New York City's Law Department has put many gender-motivated violence lawsuits on hold, pausing their pursuit as the city council is deliberating over a new law that would give victims a clearer path to accountability. The bill, which has garnered broad support from council members, aims to reopen a "lookback" window for survivors to sue even if the statute of limitations had passed.
Under this new provision, cases involving institutions such as the city could be pursued, not just individuals. This would provide an opportunity to revive over 450 lawsuits that were previously dismissed by a Bronx judge. Advocates say the pause could affect hundreds of cases, citing the lack of clarity around the original lookback period.
Lawmakers are taking a deliberate approach in negotiating the bill with stakeholders, aiming to avoid more errors and legal obstacles that might leave survivors without a resolution. The decision to put cases on hold came out of these negotiations and will ensure that survivors don't have their cases dismissed while the law is being revised.
The new lookback window would give survivors one year from March 1, 2026, to file new suits for incidents that occurred before 2022. This could include cases dating back as far as the 1960s, over allegations of the city's failure to protect people in juvenile centers.
Despite broad support from council members, some attorneys representing clients in gender-motivated violence cases have urged the Council to act quickly. They point out that survivors are already waiting long enough for the bill to pass and that potential dismissal of their cases would be a devastating blow.
The legislation's fiscal impact has sparked concerns, with the city estimated to incur a $1 billion cost if passed. Negotiations have included consideration of creating a settlement fund to allow survivors to attain accountability without having to fight their cases in court. However, some attorneys are skeptical about the settlement fund, and its inclusion remains under discussion.
The bill's sponsor, Selvena Brooks-Powers, aims to bring it to a vote soon, urging clarity for survivors before the end of the year. However, some attorneys representing clients have called on the Council to move forward with urgency, as delays would pose a significant challenge for those who are already waiting for justice.
Under this new provision, cases involving institutions such as the city could be pursued, not just individuals. This would provide an opportunity to revive over 450 lawsuits that were previously dismissed by a Bronx judge. Advocates say the pause could affect hundreds of cases, citing the lack of clarity around the original lookback period.
Lawmakers are taking a deliberate approach in negotiating the bill with stakeholders, aiming to avoid more errors and legal obstacles that might leave survivors without a resolution. The decision to put cases on hold came out of these negotiations and will ensure that survivors don't have their cases dismissed while the law is being revised.
The new lookback window would give survivors one year from March 1, 2026, to file new suits for incidents that occurred before 2022. This could include cases dating back as far as the 1960s, over allegations of the city's failure to protect people in juvenile centers.
Despite broad support from council members, some attorneys representing clients in gender-motivated violence cases have urged the Council to act quickly. They point out that survivors are already waiting long enough for the bill to pass and that potential dismissal of their cases would be a devastating blow.
The legislation's fiscal impact has sparked concerns, with the city estimated to incur a $1 billion cost if passed. Negotiations have included consideration of creating a settlement fund to allow survivors to attain accountability without having to fight their cases in court. However, some attorneys are skeptical about the settlement fund, and its inclusion remains under discussion.
The bill's sponsor, Selvena Brooks-Powers, aims to bring it to a vote soon, urging clarity for survivors before the end of the year. However, some attorneys representing clients have called on the Council to move forward with urgency, as delays would pose a significant challenge for those who are already waiting for justice.
... like, survivors of gender-motivated violence are already waiting for YEARS for their cases to be heard and now you're telling them you can't even file a new lawsuit because the law isn't finalized yet? 
It's just not right. And don't even get me started on the $1 billion cost - what about all those lives affected that we're supposed to be protecting here? 
I just hope they can get this bill passed soon, like Selvena Brooks-Powers is trying to do. Fingers crossed! 
this whole thing is kinda frustrating i mean its great that theyre trying to give victims more clarity but its like they need to just do it already all these cases are being put on hold and its affecting so many people the statistics say over 450 lawsuits could be revived which is crazy meanwhile there are some lawyers saying we need a settlement fund but others are skeptical about that too 
. I mean, come on, 1 year from March 1, 2026? That's like asking survivors to relive their trauma all over again. And don't even get me started on the $1 billion cost - who's going to foot that bill? The city's taxpayers, of course 
. It's just more examples of politicians talking out of both sides of their mouths, making promises they can't keep and then expecting us to believe it'll all work out in the end... yeah right 
.
This is so interesting 
The city council's deliberation on this new law could mean a lot of relief for survivors of gender-motivated violence 
Their proposed lookback window gives them a clearer path to accountability, which is a huge step forward 
It's not just about giving them the chance to sue again but also about acknowledging their suffering and validating their experiences 
. This bill could be a game-changer, let's not mess around with it 
.
they wanna make sure everything is just right 
. I feel for the survivors 
who are waitin' for justice, it's been too long already 
? Whatever happens, let's hope they get this bill passed soon 
and bring some closure to all the victims 
, can't believe they're putting all these cases on hold again 
. And what about the ones who can't afford a settlement fund? 
. Come on, Council, act already! 
It's like, can't we just figure some stuff out already? 
What I really want to see is for the council to just pass this bill already 
. The city's Law Department just happens to put all these cases on hold at the exact same time the council is deliberating over a new bill? Coincidence much? 
It's like they're trying to buy some time to iron out the details, but what if it's really about avoiding a huge settlement fund 
. I don't get why they need a settlement fund tho, can't they just give survivors some money or something? 
.
It's crazy how many cases were previously dismissed because of the statute of limitations, but now they'll have another window to sue. 
I'm all for creating a settlement fund too, that way survivors can finally get justice without having to fight their cases in court. 
But if it means giving people a chance at justice, I think it's worth it. Fingers crossed the bill gets passed ASAP and survivors start getting the justice they deserve