On November 25, 2025, the New York City Council passed Introduction 1297-A, an amendment to the Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GVMA) that will give survivors more time to pursue sexual abuse lawsuits against individuals and institutions that enabled or failed to prevent abuse.
If you were sexually abused in NYC on or before January 9, 2022, you may now be able to take legal action for the harm you experienced — but this could be your last chance.
A “lookback window” is scheduled to run from March 2026 to March 2027. During this time, survivors who already filed lawsuits under the earlier window of March 2023 to March 2025 can amend or refile their claims. Others who have never filed a claim before can also bring new lawsuits.
The passing of this legislation comes after a judge dismissed over 450 New York sexual abuse lawsuits filed against city-run juvenile detention centers. The court ruled that, under the prior version of the GMVA, survivors didn’t clearly have the right to sue institutions, only individuals.
At Sokolove Law, we’re committed to helping survivors seek justice and pursue the compensation they deserve. Let us fight for you — but be sure to act fast. This may be the last chance for some survivors to get justice in NYC.
About the Updated New York City Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
In January 2022, the New York City Council updated the Gender-Motivated Violence Act to clarify that entities like the city could be sued for abuse. Previously, the GMVA only stated that individuals could be sued.
However, a court ruled that this update didn’t apply retroactively, meaning that those who were abused before January 9, 2022 were unable to pursue sexual abuse lawsuits against institutions or government agencies.
Intro. 1297 in New York City was designed to fix this issue and will:
Reopen the statute of limitations: Survivors can amend or file new civil lawsuits after March 1, 2026, even if the abuse occurred decades ago.
Clarify legal targets: The law explicitly allows survivors to hold institutions, government agencies, and others who enabled the abuse or protected perpetrators accountable.
Allow dismissed cases to be refiled: Survivors whose lawsuits were dismissed under previous court rulings can amend or refile claims under the updated law.
“A single court decision should not be allowed to erase hundreds of cases or shield powerful institutions from accountability. With this legislation, we are reopening a clear pathway for survivors to pursue justice and reaffirming that institutions that enabled abuse will not be allowed to hide behind technicalities.”
– Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Majority Whip & NYC Council Member
The bill was sponsored by Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and backed by 41 co-sponsors. After passing the City Council on November 25, it now awaits the mayor’s signature.
Why a New New York City Lookback Window Is Needed
The new New York City lookback window ultimately seeks to ensure that more survivors will have the opportunity to file civil sexual abuse lawsuits, pursue compensation, and have their voices heard.
In September 2025, a Bronx judge dismissed more than 450 lawsuits filed against the city by survivors of abuse in juvenile detention centers. The abuse reportedly occurred between the 1960s and 2010s, while the survivors were in city custody.
Many of these cases were filed under a recent lookback window that ran from March 2023 to March 2025, which temporarily allowed survivors to pursue civil claims even if the statute of limitations had passed.
However, an appellate court ruled that the law’s language was not clear enough to hold institutions accountable for abuse that occurred before the updated legislation took effect, leaving many survivors unable to seek justice.
Intro. 1297 clarifies the law and has opened a new, temporary filing window, so cases against institutions can be amended or refiled. Survivors who haven’t yet filed a claim for abuse that occurred years ago can also take action during this time.
Giving Child Abuse Survivors More Time to File
For many people who were sexually abused as children in settings like churches, juvenile detention centers, and boarding schools, it can take years to fully process what happened and come forward.
Survivors may struggle with feelings of shame, fear, or loyalty to certain authority figures, which can delay the decision to take legal action until after deadlines set by the statute of limitations have already passed.
“Survivors deserve a justice system that recognizes the reality of trauma, not one that shuts the courthouse doors before they are ready to step forward.”
– Judy Livingston, New York State Trial Lawyers Association
The new New York City lookback window recognizes this reality. It creates a limited period where the clock is effectively reset, giving survivors another chance to file a lawsuit.
However, this may be the final opportunity for survivors to seek justice for sexual abuse that occurred years ago. Once the lookback window closes, you may permanently lose your chance to take legal action for the harm you suffered.
Get Help from Our Sexual Abuse Attorneys in New York
At Sokolove Law, our sexual abuse attorneys in New York are committed to helping survivors pursue the justice and compensation they deserve.
With over 45 years of experience and access to extensive resources, we have what it takes to stand up to powerful individuals and institutions.
There are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with our firm — we only get paid if you do. Let us provide the compassionate support you deserve while we fight on your behalf.
Call (800) 995-1212 right now or fill out our contact form to get started with a free case review.