Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently changed the deadline for filing new childhood sexual abuse claims under the New York Child Victims Act in light of the coronavirus pandemic. He announced that the lookback window for filing a civil lawsuit will be extended to January 14, 2021, since courts have been closed for several months due to COVID-19.

The Child Victims Act took effect in August last year. The legislation included a one-year period allowing people to file their claims in cases that had been time-barred or expired. The timeframe has now been extended five months from the original August 14, 2020 expiration date to provide survivors with more time to access the courts. The law also extended the statute of limitations for civil claims, enabling childhood sexual abuse survivors to file lawsuits against an alleged abuser or affiliated institution until they are 55 years old.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to reduced court services, which has impacted the ability of lawyers to file and prepare cases. Court services have transitioned online and been limited to essential proceedings during the COVID-19 crisis.

If you are facing child sexual abuse charges, contact the experienced defense lawyers at Brill Legal Group. We understand the emotionally sensitive nature of such cases and know exactly how to handle them to advocate effectively on our client’s behalf.