A new law in New York allows people who were sexually abused as adults to file civil lawsuits against their abuser, no matter when the abuse occurred and regardless of any statute of limitations.
Jennfer Freeman is Senior Counsel at the Marsh Law Firm.
“The Adult Survivors Act is a window which revives the statute of limitations for survivors who were adults when they were sexually abused, in New York State,” said Freeman.
Florida residents who may have lived in New York State and been abused as adults there should know that the window is open to file a civil lawsuit against a person or an institution.
The law covers abuse that happened when the person was 18 or older, though it may have started when the person was a child and continued into adulthood.
If you’re considering filing a suit, Freeman says, speak to a lawyer who knows something about sexual abuse legislation. The deadline to file a lawsuit is Nov. 23, 2023.
Along those lines, attorney Jennifer Freeman has another piece of advice:
“Get going right away,” she said. “Don’t wait.”
WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you.