Residents of New York City who are child sex abuse survivors may be able to recover damages for the abuse they suffered. The New York Child Victims Act allows survivors to file claims against their abusers. Specifically, it covers situations suffered while in foster care services. If you’re a survivor of child sex abuse, it’s important to know about the law and how you can fight back.
What is the New York Child Victims Act?
The New York Child Victims Act allows child sex abuse survivors to file claims to recover compensation for the abuse they suffered. New York Child Victims Act sex abuse claims are valid as long as the victim was under the age of 18 at the time of the abuse.
Two years ago, in August 2019, through the Act, around 5,000 lawsuits were filed again various institutions for child sex abuse. Survivors of child sex abuse filed their lawsuits against the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church. However, there were also a few survivors who filed lawsuits against the state’s foster care system.
What kind of claims do survivors have against the foster care system?
Sadly, according to experts and advocates, the rates of sex abuse are considerably higher for children in the foster care system. At the same time, in spite of the sheer number of New York Child Victims Act sex abuse claims being filed, the information is usually hidden from the public. This isn’t surprising considering the sensitive nature of the claims and the need for privacy for survivors of child sex abuse.
An attorney who works to change child welfare policies explained that the foster care system in New York is very private, which is why abuse can be so rampant. She stated that oversight and monitoring are substandard and that children can end up suffering as a result. Unfortunately, much of the abuse often goes unreported.
