UPDATED: One Year Window to Sue Child Abusers Opens August 14th

Start planning stories now about the Child Victims Act

NEW YORK (08/01/2019) (readMedia)-- *** FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ***

Link to website added.

On August 14th, the one year window of the Child Victims Act opens for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Reporters who may want to cover this important deadline should know the following:

Survivors can file a civil case against their abusers and any institutions that may have enabled the abuse, no matter how old they are or how long ago the abuse happened. The window closes on September 14th, 2020. Survivors who were 23 or older on the day the bill was signed (February 14th, 2019) must take advantage of the window if they want to seek justice in the courts. Otherwise, survivors who were under 23 years of age on the day the bill was signed (February 14th, 2019), are covered by the NEW statute of limitations: 28 years old for criminal cases, and 55 years old for civil cases.

Safe Horizon - the largest victims service provider in the country - has launched a website to inform survivors about their rights under the Child Victims Act. The comprehensive website answers frequently asked questions and provides guidance for survivors seeking legal assistance. The launch is part of a broader public information campaign focused on wide-ranging outreach and education.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Ariel Zwang, CEO of Safe Horizon/Michael Polenberg VP of Government Affairs

Topics: comment about the law, childhood sexual abuse, and for feedback on what kind of response the organization has gotten since the bill passed.

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the church, althetic leagues, family abuse, etc...

Topics: why they are suing, or not suing? What kind of problems are they experiencing finding legal assistance?