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Seeger Weiss LLP hails new legislation, signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, that extends the window in which survivors of child sexual abuse may file claims under the state’s Child Victims Act. Survivors—regardless of when or how long ago the alleged abuse occurred—now have until August 14, 2021 to file their claims.
“This means more time for survivors to come forward and gain access to the courts,” said Seeger Weiss founding partner Stephen A. Weiss. “Most important for our clients is their opportunity to be heard and their harms acknowledged by their abusers and the institutions who protected them. But survivors of abuse very often require more time to summon their courage to assert their rights. Now they will have that time.”
“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,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release announcing the extension.
“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,” added State Senator Brad Holyman.
Since the Child Victims Act was first passed in August 2019, more than 3,000 survivors have come forward in New York State alone to seek justice and to make their voice heard.
Representing survivors of child sexual abuse in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and other states throughout the nation, Seeger Weiss lawyers are highly experienced and sensitive in pursuing their clients’ abuse claims. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, Seeger Weiss is available to consult with you free of charge and with total anonymity.
“Survivors deserve justice,” said Weiss. “Their truth needs to be told.”