New York Sexual Abuse Attorneys

You are here because you are considering a path toward justice. The decision to confront what happened is a testament to your strength. Pursuing a civil lawsuit is a powerful way to hold an abuser and any enabling organization accountable for their actions. 

With the help of New York sexual abuse attorneys, you can use the force of the law to demand recognition of the harm you endured and secure the resources for your future. A civil lawsuit is a legal claim you, as an individual, file in court to seek financial compensation for damages. 

This action is entirely separate from the criminal justice system, which focuses on punishing the offender. Your civil case centers on your right to restitution.

The civil justice system provides a formal venue to achieve specific, tangible outcomes that aid in your recovery and force meaningful change. 

Through a lawsuit, you assert your rights and tell your story on your own terms.

• It seeks financial compensation for the profound emotional, physical, and financial costs of the abuse.
• It holds the perpetrator directly accountable for their actions in a public or private legal setting.
• It exposes wrongdoing by institutions that failed in their duty to protect you, compelling them to change their practices.

This legal process rebalances the scales, shifting the burden of the consequences from you back onto the parties responsible for the harm.

Table of Contents

• The New York Adult Survivors Act and Your Rights
• Compensation In a New York Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
• The Civil Lawsuit Process with Your New York Sexual Abuse Attorneys
• Why Choose Horowitz Law as Your New York Sexual Abuse Attorneys
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Your Path to Justice Begins Here

Holding Institutions Accountable: A Focus for New York Sexual Abuse Attorneys

The person who committed the abuse is responsible for their actions. Yet, often they were enabled by an institution that provided them with access, credibility, and cover.

Schools, religious organizations, youth groups, and medical facilities have a legal obligation to provide a safe environment. When they fail, they share in the liability. This concept is called institutional liability, where an organization is held legally responsible for failing to prevent abuse that occurred under its authority.

From prestigious private schools on the Upper East Side to summer camps in the Adirondacks, these organizations invite trust. When that trust is broken through negligence, the law provides a way to hold them accountable. 

Negligence is the legal term for an organization's failure to use reasonable care, resulting in harm. A dedicated team of New York sexual abuse attorneys investigates how an institution’s failures contributed to the abuse.

There are specific failures that establish an institution's negligence and, therefore, its financial responsibility for the damages you suffered.

1. Negligent hiring and retention. This occurs when an organization hires someone without a proper background check or keeps an employee on staff despite receiving complaints or seeing warning signs of inappropriate behavior.
2. Negligent supervision. This involves the failure to implement or enforce policies that monitor staff and protect vulnerable individuals, creating opportunities for abusers to act without fear of being caught.
3. Active concealment. This is when an institution knows about the abuse and actively works to hide it, perhaps by moving an abuser to a new location, intimidating victims, or failing to report the crime to the New York Police Department or child protective services.

Accountability extends beyond the individual to the systems that allowed them to operate, with sexual abuse lawyers ensuring that the source of the problem is addressed directly.

The New York Adult Survivors Act and Your Rights

New York law recognizes that survivors need time to process trauma before they are ready to take legal action. The Adult Survivors Act (ASA) is a groundbreaking legislation acknowledging this reality. 

The ASA created a one-year "lookback window," temporarily setting aside the normal time limits for filing a lawsuit. A statute of limitations is a law that dictates the maximum amount of time a person has to initiate legal proceedings after an offense. 

The ASA provided a new opportunity for many adult survivors whose original time to file had already expired. While the initial window closed in November 2023, the fight to reopen it and provide more avenues for justice continues, and other legal options may still exist.

The Adult Survivors Act was designed to empower survivors who were previously barred from the civil court system by arbitrary deadlines.

• It applied to survivors who were 18 years of age or older when the abuse occurred.
• It allowed lawsuits against both the individual abuser and any institution that bears responsibility for the abuse.
• It created a path to justice for those who were silenced for years by trauma, fear, or the belief that it was too late to act.

These laws reflect a societal shift toward believing survivors and removing legal barriers that have historically protected abusers and negligent institutions.

Compensation In a New York Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

A civil lawsuit seeks to recover damages, which is the legal term for the financial compensation awarded for the harm you have suffered. No amount of money erases the past, but it provides essential resources for your healing and future. 

Compensation is a formal acknowledgment of your suffering and a tangible measure of accountability for the wrongdoer. Your New York sexual abuse attorneys work to build a case that fully reflects the total impact the abuse has had on your life.

The compensation awarded in a New York civil case is tailored to the specific circumstances of your experience and is generally divided into three distinct categories.

1. Economic damages. This is compensation for all financial losses resulting from the abuse. It includes the cost of therapy, medical treatment, lost wages from an inability to work, and any future care you may require.
2. Non-economic damages. This addresses the profound, intangible harm you have endured. It includes compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
3. Punitive damages. In cases where the defendant's conduct was exceptionally malicious or reckless, a court may award punitive damages. These are intended not to compensate you, but to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar behavior by others in the community.

Securing damages is a way the civil justice system helps survivors reclaim their lives by providing the financial stability to focus on healing.

The Civil Lawsuit Process with Your New York Sexual Abuse Attorneys

Taking legal action follows a structured process. Your legal team manages every step, allowing you to focus on your well-being. The process begins with a confidential conversation to discuss what happened. If you decide to move forward, your attorney files a complaint, a formal legal document that starts the lawsuit and outlines your allegations.

Next, the case enters the discovery phase. During discovery, both sides exchange information and gather evidence. This often includes depositions, which are question-and-answer sessions where witnesses give sworn testimony outside of court. 

The legal journey is a deliberate and methodical pursuit of justice, with each stage building upon the last to construct a comprehensive case.

• Initial investigation and consultation. Your attorneys gather preliminary information, review documents, and discuss your legal options with you in a secure, confidential setting.
• Filing the lawsuit and serving the defendant. A formal complaint is filed with the appropriate New York court, and the person or institution being sued is officially notified.
• Discovery and pre-trial motions. This is the longest phase, where evidence is collected, witnesses are questioned, and legal arguments are presented to the judge.
• Resolution through settlement or trial. Your attorneys will negotiate to achieve a fair settlement. If the opposing side is unwilling to offer a just resolution, your legal team is ready to take your case to trial.

Each step is a calculated move designed to strengthen your position and advance your case toward a successful outcome.

Why Choose Horowitz Law as Your New York Sexual Abuse Attorneys

At Horowitz Law, we exclusively represent survivors of sexual abuse. This is our sole mission. We do not handle car accidents or any other personal injury case. 

All of our resources are dedicated to fighting for survivors. We have seen firsthand how institutions protect abusers and silence victims. We stand against these practices and use the full power of the civil justice system to dismantle them. Our purpose is to give you a powerful voice and an unwavering advocate.

When you work with our firm, you are not a case file. You are a partner in the fight for justice. We are committed to a transparent and supportive process, ensuring you are informed and in control every step of the way.

1. A Singular focus. Our firm is built for one purpose: to secure justice for survivors of sexual abuse. Every resource, every strategy, and every attorney at our firm is devoted to this work.
2. A record of holding institutions accountable. We have a history of taking on powerful organizations like schools, churches, and youth groups and forcing them to answer for their negligence.
3. Survivor-centered advocacy. We understand the courage it takes to come forward. Our approach is founded on compassion, respect, and a relentless dedication to your goals.

Choosing a law firm is about finding a team whose mission aligns with your fight for justice and accountability. Call us today at (954) 641-2100.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Path to Justice Begins Here

Taking the first step is a declaration that you will not be defined by what was done to you. It is an act of reclaiming your power and demanding accountability. The legal system is a tool, and with the right advocate, it is one you can use to achieve justice on your terms. 

At Horowitz Law, we stand with survivors. We fight for survivors. We believe you, and we are ready to help you hold those responsible for your pain accountable.

Your voice deserves to be heard. Your story matters. Let us help you ensure it is a force for change. 

Contact Horowitz Law at (954) 641-2100 for a free, completely confidential consultation with our dedicated New York sexual abuse attorneys.

• Your conversation is private and protected by law.
• There is no cost or obligation to speak with us.
• We will listen to what happened and discuss your legal rights.

A confidential consultation is a conversation, not a commitment, and it is the first step in exploring the path to justice.