Khaberni - A lawsuit concerning the death of an 11-year-old girl in California, who was reportedly tortured and starved by her adoptive family, reached a total settlement amount of $31.5 million yesterday, Friday, from the city and county of San Diego, along with other groups.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Arabella McCormack's two younger sisters, who were six and seven at the time of her death in August 2022.
Their adoptive mother, Letitia McCormack, and her parents, Adela and Stanley Tom, face charges of murder, conspiracy, child abuse, and torture. They have responded to the allegations by affirming their innocence of all charges against them, with their criminal case still ongoing.
The lawsuit alleged a systematic failure across the city and many agencies and organizations due to their failure to report Arabella McCormack’s abuse.
Craig McClellan, the attorney for the sisters, said the settlement includes $10 million from the city of San Diego, $10 million from San Diego County, $8.5 million from Pacific Coast Academy, and $3 million from “Rock Church”. The school was overseeing Arabella McCormack’s homeschooling.
McClellan said: "The amount will be enough to care for the girls for the rest of their lives, but it will never be sufficient and it will never be enough to replace their sister, nor will it erase the memories of what they endured."
