New York City is on the cusp of facing hundreds of millions in damages as lawmakers have passed a bill that will allow previously dismissed sexual abuse lawsuits against the city to move forward. The legislation, which was introduced last May and has been years in the making, provides an 18-month window for survivors to file new claims or amend existing ones.
The bill comes after a Bronx judge threw out hundreds of cases earlier this summer, ruling that a previous law allowing survivors to sue under the Gender-Motivated Violence Act was too vague. The legislation aims to clarify that plaintiffs can sue institutions, not just individuals, for incidents that occurred before 2022, which was the key issue in those dismissed cases.
Lawyers representing hundreds of survivors have hailed the bill as a relief, saying it will give them a second chance at justice after being previously failed by the system. "When the dismissal of hundreds of cases came down, it was devastating to the survivors," said one lawyer. "They had the courage to come forward, and then, they basically had the rug pulled out from under them."
The bill's main sponsor, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, has long argued that survivors should be able to seek justice on all levels, including institutions. The legislation addresses a technicality in how the law was written, which prevented courts from ruling that individuals who committed crimes of violence motivated by gender could also be sued.
Under the new law, plaintiffs who filed during the previous window will be able to amend or refile their claims, and new lawsuits can be filed for incidents that occurred before January 9, 2022. The change affects not just the city but also other enabling entities in New York City, including hospitals.
The cost of the bill is estimated to be up to $1 billion, according to a review by the city's Office of Management and Budget. While the mayor's signature on the legislation has yet to be obtained, many are hopeful that it will bring closure to survivors who were previously failed by the system.
The bill comes after a Bronx judge threw out hundreds of cases earlier this summer, ruling that a previous law allowing survivors to sue under the Gender-Motivated Violence Act was too vague. The legislation aims to clarify that plaintiffs can sue institutions, not just individuals, for incidents that occurred before 2022, which was the key issue in those dismissed cases.
Lawyers representing hundreds of survivors have hailed the bill as a relief, saying it will give them a second chance at justice after being previously failed by the system. "When the dismissal of hundreds of cases came down, it was devastating to the survivors," said one lawyer. "They had the courage to come forward, and then, they basically had the rug pulled out from under them."
The bill's main sponsor, Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers, has long argued that survivors should be able to seek justice on all levels, including institutions. The legislation addresses a technicality in how the law was written, which prevented courts from ruling that individuals who committed crimes of violence motivated by gender could also be sued.
Under the new law, plaintiffs who filed during the previous window will be able to amend or refile their claims, and new lawsuits can be filed for incidents that occurred before January 9, 2022. The change affects not just the city but also other enabling entities in New York City, including hospitals.
The cost of the bill is estimated to be up to $1 billion, according to a review by the city's Office of Management and Budget. While the mayor's signature on the legislation has yet to be obtained, many are hopeful that it will bring closure to survivors who were previously failed by the system.
This is so messed up... People got their voices heard and now they'll get a chance to speak truth to power 
18 months feels like forever for these survivors though 
And $1 billion? That's just added insult to injury 
they're talkin 'bout a huge bill that's gonna give hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to those who've been hurt for way too long 
️
This law is long overdue & a massive relief for NYC's survivors - can't believe they had to fight so hard 2 get justice 
The cost may be steep, but let's prioritize their healing over bureaucratic red tape 
. It's just a shame that it took so long to get this passed and make things right.
. Not that I think everything is gonna be okay overnight, but at least there's a glimmer of hope. And for that, I'll take it 
.
This bill is a huge step in the right direction, but it's also kinda sad that it had to come to this. I mean, survivors should never have been made to feel like they weren't heard or believed. It's not their fault these cases got dismissed 
.
. Will we finally start seeing some real change? Only time will tell 
like, what's the point of even trying 2 fight 4 justice if ur not gonna get it? anyway i think its great that councilmember Brooks-Powers is pushin 4 this change it makes total sense that survivors should b able 2 sue institutions 2o 
it's just heartbreaking to think about all the survivors who were left feeling so powerless and ignored 
anyway back to nyc - $1b is a lot of cash but i guess it's worth it for the people who got hurt and didn't get justice yet 
. The new bill is a huge relief, but $1 billion is still a lot of money 
. It's crazy how technicalities in law can prevent people from getting justice 
. At least now there's a second chance, that has to bring some closure 
.. but atleast now theres a chance for them to get justice 
... i mean, what kinda sick place in the world thinks its okay to allow this kind of abuse to happen & then tries to sweep it under the rug 
? anywayz, im glad we're seeing some progress on this... let's hope the mayor signs it ASAP so these survivors can finally get some closure 
By clarifying that institutions can be held liable for incidents motivated by gender violence, this bill has the potential to provide closure to survivors who were previously denied justice. However, I worry about the cost-benefit analysis of this legislation - $1 billion is a substantial amount, especially considering the long-term implications on public funds. 
I'm literally shaking my head over this one... 18 months is a tiny window for survivors to come forward with their claims and still get justice. The $1 billion estimate is insane, but at least it's better than nothing 
The same year, the NYC Police Department received over 16,000 reports of sexual assault.
. But nope, justice is slow, but it's not dead either 
. This bill is a big deal, and I'm glad to see it's giving people (and specifically, the city) some much-needed closure 
! i mean can u even imagine how devastating it must be to have your case thrown out like that? 