As the coronavirus pandemic continues to slow or completely stop America’s justice system, New York legislatures decided to extend the Child Victims Act (CVA), a law that opens up more time for sexual abuse victims to pursue legal action against their alleged abusers. On Friday May 8, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the CVA’s one-year “look back” window an additional five months. The state stopped accepting new cases in March in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“Because of the reduction in court services due to the virus, we are extending that window for an additional five months until January 14th to ensure survivors have the access to the courts that they need to file a claim and get the long-overdue justice they deserve,” Cuomo said in a statement.
New York’s Child Victims Act was passed last year by Gov. Cuomo, opening up a one-year period of time for sexual abuse victims to bring forward claims that may have expired under old statute of limitations. The expiration for this window of time was set for August 14, 2020. With the extension, the new deadline is scheduled for January 14, 2021.
“As the unemployment rate spikes above 14%, it’s unreasonable to expect survivors of child sexual abuse to do the emotional and legal work necessary to file CVA lawsuits while simultaneously fighting to pay rent and put food on the table,” said Brad Hoylman, a Democratic state senator who pushed for the extension.
Since last August around 1,700 claims have been filed in the New York state courts, including many lawsuits who claimed to be abused at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. Large numbers of lawsuits have also been filed against institutions for enabling abuse such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church.
Were You a Victim of Sexual Abuse in New York?
If you survived sexual abuse as a child in New York, you are not alone or without options for help. At No More Abuse USA, we provide experienced sexual abuse attorneys to explain your legal options after enduring sexual abuse and fight for your right to recovery. Additionally, we operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you never pay us anything out of pocket for our services. We only get paid once we win or settle your case.
For your free, no-obligation case consultation, contact us today. We have legal professionals standing by 24/7 to answer your case questions and concerns.
