Alleged sexual abuse victims at Yeshiva University prepare lawsuit
Zysman Hall at Yeshiva University
David McGlynn
A slew of men who claim they were sexually abused at Yeshiva
University’s all-boys high school from the 1960s to the ’90s are
preparing to sue the school — thanks to a new law that has temporarily
lifted the statute of limitations in such cases.
“For more than 40 years, Yeshiva University covered up the sexual abuse of its students, and now finally, our clients have an opportunity to have their day in court,” lawyer Kevin Mulhearn, who represents 34 former pupils from the school, told The Post on Wednesday.
Mulhearn filed a motion in Manhattan Supreme Court this week asking a judge to compel the school to hand over all records from a 2013 internal probe into allegations against former Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy Principal Rabbi George Finkelstein and teacher Rabbi Macy Gordon.
Mulhearn’s clients have been trying to bring legal action against the prestigious school for years, but their suits have been tossed because they were outside the statute of limitations.
But the situation changed dramatically this year when Albany passed the Child Victims Act, which gives alleged victims who were previously time-barred a one-year window to file suit, starting in August.
“We look forward to obtaining vital information about the abuse, cover-up and eventually the justice that our clients richly deserve,” Mulhearn said.
One ex-student claims he was “viciously sodomized” by Gordon, while another alleges he was assaulted by Finkelstein during a “‘wrestling’ incident,” according to court papers. Both say they reported the alleged incidents to the school, but nothing was done.
The university’s then-chancellor, Norman Lamm, was forced to retire in 2013 after admitting the school dealt with “charges of improper sexual activity” by allowing accused staff members to resign quietly, and didn’t report the accusations to police.
Lamm told The Forward he didn’t recall the allegations against Gordon but acknowledged that Finkelstein was allowed to resign following allegations that he had inappropriate contact with students by wrestling with them in his office.
Both teachers have since moved to Israel, and denied any allegations of sexual misconduct to the outlet.
Yeshiva University did not immediately return requests for comment.
https://nypost.com/2019/03/20/alleged-sexual-abuse-victims-at-yeshiva-university-prepare-lawsuit/?fbclid=IwAR0nV9YqWJQroel5rHifBLBnlBtmLHWzWCdvrWDS5AYVt_RyC6tYx8jBOLA
“For more than 40 years, Yeshiva University covered up the sexual abuse of its students, and now finally, our clients have an opportunity to have their day in court,” lawyer Kevin Mulhearn, who represents 34 former pupils from the school, told The Post on Wednesday.
Mulhearn filed a motion in Manhattan Supreme Court this week asking a judge to compel the school to hand over all records from a 2013 internal probe into allegations against former Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy Principal Rabbi George Finkelstein and teacher Rabbi Macy Gordon.
Mulhearn’s clients have been trying to bring legal action against the prestigious school for years, but their suits have been tossed because they were outside the statute of limitations.
But the situation changed dramatically this year when Albany passed the Child Victims Act, which gives alleged victims who were previously time-barred a one-year window to file suit, starting in August.
“We look forward to obtaining vital information about the abuse, cover-up and eventually the justice that our clients richly deserve,” Mulhearn said.
One ex-student claims he was “viciously sodomized” by Gordon, while another alleges he was assaulted by Finkelstein during a “‘wrestling’ incident,” according to court papers. Both say they reported the alleged incidents to the school, but nothing was done.
The university’s then-chancellor, Norman Lamm, was forced to retire in 2013 after admitting the school dealt with “charges of improper sexual activity” by allowing accused staff members to resign quietly, and didn’t report the accusations to police.
Lamm told The Forward he didn’t recall the allegations against Gordon but acknowledged that Finkelstein was allowed to resign following allegations that he had inappropriate contact with students by wrestling with them in his office.
Both teachers have since moved to Israel, and denied any allegations of sexual misconduct to the outlet.
Yeshiva University did not immediately return requests for comment.
https://nypost.com/2019/03/20/alleged-sexual-abuse-victims-at-yeshiva-university-prepare-lawsuit/?fbclid=IwAR0nV9YqWJQroel5rHifBLBnlBtmLHWzWCdvrWDS5AYVt_RyC6tYx8jBOLA