A New Law Lets Survivors File Sex-Abuse Lawsuits Again

The New York City Council recently approved legislation that restores survivors’ ability to bring civil claims under the City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA). The law reopens a one-year “lookback” window so certain survivors of sex abuse and other gender-motivated violence can file lawsuits again, even if the abuse happened years or decades ago or if their prior GMVA case was dismissed after a recent court ruling.

You may qualify if you suffered gender-motivated violence or sexual abuse connected to New York City and:

• You were abused in a city-run institution or another facility or program in NYC (such as a juvenile facility, hospital, school, or other organization), or
• An individual abuser and an institution or entity played a role in allowing the abuse to occur, and
• Your case was previously dismissed under a narrow interpretation of the GMVA, or you were told you were out of time to file.

Even if the abuse happened long ago or you have never filed a lawsuit before, the new lookback window may give you another chance to seek civil justice.

There is no cost upfront to speak with us, and we only receive a fee if we recover money for you.

You do not need to have every detail or document before reaching out. To get started, it can help to:

• Fill out our quick online case evaluation form with as much information as you feel comfortable sharing
• Save any letters, emails, or legal paperwork you have received about past cases, dismissals, or investigations
• Avoid signing any releases or settlement documents or discussing your case with representatives of the institution before speaking with an attorney

Once you contact us, we can walk you through the next steps and what to expect.

Yes. Even with the reopened lookback window, there are still strict deadlines. The legislation creates a limited one-year period for certain survivors to file or re-file GMVA claims that might otherwise be time-barred. Other statutes of limitations may also apply depending on the details of your case. Because these timelines are complex and may change as courts interpret the law, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible so we can evaluate your deadlines and protect your ability to bring a claim. Filling out our free case evaluation form only takes a few minutes and does not obligate you to proceed.

We provide:

• Free, confidential case evaluations
• Step-by-step guidance to protect your rights and pursue maximum compensation
• Compassionate, victim-focused support throughout the process