THE CREW OF A B737-700 ENCOUNTERS WAKE TURB FROM A PRECEDING B747 WHILE IN DSCNT INTO LAX FROM THE E. A FLT ATTENDANT WAS INJURED.

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WHILE ON DSCNT INTO LAX; OUT OF FL260 TO FL240 WE ENCOUNTERED WHAT STARTED AS LIGHT-MODERATE CHOP. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY AN UNCOMMANDED ROLL TO THE L OF APPROX 25-30 DEGS OF BANK WITH ABRUPT SINK/CLB RATE OF 800 FPM; CHARACTERISTIC OF WAKE TURB. I IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND INITIATED A ROLL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; USING 70-80% OPPOSITE AILERON. THE CAPT INFORMED ATC OF THE SEVERE WAKE TURB AND REQUESTED A TURN TO AVOID FURTHER DISRUPTIONS. ATC INFORMED US WE WERE IN TRAIL OF A B747. TCAS SHOWN THE B747 15-20 MI AHEAD AND APPROX 3000 FT BELOW US DSNDING. ONCE WE WERE STABILIZED AND OFFSET FROM THE B747'S COURSE; THE CAPT CALLED TO CHK THE STATUS OF OUR FLT ATTENDANTS. THE 'A' FLT ATTENDANT INFORMED HIM THAT EVERYONE SEEMED OK BUT OUR 'B' ATTENDANT HAD TAKEN A HARD FALL IN THE AFT GALLEY AND HE WAS HAVING PAIN IN HIS SIDE. WE COORD WITH LOS ANGELES OPS TO HAVE EMS STANDING BY. CUSTOMER SVC REPRESENTATIVES WERE ALSO IN THE JETWAY UPON ARR. THE ACFT WAS REMOVED FROM SVC FOR INSPECTION DUE TO THE SEVERE TURB RPT. ALTHOUGH ATC HAD GIVEN US ADEQUATE SEPARATION (15-20 MI) FROM THE B747; IN THE FUTURE I WILL CERTAINLY PAY CLOSER ATTN TO THE TYPE OF TFC TO BE FOLLOWED; NO MATTER HOW FAR ABOVE OR BEHIND WE ARE.