Survivors Win As New York Judge Rules in Favor of Preserving Anonymity, SNAP Reacts

SNAP
November 8, 2019

https://www.snapnetwork.org/new_york_judge_rules_preserving_anonymity_nov19

A New York judge has ruled that alleged survivors of childhood sexual trauma can take legal action anonymously, like victims of other sex crimes have been able to do for decades. Jesuit officials in New York had hoped to force victims to disclose their identities when suing those who committed abuse against them or concealed that abuse.

That effort was an obvious intimidation tactic that we believe would have only endangered children by scaring survivors into staying silent. We are glad that this maneuver was struck down and hope that it encourages other victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers to come forward and make a report to law enforcement.

For decades, our society has worked to make it less difficult for victims of violence to come forward. We are glad that this short-sighted and selfish attempt to reverse that progress has failed and that Judge George Silver made a ruling that will benefit survivors, protect the vulnerable, and lead to more informed communities. We are grateful to Judge Silver and to attorney Jeff Anderson for fighting against this tactic and ensuring that New York is a more open place for victims of sexual violence.

CONTACT: Brian Toale, SNAP Manhattan (btoale@snapnetwork.org, 646-657-9278), Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, zhiner@snapnetwork.org)