CANTON (NY)
North Country Public Radio
May 9, 2020
By Karen DeWitt
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is extending a one-year look-back window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits for an additional five months, to mid-January.
The governor announced the change at his daily coronavirus briefing, where he also said his health officials are looking into a new related illness in children that killed a 5-year-old boy on Thursday.
The Child Victims Act opened a one-year window for New Yorkers who were sexually abused as children that lifts the statute of limitations to file civil suits against their alleged abusers. It was set to expire in mid-August, but because the courts have been virtually closed since March, many people have been unable to proceed with their legal actions.
Cuomo said victims will now have until Jan. 14 to sue.
“People need access to the courts to make their claim,” Cuomo said.
Sponsors of the original measure had sought to extend the look-back window for another full year.
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