Were you sexually abused as a child in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York? Did you receive a mail about a class action on the settlement to resolve claims about the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, & New York Sexual Abuse Victims lawsuit? This review will help you partake in the class action settlement after confirming the authenticity of the mail.
What Is Pennsylvania, New Jersey, & New York Sexual Abuse Victims Class Action Settlement?
You may be able to hold sexual abusers accountable under newly expanded protections for sexual assault survivors in these states.
New laws recently passed in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey have extended protections to those who were sexually abused as children, allowing them more time to pursue litigation and hold their abusers accountable.
For instance, in New York, survivors of sexual abuse as children now have until the age of 55 to bring civil lawsuits against alleged perpetrators, and a “look-back window” period has been created for those who previously tried to bring claims but were denied due to the statute of limitations.
The expanded laws in these states will allow child sexual abuse survivors who may have lived with the pain of the abuse for decades to bring not only the perpetrators to justice but also public and private entities who may have protected abusers by ignoring or actively covering up abuse.
What Is This Class Action All About?
In New York, sexual abuse victims previously had only until age 23 to file criminal or civil charges. Now, under the New York Child Victims Act signed into law in Feb. 2019, prosecutors can bring criminal charges until the victim turns 28, and victims can file civil lawsuits until age 55.
The new law was fought against for years by insurance companies, private schools, and religious organizations, according to The New York Times. These organizations argued that the allegations of abuse could send their organizations into bankruptcy.
However, with control of the New York state legislature in different hands, the Child Victims Act passed with bipartisan support and was successfully signed into law.
Prior to the passage of the law in New York, child sexual abuse claims in New York were some of the most restrictive in the nation, according to The New York Times, setting a particularly strict deadline for survivors. Survivors in certain other states have decades or even no limit on when they may bring claims against abusers.
In addition to expanding the ability of survivors to bring civil and criminal claims against their abusers, the New York law also contains a “look-back” provision. The “look-back period allows survivors one year after the passage of the law to revive old claims.
“The work starts now. A different kind of work starts now,” an advocate told The New York Times. “A one-year window is a very short period of time. There’s a lot of people to get that information to.”
However, survivors ended up with more than a one-year window. Indeed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the look-back window was extended substantially with a new deadline of Aug. 14, 2021, though it has now passed.
Advocates say that the updated child abuse laws have been a long time coming.
“It gives meaning and purpose to everything I and my fellow survivors have gone through,” said one survivor who spent years pushing for the law in New York. The survivor, who spent his childhood on Long Island, told the New York Times that he was sexually abused by a staff member of his high school as a teenager. He wrote a letter telling the school about the abuse, but not until he was 62 years old.
Indeed, those who survive sexual abuse as a child often take years and even decades to come to terms with the devastating injuries. Sadly, these assaults on the most vulnerable often occur by trusted adults in positions of authority. Organizations have also been known to protect the abuser rather than listen to sexual abuse victims.
These newly expanded laws can help those who have been silent about sexual abuse they survived as a child and hold their abusers and any involved organizations accountable.
“Today, in passing the Child Victims Act, we are finally telling the survivors: The State of New York and the full force of its law is behind you, and you will not be turned away,” said one sponsor of the bill upon its successful passing, according to NBC News.
Those who were sexual abuse victims as children may be able to file a civil lawsuit against their abusers, as well as any organizations or institutions who may have shielded that abuser.
Who Is Eligible?
The settlement benefits all class members who were sexually assaulted as a child in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York—even decades ago—experienced sexual assault attorneys are ready to help.
How To Be Part of This Settlement
For a class member to partake in this settlement, they must submit their Valid claim on the settlement website.
What Is The Pay For This Settlement?
The pay for this settlement varies and the proof of purchase is not necessary.
Conclusion
As you submit your claim to the settlement website, just like Traumatic Brain Injury class action settlement we have reviewed , you’re doing so under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim.
