For many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, decades pass before they feel ready to seek justice. If you were abused as a child in Queens — by a teacher, coach, clergy member, family member, or anyone else — New York's Child Victims Act may give you the right to file a civil lawsuit no matter when the abuse occurred. At The Orlow Firm, our attorneys have served Queens residents since 1982, and we're here to help you understand your options with care and without judgment.
Call (646) 647-3398 for a free, confidential consultation | Se Habla Español
What's in this video?
The attorneys at The Orlow Firm explain what sets the firm apart — decades of Queens experience, direct partner involvement, and a commitment to treating every client like family.
For most of New York's history, survivors of childhood sexual abuse had to file a civil lawsuit before they turned 23. That deadline was among the most restrictive in the country, and it shut out countless people before they ever had a chance to process what happened to them.
The Child Victims Act (CVA), signed into law on February 14, 2019, changed that. Under the CVA — codified in CPLR § 208(b) and CPLR § 214-g — survivors can now file civil claims against both abusers and the institutions that enabled them until they turn 55 years old. The law also extended criminal statute of limitations deadlines. Felony sexual offenses involving children can be prosecuted until the survivor turns 28, and for the most serious offenses, there is no deadline at all.
The CVA created a special "lookback window" — a two-year period from August 14, 2019 through August 14, 2021, when survivors could revive previously time-barred claims regardless of when the abuse occurred. According to the New York Unified Court System, more than 10,000 claims were filed during that window. That lookback window is now closed. But survivors who were abused as children and are currently under 55 may still have valid claims under the extended statute of limitations.
One other key change: the CVA eliminated the notice of claim requirement for civil suits against public institutions like school districts and city agencies. Queens survivors abused at a public school no longer needed to file a government notice within 90 days. Their right to sue is preserved until age 55.
Civil CVA cases filed by Queens residents are heard in Queens County Supreme Court, located at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435.
View text version of this infographic
Child Victims Act Statute of Limitations Timeline:
- Age 0: Childhood abuse occurs
- Age 23 (OLD LAW): Civil lawsuit deadline — only until age 23 under old New York law
- Aug. 14, 2019 – Aug. 14, 2021 Lookback Window (CVA enacted): Special revival period; 10,000+ claims filed — window now closed
- Age 28: Criminal prosecution deadline for felony sex crimes against children
- Age 55 (NEW LAW): Extended civil lawsuit deadline — survivors can now file until age 55
Source: CPLR § 208(b) and CPLR § 214-g; NY Unified Court System
Who Can Be Held Liable Under the Child Victims Act in Queens
One of the most important aspects of the CVA is that it doesn't just reach individual abusers. It extends liability to any person or institution whose intentional or negligent acts contributed to or enabled the abuse. Survivors often have claims against powerful organizations, not just individuals who may have died, disappeared, or have no resources.
Parties who can be named in a CVA civil lawsuit include:
Schools and school districts — The New York City Department of Education is the single largest defendant in NYC's CVA cases. According to City & State New York, NYC paid more than $160 million in CVA settlements through 2024, with most involving the DOE. Queens has seen some of the largest cases. A $1.25 million city settlement involved a former Queens principal who allegedly abused a student and was then transferred to another Queens school rather than removed. A separate Queens middle school case produced a judgment the New York Law Journal called the largest in CVA history.
Religious institutions — Churches, synagogues, mosques, and affiliated organizations can be held liable when they employed, protected, or transferred known abusers. New York dioceses have faced billions of dollars in combined exposure from CVA litigation.
Youth organizations — The Boy Scouts of America, summer camps, sports leagues, after-school programs, and youth groups throughout Queens can be defendants if they knew or should have known about an abuser's conduct.
Foster care agencies and group homes — A 2024 ruling by a New York appeals court (Third Department) clarified that CVA claims for "negligent placement" can proceed against state government entities. That's a major development for survivors abused in foster care or juvenile detention settings, where defendants had previously claimed government immunity.
Coaches, tutors, mentors, and other authority figures — Anyone in a position of trust who used that relationship to abuse a child, and the organizations that employed or supervised them.
Hospitals and medical providers — Abuse by medical professionals and the institutions that kept them on staff.
Employers — When an employer hired or retained someone with a known history of abuse, or failed to conduct proper background checks.
The central question in institutional liability is whether the organization knew or reasonably should have known about the risk — and whether they acted to stop it or looked the other way.
View text version of this infographic
Who Can Be Held Liable Under the Child Victims Act:
- Schools & School Districts — NYC DOE is the largest CVA defendant
- Religious Institutions — Churches, dioceses, and affiliated religious organizations
- Youth Organizations — Boy Scouts, summer camps, sports leagues
- Foster Care Agencies — Group homes and juvenile detention facilities
- Employers — Those who hired or kept staff with known abuse history
- Hospitals & Medical Providers — Abuse by staff, failure to remove abusers
Key question: Did the institution know (or should have known) about the risk — and fail to act?
negligent security in nursing homes?" loading="lazy" style="width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;border-radius:0.5rem;"/>What's in this video?
The attorneys discuss what it means for an institution to fail in its duty to protect the people in its care — a legal concept that applies equally to nursing homes, schools, and youth organizations in CVA cases.
Why So Many Survivors Wait — And Why That's Completely Understandable
If you're reading this page decades after the abuse happened, you're not unusual. Research has found that the average age when survivors of childhood sexual abuse first disclose what happened is around 52 years old.
There's a reason the law was written with an age-55 deadline. Survivors often carry their experiences in silence for decades — because of shame that doesn't belong to them, fear of not being believed, confusion about whether what happened was "serious enough," loyalty to someone they once trusted, or trauma that makes it hard to access, process, and talk about those memories.
These are not character flaws. They are well-documented consequences of childhood abuse. The CVA exists because New York's lawmakers recognized that the old law — requiring a lawsuit by age 23 — ignored the reality of how long healing and disclosure actually take.
Coming forward with a civil claim isn't about winning against someone more powerful. It's about financial accountability for what was done to you and for what institutions failed to prevent. For many survivors, it's also a step in reclaiming their story.
At The Orlow Firm, every client works directly with a partner. You won't be passed to a junior associate. The attorney who takes your call will be the one working your case. We also serve clients in Spanish, which matters in Queens, where many survivors come from communities where cultural stigma can make coming forward even harder.
If you're not sure whether your experience qualifies, or whether it's too late to act, call us. The consultation is free and confidential.
What Compensation Survivors Can Recover in a CVA Lawsuit
The damages available in a Child Victims Act civil lawsuit go well beyond what's typical in personal injury cases. Abuse reshapes lives in ways that aren't always visible from the outside, but they're real, ongoing, and costly.
Economic Damages
- Past and future therapy and psychiatric treatment costs
- Medications for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other conditions caused by the abuse
- Medical expenses for physical injuries from the abuse
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity — childhood abuse often disrupts education and career development in ways that are recoverable
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of normal developmental opportunities
Punitive Damages
When an institution's conduct was especially egregious — actively hiding abuse, protecting a known predator, or pressuring survivors to stay quiet — punitive damages may be available. This is a real feature of CVA litigation, and it's one reason institutional settlements can reach into the millions. The Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island) settled with survivors for $323 million. NYC's total CVA payouts topped $160 million.
Settlement and verdict amounts vary widely depending on the nature and length of the abuse, the number of defendants, the strength of the evidence, and how badly the institution behaved.
Our firm has recovered results for clients in cases involving sexual abuse and negligent supervision:
$2,750,000 — Siblings who were neglected, abused, and sexually abused in a foster home, with institutional liability at the center of the case.
$900,000 — A woman sexually assaulted by the superintendent of her building.
$425,000 — A minor sexually assaulted by hotel staff.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Criminal vs. Civil: Two Separate Paths After Childhood Abuse
Many survivors want to see their abuser face criminal consequences. That's a fair goal — but it's separate from what we handle at The Orlow Firm. Knowing the difference helps you decide what steps to take.
Criminal cases are brought by the state — the Queens District Attorney's office. You are a witness, not a plaintiff. You don't need a private attorney to report abuse or cooperate with a prosecution. Under the CVA, felony sex crimes against children can be prosecuted until the survivor turns 28. Some serious offenses carry no criminal deadline at all. The goal of a criminal case is conviction, incarceration, or probation.
Civil cases are brought by you, as the plaintiff, through a private attorney. You are seeking money compensation from the abuser, the institution, or both. Under the CVA, you can file a civil claim until you turn 55. The burden of proof in civil court is lower than in criminal court. That means a civil case can succeed even if the DA declined to prosecute, the abuser was found not guilty, or charges were never filed.
You can pursue both paths. Reporting to the police does not stop you from filing a civil lawsuit. A criminal investigation may even generate evidence — records, prior complaints, witness statements — that helps a civil case.
A civil case can also move forward when the abuser has died. The lawsuit targets the abuser's estate and, more often, the institutions that employed or supervised them.
Our attorneys Brian Orlow and Adam Orlow are admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. That means we can also handle federal civil rights claims where municipal employees or government agencies were involved.
What Filing a Queens Child Victims Act Lawsuit Looks Like
Many survivors hesitate to reach out because the legal process feels unfamiliar or intimidating. Here's what actually happens:
Step 1 — Free, confidential consultation. You tell us what happened in your own time. There's no pressure and no requirement to remember every detail perfectly. We listen, ask questions, and tell you honestly whether we think you have a viable claim.
Step 2 — Investigation. We gather evidence: medical and therapy records, school or employment files, records of prior complaints against the same abuser, and any institutional documents we can get through legal process.
Step 3 — Identifying all defendants. We determine who to name: the individual abuser, the institution, and anyone who knew and did nothing.
Step 4 — Filing the complaint. CVA civil cases for Queens residents are filed in Queens County Supreme Court (88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica, NY 11435). There is no notice of claim requirement under the CVA for public institution defendants.
Step 5 — Discovery. Both sides exchange evidence and take depositions. This is usually the longest part of the case. CVA litigation has faced real backlogs — as of 2024, fewer than 13% of CVA cases filed against NYC in state Supreme Court had moved past discovery.
Step 6 — Settlement or trial. Most cases resolve through negotiation or mediation before trial. If a case doesn't settle, we try it.
Privacy protections: Survivors in CVA cases can often file as Jane Doe or John Doe, keeping their names off the public record. We discuss this in the initial consultation and seek every available protection.
No fee unless we win. We handle CVA cases on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
View text version of this infographic
What Filing a CVA Civil Lawsuit Looks Like in Queens — 6 Steps:
- Free, Confidential Consultation — Tell us what happened in your own time. No pressure, no perfect memory required. We listen and assess your claim honestly.
- Investigation — We gather medical/therapy records, school files, records of prior complaints, and institutional documents through legal process.
- Identify All Defendants — We determine who to name: the individual abuser, the institution, and anyone who knew and did nothing.
- File the Complaint — CVA cases in Queens are filed in Queens County Supreme Court (88-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica). No notice of claim required for public entities.
- Discovery — Both sides exchange evidence and take depositions. Often the longest phase. Survivors may file as Jane/John Doe to protect privacy.
- Settlement or Trial — Contingency fee: No cost unless we win. Call (646) 647-3398.
What's in this video?
The attorneys address a concern many clients have: will they be handed off to a junior associate? The answer at The Orlow Firm is no — partners handle cases directly.
Recent Developments in New York CVA Law
Here's what Queens survivors should know about recent changes.
2024 appellate ruling — negligent placement claims. A 2024 decision by a New York appeals court (Third Department) allows CVA claims based on "negligent placement" to proceed against state government entities. This matters for survivors abused in foster care or juvenile detention facilities run by or under contract with the state, where defendants had previously claimed government immunity.
Proposed 2025 legislation (S6978). A bill before the New York State Senate would remove the age-55 civil deadline entirely, letting survivors file at any age with no statute of limitations. The bill is sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. It has not passed as of this writing, but if it does, it would be the biggest expansion of survivor rights since the original CVA.
Calls for a new lookback window. Survivor groups and some legislators are pushing for a second lookback window for those who missed the 2019–2021 window. No such window has been enacted as of March 2026, but efforts are ongoing.
These changes affect real people with real cases. If you've been told you missed your window, or you're not sure how recent developments apply to your situation, call us at (646) 647-3398 for a current assessment.
Why Queens Survivors Work With The Orlow Firm
Our main office has been at 71-18 Main Street in Queens since 1982. We're not a national firm processing CVA claims by the thousand. We're a family practice — Steven Orlow (Founder), Brian Orlow (Managing Partner), and Adam Orlow (Managing Partner) — and every client works with a partner, not a staff attorney.
Steven Orlow is a Cornell Law graduate with more than 40 years of experience in personal injury and civil rights. He is a former Assistant District Attorney in Kings County and a former Counsel to the Queens County Executive. That background gives him direct insight into how government institutions think, how they defend themselves, and where liability sticks. He is also a former Queens County Bar Association President (2008–2009).
Adam Orlow served as President of the Queens County Bar Association from 2022 to 2023 and remains on its Board of Managers. His connections across the Queens legal community — courts, mediators, opposing counsel — turn into practical advantages for our clients.
We serve all Queens neighborhoods: Flushing, Jamaica, Astoria, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills, Elmhurst, Corona, Richmond Hill, Bayside, and Rockaway. We also have offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. If you can't come to us, we'll come to you.
Frequently Asked Questions: Queens Child Victims Act Lawyer
What is the New York Child Victims Act?
The New York Child Victims Act is a 2019 law that extended the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits based on childhood sexual abuse. Under the CVA, survivors can file civil claims against abusers and the institutions that enabled them until age 55, and criminal charges for felony sex offenses can be filed until age 28. It also removed notice-of-claim requirements for suits against public institutions.
Can I still file a CVA claim if the lookback window closed?
Yes, if you were abused as a child and are currently under 55, you may still have a valid civil claim. The special 2019–2021 lookback window — which revived already time-barred claims — is closed. But the ongoing deadline of age 55 still applies to all survivors.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit under the Child Victims Act?
You can file a civil lawsuit for childhood sexual abuse in New York until you turn 55. This applies no matter when the abuse happened, as long as it occurred in New York and you were under 18 at the time. No notice of claim is required to sue a public entity under the CVA.
Who can I sue under the Child Victims Act in Queens?
The CVA allows civil suits against the individual who abused you and any institution whose negligence or intentional acts contributed. That includes schools, school districts, religious organizations, youth programs, foster care agencies, hospitals, and employers — any party that knew or should have known about an abuser and failed to act. Queens cases are filed in Queens County Supreme Court.
What is the difference between the Child Victims Act and the Adult Survivors Act?
The CVA covers abuse that occurred before age 18. The Adult Survivors Act (ASA), enacted in 2022, covered abuse at age 18 or older. Both laws created temporary lookback windows that have since closed, and both set a forward-looking deadline of age 55 for civil claims. If you were abused as an adult, the ASA governs your claim — a free consultation will help clarify which applies.
Can I file a civil lawsuit even if my abuser was never criminally charged?
Yes. Civil and criminal cases are separate. A civil CVA case can go forward even if the perpetrator was never arrested, if the DA chose not to prosecute, if the abuser was acquitted, or if criminal charges are no longer possible. The civil burden of proof — preponderance of the evidence — is lower than the criminal standard.
Can I sue if my abuser has died?
Yes. If the abuser has died, a civil lawsuit can still proceed against their estate. More often, the claim is directed at the institution that employed or supervised the abuser. Schools, churches, and youth organizations don't die, and they typically carry insurance.
Can I file anonymously to protect my privacy?
In many CVA cases, courts allow survivors to file as Jane Doe or John Doe, keeping their names out of the public record. This is a real protection for survivors concerned about exposure, and it's something we raise in the first consultation. We seek every available privacy protection for our clients.
What if the institution that employed my abuser has gone bankrupt?
Several large institutional defendants — including Catholic dioceses and the Boy Scouts of America — have filed for bankruptcy under the weight of CVA claims. Bankruptcy doesn't end your claim. It typically routes the claim through a supervised claims process. These cases require an attorney who knows the bankruptcy-CVA intersection, and we have that experience.
What does it cost to hire a Queens Child Victims Act lawyer?
Our firm handles CVA cases on contingency — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There is no upfront cost and no fee for the consultation. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, typically one-third of the net amount recovered, and we explain the full fee structure before any engagement.
Sources & Official Resources
New York Laws Cited
- CPLR § 208(b) — Civil Statute of Limitations for Childhood Sexual Abuse (age 55)
- CPLR § 214-g — Revival Statute (Lookback Window)
- New York Child Victims Act — Senate Bill S2440 (2019)
- CPL § 30.10 — Criminal Statute of Limitations for Child Sex Offenses
Proposed Legislation
Official Court Resources
Contact a Queens Child Victims Act Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love was abused as a child in Queens — at school, at a place of worship, in a youth program, or anywhere else — you may have the right to hold those responsible accountable. The statute of limitations is real, and speaking with an attorney sooner gives us more time to build your case.
The Orlow Firm has been in Queens for over 40 years. You'll work with a partner from the first call to the last. No paralegals, no associates handling your file.
Call (646) 647-3398 for a free, confidential consultation. We work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win.
Se Habla Español | Four NYC office locations | We can come to you
