New York’s current state of statute of limitations for children who have been victims of sexual abuse remains unchanged. The Child Victims Act version that has been passed over and over again by the state Assembly included the one-year window that permits victims who have been abused in the past to act and file civil lawsuits against their abusers despite the years that have passed. It’s now been over a decade and the state Senate remains reluctant to open up their eyes to this dire matter.
The state Senate are not the only ones who view the look-back window as an issue. The Catholic Church have argued against the statute from the beginning claiming that they would be forced to defend very old cases for which little if no evidence exists. Other institutions such as schools, religious sectors and hospitals also face the same flood of lawsuits and claims. But the constant rejection of addressing a statute of limitations has yet to cease efforts by New York State.
Gary Greenberg, a child sex abuse survivor who currently resides in New Baltimore and is an advocate for the CVA stated that he would support a separation between the statute of limitations changes from the look-back window. Recently, he argued that changes to statute of limitations must be paired with the lawsuit window, but then he realized that failure to modify the statute is only hurting sex abuse victims who otherwise would be able to sue and protect criminals and pedophiles who are more likely than not to repeat their abuse. “Changing the statute is therefore an emergency — and lawmakers should so do so this year. I see no sense in waiting for another election,” Greenberg said.
There are many Child Victim Act supporters who cannot get behind Greenberg. Most of them disagree completely with his support for comprise altogether which was pushed by republican state Senator Catherine Young.
Young’s bill addresses the statute of limitations but also provides funds for victims using the $300 million forfeiture that is controlled by the Manhattan district attorney’s office. An independent appointed administrator would handle the claims outside of the court. Greenberg agrees with Young that this bill would deeply benefit victims.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat and supporter of the original Child Victims Act. “It’s an outrage to suggest using public money to cover for institutions that have harbored child sex predators. Like robbing Peter to pay John Paul II.”
If you have been sexually abused please call our sexual abuse attorneys at Alonso Krangle LLP at 800-403-6191 or through our website at www.fightforvictims.com. Our attorneys are sensitive to your story and will assist you in recourse and the compensation and justice you deserve. We will fight together against your abuser or any institution that has failed to protect you. Please call us today to review your legal rights.
I want to take this opportunity to again say thank you for your years of service working on my case, I sincerely appreciate you.
Respectfully,