Cuomo Approves Extension for Child Victims Act
A measure that makes it easier for the
survivors and victims of childhood sexual abuse was extended by Gov.
Andrew Cuomo on Monday, signing a measure that expands the window for
filing cases to Aug. 14 of next year.
The Child Victims Act, first approved in 2019, was due to have its window for filing lawsuits expire this month. Now claims will be able to be made for another 12 months.
"The Child Victims Act brought a long-needed pathway to justice for people who were abused, and helps right wrongs that went unacknowledged and unpunished for far too long and we cannot let this pandemic limit the ability for survivors to have their day in court," Cuomo said. "As New York continues to reopen and recover from a public health crisis, extending the look back window is the right thing to do and will help ensure that abusers and those who enabled them are held accountable."
The look-back window's expiration took on added urgency this year as the coronavirus pandemic closed courthouses around New York and slowed the legal process for civil cases.
"Survivors of childhood sex abuse can breathe a sigh of relief now that the lookback window of the Child Victims Act has been extended for one more year," said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal.
"After fighting for the law's passage for 13 long years, many feared the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the courts meant that the clock had run out on their opportunity to seek justice. I thank the Governor for signing this bill into law, thus ensuring that all those seeking redress for the heinous abuse perpetrated against them will have until August 14, 2021 to do so."
The extension approved by Cuomo builds on the measure that allows survivors to file suits before they reach the age of 55 and increases the amount for perpetrators being held criminally accountable.
"I'm extremely grateful to Governor Cuomo for signing our legislation extending the Child Victims Act for an additional year and the leadership of Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for making the rights of survivors a priority, along with the Assembly sponsor, Linda B. Rosenthal," said Sen. Brad Hoylman. "Most of all, credit goes to the fearless survivors of child sexual abuse, who courageously shared their personal stories in order that more New Yorkers would have the chance to hold their abusers and the institutions that harbored them accountable."
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/ny-state-of-politics/2020/08/03/cuomo-approves-extension-for-child-victims-act
The Child Victims Act, first approved in 2019, was due to have its window for filing lawsuits expire this month. Now claims will be able to be made for another 12 months.
"The Child Victims Act brought a long-needed pathway to justice for people who were abused, and helps right wrongs that went unacknowledged and unpunished for far too long and we cannot let this pandemic limit the ability for survivors to have their day in court," Cuomo said. "As New York continues to reopen and recover from a public health crisis, extending the look back window is the right thing to do and will help ensure that abusers and those who enabled them are held accountable."
The look-back window's expiration took on added urgency this year as the coronavirus pandemic closed courthouses around New York and slowed the legal process for civil cases.
"Survivors of childhood sex abuse can breathe a sigh of relief now that the lookback window of the Child Victims Act has been extended for one more year," said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal.
"After fighting for the law's passage for 13 long years, many feared the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the courts meant that the clock had run out on their opportunity to seek justice. I thank the Governor for signing this bill into law, thus ensuring that all those seeking redress for the heinous abuse perpetrated against them will have until August 14, 2021 to do so."
The extension approved by Cuomo builds on the measure that allows survivors to file suits before they reach the age of 55 and increases the amount for perpetrators being held criminally accountable.
"I'm extremely grateful to Governor Cuomo for signing our legislation extending the Child Victims Act for an additional year and the leadership of Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for making the rights of survivors a priority, along with the Assembly sponsor, Linda B. Rosenthal," said Sen. Brad Hoylman. "Most of all, credit goes to the fearless survivors of child sexual abuse, who courageously shared their personal stories in order that more New Yorkers would have the chance to hold their abusers and the institutions that harbored them accountable."
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/hudson-valley/ny-state-of-politics/2020/08/03/cuomo-approves-extension-for-child-victims-act