Albany, N.Y., Aug 15, 2019 / 11:30 am
Over 400 lawsuits were filed in New York state on the first day of a one-year window in the statute of limitations, allowing abuse survivors to file suit against their abuser or the institution where the abuse occurred.
The lawsuits include an allegation against a sitting bishop and a RICO suit against the Diocese of Buffalo and the Northeast Province of the Jesuits. Other suits were filed against laicized former archbishop Theodore McCarrick, and against retired Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany. Hubbard has denied the allegations.
The one-year window was created through the Child Victims Act, which altered New York's statute of limitations for filing criminal claims and civil claims for survivors of child sexual abuse. Previously, a survivor had until they reached the age of 23 to file either claim. This has now been changed to 28 for criminal charges, and 55 for civil cases.
The one-year window began six months after the passage of the law. The Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America, and the state's public schools all stated they were prepared for a potentially large number of abuse survivors to file lawsuits.