Mass Tort · New York Public Institution Abuse
Free case review for New York public school and institution sexual abuse survivors.
New York law may allow survivors of childhood sexual abuse to pursue claims against the public institutions that failed to protect them. If you experienced sexual abuse involving a public school district, charter school, SUNY or CUNY campus, juvenile facility, foster or group home, or another public institution anywhere in New York State, you may have the right to pursue compensation.
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Background
Public schools and institutions across New York State failed the children they were trusted to protect.
Survivors across New York State — from New York City to Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo — are coming forward with accounts of sexual abuse inside public institutions: public school districts, charter schools, public colleges and universities, juvenile detention and youth facilities, foster and group homes, public recreation and sports programs, and other government-run organizations. The accounts span decades and describe a recurring pattern: staff who used their authority to abuse, supervisors who failed to intervene, and districts that quietly transferred employees rather than report them.
New York law gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse a path to hold those institutions accountable. Under the Child Victims Act, survivors may bring civil claims for childhood sexual abuse until age 55 — and public school districts, municipalities, and state agencies can be named alongside the individual who committed the abuse.
The Law · New York Child Victims Act
What New York law means for survivors.
01
A Path to Civil Justice
New York's Child Victims Act lets survivors of childhood sexual abuse bring a civil claim until age 55, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.
02
Public Institutions Held Accountable
Claims may name the public school district, public college, county, or state agency that employed, supervised, or enabled the abuser — not only the individual.
03
Coverage Across New York State
Survivors anywhere in New York may qualify — New York City, Long Island, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and every district in between.
The Law · NYC Gender-Motivated Violence Act
If the abuse happened in New York City, the GMVA may also apply.
Sexual abuse is recognized under NYC law as gender-motivated violence. Survivors abused inside New York City institutions may have a GMVA claim against the City and the institution that enabled it — a pathway that stands on its own, separate from the Child Victims Act.
01
A Second Civil Pathway
New York City's Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) gives survivors of sexual abuse in NYC a separate civil claim — in addition to, or instead of, a Child Victims Act claim.
02
The City & Its Agencies
GMVA claims may name the City of New York and its agencies — including the Department of Education, public schools, and other city-run institutions — alongside the individual who committed the abuse.
03
Its Own Filing Window
The GMVA provides its own filing window for gender-motivated sexual violence committed in New York City, which can open a path for survivors whose other deadlines have passed.
Filing deadlines vary by claim and institution. Every case is different; prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Institutions Covered
Abuse at any of these New York institutions may qualify.
- Crossroads Juvenile CenterBrooklyn
- Horizon Juvenile CenterBronx
- Rikers Island – WOMEN ONLYRose M. Singer Center
- Rockefeller
- NYC Public Schools
- NYC Private Schools
- NYC Administration for Children's Services
- Athletic Clubs
- Public Hospitals
- NYU Langone
- Mount Sinai
- Montefiore
- Columbia University
- NYU
- Fordham University
- NYIT
- Berkeley College
- St. John's University
This list is not exhaustive — if the institution isn't listed, you may still qualify. A free, confidential review answers that question at no cost and no commitment.
Who May Have a Claim
Sexual abuse at any of these New York public institutions may qualify.
- Public school districts (K–12)
- Public charter schools
- Public colleges & universities (SUNY / CUNY)
- Juvenile detention & youth facilities
- Foster care & group homes
- Public youth sports & recreation programs
- Municipal camps & after-school programs
- County & state youth agencies
- Other public institutions
Compensation
What a claim may help recover.
- Medical & Therapy
- Past and ongoing counseling, psychiatric care, and medical treatment connected to the sexual abuse.
- Lost Income & Earning Capacity
- Compensation for lost wages, missed career opportunities, and diminished earning potential.
- Pain & Suffering
- Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Institutional Accountability
- Under New York law, the public institution that enabled the abuse may be held responsible alongside the abuser.
The Process
Three steps. Always confidential.
STEP 01
Confidential Review
Submit the intake form. An attorney reviews your information in strict confidence — no obligation, no fee.
STEP 02
We Investigate
Our team gathers records, identifies the responsible public institution or district, and builds the evidence to support your claim.
STEP 03
We File Your Claim
We file your claim under New York law and pursue full compensation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Frequently Asked