Victims of Sexual Abuse That Were Previously Unable to Pursue Civil Claims May Be Able to Proceed After ‘Lookback’ Window Extended
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (November 26, 2026) – The New York City Council has voted to restore the ability of sex abuse survivors to bring civil claims after many claims were dismissed.
The bill, Intro 1297, had more than 41 cosponsors and was overwhelmingly passed on November 25. The legislation will help clarify what survivors are able to bring claims under the City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA).
Mayor Eric Adams signed the legislation into law. Under the legislation, abuse survivors will be able to pursue civil actions against institutions that may have contributed to their sexual abuse. This includes a wide variety of different public and private organizations.
- Hospitals
- Medical Groups
- Schools
- Universities
- Camps
- Daycares
- Foster Care
- Businesses
- Juvenile Detention Centers
Victims will be able to pursue claims from March 2026 all the way until March 2027. The passage of the bill comes after a previous court ruling that dismissed many different lawsuits.
This includes over 450 cases against juvenile detention facilities. Any person abused by employees at jails, hospitals, universities, schools, and private businesses across New York may be able to hold them directly liable through a civil claim.
Don’t Wait to Take Action: If you or someone that you care about has been the victim of institutional sexual abuse in New York, there is a limited window to take action. Our attorneys can review your case free of charge and let you know what your legal options are.
You may be able to pursue a lawsuit even if you were previously told that you could not by another legal team. You can call us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
Liability for New York City Sexual Abuse
Institutions across New York City can be liable for instances of sexual abuse. This includes schools and other government agencies as well as private businesses. Consider, for example, Mirand v. City of New York, schools are “under a duty to adequately supervise the students in their charge and they will be held liable for foreseeable injuries proximately related to the absence of adequate supervision.” There are a number of steps that institutions should take to prevent sexual abuse.
- Rigorous Hiring: Institutions should conduct comprehensive background checks on all of their employees and volunteers.
- Training: Institutions should train their staff to recognize grooming behaviors and to report any instances of inappropriate conduct.
- Enforce Policies: Institutions should enforce all policies and safety rules related to preventing sexual abuse.
- Monitoring: Institutions should adequately supervise and monitor all people in their care to prevent abuse.
When a school, jail, or other institution has actual or constructive notice that one of their employees poses a risk of harm, they must take action. Failing to take action in this setting could form the basis of a negligence claim if a child or other person is then sexually abused. In far too many cases, these institutions will get complaints that certain individuals are acting inappropriately. But they will fail to follow up and investigate allegations.
Steps to Take After Sexual Abuse in New York City
Sexual abuse is an all too common occurrence across New York City. Much of the abuse is taking place in city-run juvenile detention centers. According to NY1, “Late last month, over 100 juvenile detainees filed new lawsuits alleging they endured sexual abuse in city-run detention centers. The new wave of complaints brings the total number of alleged assaults in these facilities to over 500 cases. The Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, passed in 2022, has made these lawsuits possible.” It is important that certain actions are taken after sexual abuse in New York City.
- Victims and their families should prioritize safety and remove survivors from locations where they are at risk.
- Victims should seek to preserve as much evidence as possible. This will include medical records and items of clothing that they may have worn.
- Victims should report the incident to the police so that they can begin an official investigation.
- Victims should seek the guidance of an experienced New York City sexual abuse attorney.
Sexual abuse is one of the most destructive and harmful experiences that most people will go through in their lives. It can be particularly damaging for children. Victims of sexual abuse often suffer life-altering psychological trauma that can manifest through anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. They are able to seek some measure of justice and accountability through a civil action.
Getting Legal Help for Sexual Abuse in New York City
We at GLK Law are pleased that the NYC Council voted to extend the lookback window for abuse victims. This will go a long way towards ensuring that abuse victims are actually able to get their day in court. Hospitals, jails, schools, universities, and private employers across NYC that failed to protect children and other vulnerable adults from abuse need to be held accountable for their actions.
Have you or someone you care about been the victim of sexual abuse in New York City? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. With the passage of this legislation, you may be able to pursue a civil claim, even if you could not in the past. Our team of experienced New York City sexual abuse attorneys can examine the unique facts of your case at no cost and will let you know what your legal options are. You are always welcome to contact our law office anytime at (516) 908-9792.
