Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit FAQs

Common Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Questions and Answers

This page contains answers to common child sexual abuse lawsuit questions that apply to most claims under the Child Victims Act. To discuss your case in detail or ask specific questions related to your circumstances, contact our firm.

Our team of attorneys handling child sexual abuse lawsuit claims provides free, no obligation case review. Simply contact our firm and one of our experienced lawyers handling child sexual abuse lawsuit claims will contact you promptly to provide a confidential consultation, completely free of charge.

Who can make a Child Victims Act claim or file a child sexual abuse lawsuit?

Any person or family member of a person who experienced child sexual abuse may be eligible to make a claim by filing Child Victims Act claim against the Catholic Church, a school, Boy Scout of America, or other responsible institution for its breach of the public's trust.

What does it cost to file a child sexual abuse lawsuit?

We are committed to representing all persons involved in a New York child sexual abuse lawsuit on a contingency basis, meaning there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. To access your free, no-obligation consultation, use the online chat feature or contact form on this site. One of our lawyers handling Child Victims Act lawsuits for reports of child sexual abuse will contact you to answer any of your questions.

Aren't these just class action lawsuits where the plaintiff receives very little money?

No. When a similar law was passed in California in 2002, the Catholic Church in that state allocated $1.2 billion in priest sexual abuse settlements. Compensations funds have recently been established in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Plaintiffs in successful New York child sexual abuse lawsuits may be entitled to significant compensation.

How much time do I have to file a Child Victims Act lawsuit?

The Child Victims Act does not completely remove time limits, but it does greatly expand them. Victims may seek a felony charge until their 28th birthday and may pursue a civil case until the age of 55. The law also creates a one year "lookback window" during which any survivor of child sexual abuse can report the crime and file a child sexual abuse lawsuit. To meet this time limit, we recommend you contact an attorney in the near future. For specific time limits for your claim, please fill out the form at right and one of our attorneys will contact you as quickly as possible, usually within the hour.

Does it cost anything for you to review my case?

We will always listen to your circumstances and give you our analysis of your case without any cost or further obligation.

Why did it take so long to pass the Child Victims Act in New York?

The passage of the Child Victim's Act in New York comes as a result of more than a decade of lobbying and advocacy on the part of adult survivors and their advocates. Powerful entities including the Catholic Church, the insurance industry, private schools, and the Orthodox Jewish community opposed this legislation, arguing a surge of retroactive child sexual abuse lawsuits and settlements would send their institutions reeling into bankruptcy. Boys Scouts of America, the Catholic Church, and other once-trusted youth organizations are bracing for major litigation as a result of the Child Victims Act.

We're not the type of people who sue; do we really need to file a lawsuit?

If you or a member of your family experienced sexual abuse as a child, the effect this trauma may have on your life is profound. The suffering and difficulty survivors of sexual assault face is difficult to quantify, yet we know that recovery can be a costly undertaking. Furthermore, no amount of money can undo the wrong. It is our fervent hope that every child sexual abuse lawsuit we file can serve to make the responsible persons and institutions take note of the trauma and pain that has resulted. When that fails to make a school or church take action to protect the safety of children, we rely on financial pressure to make them do the right thing. Unfortunately, in all too many cases it is only the fear of lawsuits and large settlements and verdicts that ultimately leads to policy change and enforcement.