Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick's Blog

How is child sex abuse allowed to happen?

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.

Sexual abuse in childhood is far more common than most people realize. Since the New York Child Victims Act went into effect last August, more than 1,300 victims have come forward, filing lawsuits under the Act’s one-year window of time for pursuing justice. And that number likely represents only a small fraction of adults who were sexually abused as children.

While many of those claims involve abuse that happened years or even decades ago, child sexual abuse remains a widespread problem. According to The Advocacy Group, a staggering 1 in 3 girls – and 1 in 5 boys – experience sexual abuse before the age of 18.

How child sex abuse impacts a survivor’s financial future

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

The long-term impacts of child sex abuse are well-documented. A survivor often deals with the repercussions the rest of their life, working to overcome mental and physical health conditions on their road to recovery.

Less talked about are the financial ramifications of child sex abuse. One study, however, begins to shed some light on how survivors may face significant financial burdens due to their trauma.

Childhood Sexual Abuse Victims: The importance of filing now

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

Being a victim of childhood sexual abuse negatively affects individuals as they progress into their adult lives. The consequences that follow them intervene with both their personal and professional lives.

While many men and women might not have felt comfortable speaking up or never had the chance, the New York government is now giving them that opportunity.

What are the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse?

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Monday, September 30, 2019.

There are many variables that can affect how childhood sexual abuse may impact someone long-term. Some of these variables can include the nature of the abuse, the severity of the abuse, the number of abuse experiences and the age someone was when the abuse occurred. The survivor’s perspective and the support he or she receives following the abuse can also influence long-term effects.

The impact of childhood sexual abuse can vary greatly because every person is different, and every situation is different. However, there are some trends that have emerged.

Hundreds of claims filed under Child Victims Act so far

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Monday, August 19, 2019.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019, was a landmark date in the civil justice system of New York State. It marked the first day of a one-year lookback period under the Child Victims Act, passed last February. The Act gives adult victims of childhood abuse a limited window of time to bring time-barred claims against abusers and institutions. In essence, it opens the courts to those who would otherwise have no legal recourse.

One-year window opens soon for adult victims of childhood sex abuse

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Monday, August 5, 2019.

The clock is ticking. A landmark date will soon be upon us. Starting in mid-August, adult victims of childhood sex abuse can begin filing claims against their abusers and the organizations that harbored them.

The one-year window is a result of the Child Victims Act, a groundbreaking state law that went into effect last February. It grants victims a limited period of time to seek justice on claims that would otherwise be time-barred under the statute of limitations.

Sex abuse claims involving Catholic Church: Who pays?

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

As the Catholic Church in New York gears up to address hundreds - potentially thousands - of sex abuse claims, one question looms large: Where will the payouts come from?

The Church is anticipating a wave of sex abuse claims when the one-year window opens under the Child Victims Act next month. The Act gives survivors of childhood abuse a limited period of time to file lawsuits that would otherwise be time-barred. While it covers claims against any organization or institution, the Catholic Church will likely be most heavily impacted, with some sources estimating as many of 2,500 individual claims against the Church and tens of millions of dollars in payouts.

Report: Catholic Church spent millions opposing Child Victims Act

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

It’s no secret that child sexual abuse is a widespread and longstanding problem in the Catholic Church. What isn’t widely known, however, is just how far the Church has gone in opposing legal reforms that would give victims access to courts. Until now, that is.

Victims of Boy Scout abuse will soon have a voice

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Thursday, May 2, 2019.

Its image as a safe and wholesome refuge for boys now shattered, the Boy Scouts of America may soon be held accountable for sexual abuse within its ranks. Shocking numbers have come to light concerning the extent of the abuse.

The organization has long been plagued by accusations of sexual abuse against troop leaders and other adults. Previous investigations have revealed tens of thousands of pages in internal documents, dubbed the “perversion files,” that evidence a widespread pattern of abuse going back decades. And now it appears that the abuse took place on a much larger scale than previously thought.

Child Victims Act will shed light on abuse by NY Catholic priests

On behalf of Christopher Seleski of Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick on Monday, April 1, 2019.

As discussed in a previous blog post, New York survivors of childhood sexual abuse will have an extended deadline - changed from age 23 to age 55 - to bring civil lawsuits against both the perpetrator and the organizations that harbored them. The law also opens a one-time, one-year window for those whose claims would otherwise be time-barred.

While the new act applies to all organizations, not just the Catholic Church, those familiar with the church sex scandal believe that this new act – along with a confluence of events listed below - could mean that the bulk of cases taking advantage of the one-year window will be focused on the Catholic Church.