Major Civil Settlement After Tragic Child Abuse Case
SAN DIEGO — A civil lawsuit connected to the starvation and torture death of 11-year-old Arabella McCormack has concluded with a combined $31.5 million settlement, marking a significant resolution in one of the most harrowing child neglect cases in recent California history.
The funds are intended to provide lifelong financial support for Arabella’s two younger sisters, who survived severe abuse and neglect while living with the same adoptive family.
Settlement Breakdown: City, County, School & Church Contributions
The total $31.5 million settlement comes from several defendants named in the civil suit:
- City of San Diego: $10 million
- San Diego County: $10 million
- Pacific Coast Academy: $8.5 million
- Rock Church: $3 million
These entities were accused of failing in their mandated reporting duties or oversight responsibilities as warning signs of abuse went unreported.
Attorneys for the sisters noted that while the settlement offers financial security, no amount of money can replace the loss of their sibling or erase the trauma they experienced.
Allegations of Systemic Failures in Abuse Reporting
The lawsuit detailed a pattern of alleged negligence spanning multiple agencies and institutions:
- County social workers were accused of not thoroughly investigating earlier reports of neglect.
- Teachers and staff connected to the Pacific Coast Academy — which managed the children’s homeschooling — reportedly saw signs of malnourishment but failed to act.
- A San Diego police officer, named in the case, was also accused of not reporting signs of abuse and even supplying wooden paddles used in corporal punishment.
When law enforcement finally responded to a welfare check in August 2022, Arabella was found severely malnourished with multiple injuries and later died at a hospital.
Surviving Sisters in Foster Care, Future Support Secured
Arabella’s surviving sisters — now 9 and 11 — have been placed with a foster caregiver and are reported to be healthy after receiving necessary treatment following their rescue. Their legal team says the settlement will help ensure their lifelong care and stability.
