Hundreds of sexual abuse cases filed last week as NY State starts accepting cases previously blocked by the statute of limitations

A total 427 NY sexual abuse lawsuits were filed in courts last Wednesday, on the first day of the one year window during which victims of childhood sexual abuse in New York State have the possibility to sue their abuser independently of  when the abuse occurred. 169 cases were filed in New York City and another 258 cases outside of the city. 45 judges including 12 in New York City have been specifically designated to deal with this increase in cases.

Many of these lawsuits were directed against the Catholic Church including 35 of them against the catholic diocese of Rochester in Monroe County.   A first suit was filed against the ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick who was a prominent figure in the church, was  defrocked by the pope in February 2019 after an internal investigation revealed that he had sexually abused minors and adult seminarians.

Several suits were directed against the Boy Scouts of America. Claims were also filed against Rockefeller University Hospital where Dr. Reginal Archibald is accused of abusing hundreds of boys who were sent by their parents to his clinic because they were having medical issues related to growth.

A woman sued the late Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and 3 of his associates. More claims are expected to be filed against his estate.

Schools were also hit by claims. In New York City, two former New York public school employees were accused of abusing children.  Jean Pamphile, a teacher at Brooklyn  Public School 189 in Brooklyn is accused of repeatedly abusing an 8 year old girl.  The victim reported the abuse to the NYPD but they ignored it. Robert Wade, a custodian at Allegany County middle school raped a 12 year old girl in a van and continued to abuse her while threatening violence against her family. The victim reported the abuse to the school principal who did nothing.