safe housing and needed mental health services. This is a solvable problem. We hope that the County and State will come to the table now and deliver the solutions these young people have been owed for far too long.”
“We look forward to vindicating our clients’ rights,” said Leecia Welch, Chief Legal Counsel at Children’s Rights. “We will not let the County’s and State’s delays stand in the way of what our clients are fighting for: an end to homelessness, disability discrimination, and the denial of essential supportive services for transition-age youth in LA County’s foster system.”
“The young people who brought this case have experienced homelessness, housing instability, repeated placement disruptions, and barriers to accessing critical mental health services. This decision ensures that these important claims can continue to be heard on their merits,” said Jennifer L. Braun, President and CEO, Alliance for Children’s Rights.”
“Our clients are seeking safe housing, equal treatment, due process, and access to medically necessary services,” said Grant A. Davis-Denny, Partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. “Providing shelter and behavioral health care to these young people while respecting their constitutional rights should not be controversial. Following the Court’s decision, the County and State should get to work delivering the reforms needed to solve these long-standing problems.”
The case will now continue with discovery and further litigation.
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About Public Counsel
Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.publicounsel.org
About Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP is a law firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. MTO maintains a national and international practice, with principal areas of focus including litigation, corporate, labor and employment, environmental, financial restructuring, and tax. Contributing to the community through pro bono work and other forms of volunteerism is a core tenet of the firm’s culture. It was a charter signatory to the American Bar Association’s pro bono challenge, and consistently dedicates more than 8% of all attorney time to pro bono work.
About Alliance for Children’s Rights
The Alliance for Children’s Rights protects the rights of children and young adults impacted by foster care. By providing free legal representation and social services, and by advocating for broad solutions through ground-breaking child welfare policy reform, the Alliance clears barriers to stability and opportunity so that young people and families can access the support and services they need to thrive. For more information, visit allianceforchildrensrights.org.
About Children’s Rights
Children’s Rights is a national advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of children living in or impacted by America’s child welfare, immigration, juvenile legal, education, and healthcare systems. We use civil rights impact litigation, advocacy and policy expertise, and public education to hold governments accountable for keeping kids safe and healthy. Our work centers on creating lasting systemic change that will advance the rights of children for generations. For more information, please visit www.childrensrights.org.
