Dr. Patrick Clyne Abuse Lawsuits: Santa Clara County Foster Care
Written by Alex E. Cunny, Partner · Updated October 2026
The short answer. Former Santa Clara County foster youth and former patients have filed lawsuits alleging that Dr. Patrick Clyne, a pediatrician and licensed foster parent, sexually abused children during so-called medical examinations. They also allege that the County of Santa Clara knew of warnings about him for years and kept him in roles that gave him access to foster children. LMMB Law filed one of these lawsuits in July 2026. If Dr. Clyne examined you or cared for you as a child, you may have legal options.
Who Dr. Clyne is, according to public reports and court filings
Roles: a pediatrician and a Santa Clara County–licensed foster parent. He served as chief pediatrician for the county’s foster children beginning in 1996, and as an expert witness for the District Attorney’s Office (The Imprint, May 2025).
Foster license: licensed to operate a foster family home from about December 1994 until he surrendered the license in about March 2007, according to filed lawsuits.
County separation: the county separated from him in about March 2011, according to filed lawsuits. He then practiced privately, including at a pediatric group in Watsonville.
Barred from foster care: in 2014 the California Department of Social Services moved to bar him from foster care and from working with children in state-licensed facilities (The Imprint).
Medical license: the Medical Board of California filed an Accusation against him in 2021. He surrendered his medical license effective June 13, 2025 (The Imprint).
Criminal record: he has not been criminally charged, and he has maintained his innocence (The Imprint).
What the lawsuits allege about Santa Clara County
According to the filed lawsuits, including LMMB’s:
In 1996 the County received a written incident report about Dr. Clyne’s conduct with a foster child in his home.
A neighbor’s complaint about supervision of the foster children in his home, made in January 2001, was shared with Dr. Clyne and then dismissed.
In November 2001 several children disclosed sexual abuse by Dr. Clyne. The licensing investigation was directed to “stand down.”
The County kept him in County-connected, child-facing medical roles from 2001 to 2011.
LMMB’s complaint alleges:
“Instead, the licensing investigation was directed to ‘stand down.’ … The stand-down carved out an exception found in no statute, regulation, or manual, to protect a useful SANTA CLARA COUNTY insider from mandatory child-protection rules.”
(Complaint ¶ 35, Santa Clara County Superior Court No. 26CV499709, filed July 31, 2026.)
LMMB’s lawsuit
A lawsuit filed on July 31, 2026 in Santa Clara County Superior Court by a client of Lanier Meyer McBride Blair LLP alleges that the County of Santa Clara failed to protect a child in its foster care system from sexual abuse by Dr. Patrick Clyne during purported medical examinations, and that the County had been warned about him since the 1990s. The lawsuit names the County, Dr. Clyne and former County manager Ken Borelli as defendants. Case No. 26CV499709. These are allegations; no court has made findings.
Other lawsuits
Other former foster youth have filed their own lawsuits making similar allegations, including a May 2026 suit by seven former foster youth (The Imprint, May 2026). In late 2025 the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a $5.5 million settlement with a former foster youth who had been placed in Dr. Clyne’s home (same source).
Were you examined by Dr. Clyne?
You may have a case if, as a child, you:
were in Santa Clara County foster care, or at the Children’s Shelter
were examined by Dr. Clyne at a County clinic or Valley Medical Center–connected clinic, at his office, or in a foster home
were his patient in private practice, including in Watsonville
You don’t need records, a police report, or a criminal case. You can file as Jane or John Doe. You can bring a case before your 40th birthday, with no government claim first. If you’re 40 or older, stricter rules apply, so talk to a lawyer promptly.
Frequently asked questions
Was Dr. Clyne ever charged with a crime?
According to public reporting, no. A civil case doesn’t require criminal charges.
I was a patient, not a foster child. Can I still bring a claim?
Possibly. Contact us for a confidential review.
Will my name be public?
You can ask to file as Jane or John Doe.
What does it cost?
Nothing up front. Fees and expenses are charged only against money recovered.
Free, confidential case review
If Dr. Clyne examined you or cared for you as a child, contact us for a free and confidential consultation about your legal options.
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