Time is running out to file a claim under the Gender Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) for survivors of gender-based violence who are ready to pursue justice through civil lawsuits. The GMVA allows survivors in New York City to file a civil lawsuit for the physical and/or emotional harm they endured at the hands of individuals and/or institutions. Incidents of gender-based violence that fall under :
- Rape or sexual assault
- Domestic violence
- Physical or verbal assault or battery
- Sexual violence in the workplace
- Human trafficking
- False imprisonment
Until February 28, 2025, survivors with cases that would otherwise be outside the Statute of Limitations can file claims against the person who harmed them and/or institutions that enabled or concealed the abuse. These incidents could have happened at any time in the survivors’ lives. After February 28, 2025, survivors only have nine years from the date of the incident to file a claim. The incident must have occurred in one of New York City’s five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, or Staten Island.
Some survivors of gender-based violence may be terrified of coming forward because of their professional work, immigration status, fear of what will happen to their children and/or pets, and for countless other reasons. One of the most abused populations when it comes to gender based violence is sex workers. Sex abuse should not be a cost of doing business and we want all sex workers to know their legal rights. Since opening our firm eleven years ago, we’ve represented individuals on the spectrum of the sex trade, and we believe everyone has the right to work freely without the risk of abuse.
In November 2022, our firm and Crumiller joined forces to create the Survivors Law Project so that we could revive cases for survivors of sexual assault and abuse under the Adult Survivor’s Act (ASA) before the lookback window closed in November 2023. Our founder Carrie Goldberg and Susan Crumiller are law firm owners, survivors, and best friends. With their experience fighting abusers and their enablers, and as survivors of sexual assault, they wanted to provide victims who were ready to come forward with empathetic, trauma-informed legal representation. Since the ASA lookback window closed in November 2023, the GMVA is now the only way survivors in NYC can pursue civil claims for past incidents of gender-based violence. With these lookback windows closing, our firm will continue advocating for better laws that align with how survivors process their trauma without the fear of working against timelines.
If you or someone you know is considering filing a claim, please reach out to us ASAP at cagoldberglaw.com/contact.
