NEW YORK
Catholic News Agency
May 13, 2020
In addition to providing a legal window, The Child Victims Act also adjusted the statute of limitations for pursuing criminal charges and civil suits against sexual abusers or institutions.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has issued an executive order to extend for five months the legal window for victims of childhood sex abuse to file civil claims, due to court delays caused by the coronavirus epidemic.
Victims of sex abuse may now file by Jan. 14, 2021 instead of August 13 of this year. Cuomo said May 8 the extension is needed “because people need access to the courts to make their claim, because justice too long delayed is justice denied,” the New York Daily News reports.
On March 22 non-essential court filings were frozen as part of New York’s efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The court system is preparing to allow new filings under the state’s Child Victims Act.
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