Coverage May Exist For Companies Facing Allegations Related To Sexual Abuse

On August 14, 2019, a provision of New York’s new Child Victim Act went into effect that lifted the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse claims for a one-year period (until August 14, 2020). After the one-year period ends, victims in New York will have until age 55 to file lawsuits. California has enacted similar legislation, Assembly Bill No. 218, that allows victims to file suit until age 40 or five years after discovery of the resulting psychological injury or illness, whichever is later. These statutes are already resulting in a flood of new lawsuits for sexual abuse and related claims, and legislatures in other states have enacted, or are actively considering, similar laws.