As sex abuse lawsuit window closes, long road for victims
3 years, 1 month ago

As sex abuse lawsuit window closes, long road for victims

Associated Press  

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey’s two-year window that made it easier for victims of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits is closing, and attorneys for some of the hundreds of plaintiffs say it could take years more for the cases against Catholic clerics and dioceses and other entities to be resolved. Democratic state Sen. Joe Vitale, the author of the bill that created the look-back window, said Tuesday that there weren’t plans currently to extend it but that he would consider it, depending on how much support he could build from colleagues. Mascolo noted that cases that might take two years to go to trial could see that stretched to four years due to court backlogs created by the coronavirus pandemic. The closing of the two-year window won’t affect an ongoing criminal investigation into the clergy sex abuse scandal begun by the state attorney general’s office three years ago.

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History of this topic

Victims allege sex abuse in Maryland youth detention facilities under new law allowing them to sue
1 year ago

Victims allege sex abuse in Maryland youth detention facilities under new law allowing them to sue

Associated Press  

BALTIMORE — In the months since Maryland eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims, more than 100 victims have filed a slew of lawsuits alleging horrific treatment inside the state’s youth detention facilities. State lawmakers passed the Child Victims Act with the Catholic Church clergy abuse scandal in mind after a scathing investigative report revealed the scope …

Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Stream In Before New York's Adult Survivors Act Expires
1 year, 1 month ago

Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Stream In Before New York's Adult Survivors Act Expires

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING As its name indicates, New York’s Adult Survivors Act allows adults who survived sexual abuse in the state a one-year “lookback window” to file claims that would otherwise be too late to file due to statutes of limitations. Recent days have seen lawsuits brought against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was accused by singer Cassie of rape …

The Adult Survivors Act launched over 2,500 sex abuse suits. Now, it’s expiring
1 year, 1 month ago

The Adult Survivors Act launched over 2,500 sex abuse suits. Now, it’s expiring

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — For a year, a special New York law has cleared the way for a wave of headline-grabbing lawsuits against famous men accused of sexual misconduct, including former President Donald Trump, hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and the comedian and actor Russell Brand. Like, who was I?” said Alexandria Johnson, who says she was raped multiple times …

Delayed justice: 3 states remove all time limits on child sex abuse lawsuits
1 year, 7 months ago

Delayed justice: 3 states remove all time limits on child sex abuse lawsuits

Associated Press  

PORTLAND, Maine — Ann Allen loved going to church and the after-school social group led by a dynamic priest back in the 1960s. Allen, 64, is one of more than two dozen people who have sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, over the past year, seeking delayed justice since lawmakers allowed lawsuits for abuse that happened long ago …

Illinois Catholic clergy abuse report could draw lawsuits, reforms but new charges unlikely
1 year, 7 months ago

Illinois Catholic clergy abuse report could draw lawsuits, reforms but new charges unlikely

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — Illinois’ attorney general has ended a five-year investigation into sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy in the state, releasing a nearly 700-page report that revealed the problem was far worse than the church acknowledged in 2018 at the start of the state’s review. “Because the statute of limitations has frequently expired, many survivors of child sex abuse …

Law will end time limit on Maryland child sex abuse lawsuits
1 year, 8 months ago

Law will end time limit on Maryland child sex abuse lawsuits

Associated Press  

Wes Moore signed legislation on Tuesday to end Maryland’s statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse can be filed against institutions. “There is no statute of limitations on the trauma that harms so many still to this day, and this law reflects that exact truth.” The Maryland General Assembly passed the bill last week, hours after …

Slew of child sexual abuse lawsuits could bankrupt the Diocese of Sacramento, bishop says
1 year, 10 months ago

Slew of child sexual abuse lawsuits could bankrupt the Diocese of Sacramento, bishop says

LA Times  

The interior of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Sacramento is seen in April 2019. Hundreds of recently filed sexual abuse lawsuits could lead to the bankruptcy of the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, the diocese’s bishop said this week in a letter to the congregation. More than 200 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse were filed against the diocese as …

Maryland mulls ending child sexual abuse lawsuit time limits
1 year, 10 months ago

Maryland mulls ending child sexual abuse lawsuit time limits

Associated Press  

— Adults who testified they were sexually abused as children urged Maryland lawmakers on Thursday to end the state’s statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits can be filed against institutions related to child sexual abuse. Dr. Frank Schindler, who testified he was sexually abused by a Catholic priest when he was a 5-year-old kindergartner in 1954, told legislators that …

As deadline looms, California’s institutions face thousands of childhood sexual abuse claims
2 years ago

As deadline looms, California’s institutions face thousands of childhood sexual abuse claims

LA Times  

Protesters hold quilts bearing portraits of young children outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 1, 2013, one day after the release of personnel files of priests accused of sexual misconduct. In the waning days of a three-year window that gave adults more time to file lawsuits over childhood sexual abuse, California …

New York opens window for adults to sue for sexual assault
2 years, 7 months ago

New York opens window for adults to sue for sexual assault

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will temporarily set aside its time limit for adults who were sexually assaulted to bring lawsuits under a law signed Tuesday — a measure similar to one for child victims that sparked a surge of court actions. We didn’t do enough to protect those individuals, until today.” More than 10,800 lawsuits were filed under New …

Adult sex abuse survivors win 2nd chance to sue in New York
2 years, 7 months ago

Adult sex abuse survivors win 2nd chance to sue in New York

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — Adult sexual assault survivors who missed legal deadlines to sue their abusers would get a second chance to file lawsuits under a bill that received final approval Monday from New York’s Legislature. Once it becomes law, the Adult Survivors Act would set give victims of sexual abuse a one-year window in which the state’s usual statue of …

Child sexual abuse lawsuit ‘window’ moves near referendum
3 years, 11 months ago

Child sexual abuse lawsuit ‘window’ moves near referendum

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The state House has given its final approval to a proposal to change the Pennsylvania Constitution to give those who say they were victims of child sexual abuse a retroactive two-year “window” in which to file civil lawsuits, no matter how long ago the alleged abuse occurred. “By giving second round approval, we submit this crucial question …

Slew of church abuse lawsuits hinges on state court decision
4 years, 4 months ago

Slew of church abuse lawsuits hinges on state court decision

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s Roman Catholic dioceses have been hit with about 150 lawsuits from people who say they were sexually abused as children by priests and hope a state court decision last year has shown a way around time limits for legal claims. Casey Coyle, a lawyer for the Scranton Diocese, said the grand jury report’s Friday anniversary has …

NY gives child abuse survivors more time to file suits
4 years, 5 months ago

NY gives child abuse survivors more time to file suits

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — People who were sexually abused as children will have more time to file legal claims under a new state law against individuals and public and private institutions after concerns that the pandemic was keeping survivors from coming forward. New York’s law allows individuals to file civil lawsuits for childhood sexual abuse before they reach 55 years of …

Pennsylvania Reforms Childhood Sex Abuse Laws In Response To Clergy Scandal
5 years, 1 month ago

Pennsylvania Reforms Childhood Sex Abuse Laws In Response To Clergy Scandal

NPR  

Pennsylvania Reforms Childhood Sex Abuse Laws In Response To Clergy Scandal Enlarge this image toggle caption Matt Rourke/AP Matt Rourke/AP Pennsylvania overhauled its child sexual abuse laws Tuesday, as Governor Tom Wolf signed three bills meant to protect sexual assault survivors. Sponsor Message National How Some Sex Abuse Victims Are Finding Different Ways To Sue Clergy In Pennsylvania How Some …

California grants more time for filing child sexual abuse allegations under new law
5 years, 2 months ago

California grants more time for filing child sexual abuse allegations under new law

LA Times  

Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman gives her victim impact statement during Larry Nassar’s trial. “More and more, we’re hearing about people who were victims years ago but were not ready to come forward to tell their story until now.” Currently, survivors must file a lawsuit within eight years of reaching adulthood or within three years of the date a survivor …

Adult Victims Of Childhood Sex Abuse In New York Can Sue Alleged Abusers
5 years, 4 months ago

Adult Victims Of Childhood Sex Abuse In New York Can Sue Alleged Abusers

NPR  

Adult Victims Of Childhood Sex Abuse In New York Can Sue Alleged Abusers Enlarge this image toggle caption Hans Pennink/AP Hans Pennink/AP A new law that goes into effect Wednesday, gives adult victims of childhood sex abuse in New York one year to bring civil lawsuits against their alleged abusers and the institutions that may have allowed the abuse. The …

Governor signs bill easing limit on sex abuse lawsuits
5 years, 7 months ago

Governor signs bill easing limit on sex abuse lawsuits

Associated Press  

TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Monday to ease restrictions on when childhood sexual abuse victims can seek damages in court, an action that comes after a wave of details last year about the abuse of minors in the Roman Catholic Church. In a statement Monday, the Archdiocese of Newark said it was committed to “comprehensive healing of …

NY gives sex abuse victims more time to sue, press charges
5 years, 10 months ago

NY gives sex abuse victims more time to sue, press charges

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law Thursday long-sought legislation that gives the victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to seek criminal charges or file lawsuits against their abusers. The law known as the Child Victims Act loosens one of the nation’s tightest statutes of limitations on molestation cases. Sarah Klein, a former Olympic gymnast …

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