Rochester Boy Scout Abuse Attorneys

Sexual abuse is a hard topic and it can break us when we learn that it has happened to our own children. As more and more information is revealed to us, we are beginning to understand how widespread the sexual abuse that children in America suffer. At Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC, we know how awful this can be for a family to go through the aftermath of. If your child has been abused while in the Boy Scouts in Rochester, please call our office today to discuss how we can help you. Our lawyers are experienced in the litigation of such horrific cases and we will treat your case like the priority that it is. You have the right to take legal action against your child’s abuser. If you choose not to, we take your privacy seriously. Everything will be held in strict confidence. We want to help you heal and get justice.

A Long History of Abuse

Since the 1920s, the Boy Scouts as an organization has kept a clandestine filing system that details the misconduct of scouts that includes sexual assault. There are a few ways to title these files. The first is the Ineligible Volunteer Files and the nick name would be the Perversion Files. It has information about sexual misconduct and the files are separated into five different categories. These Perversion Files give us the ability to learn about the long history of abuse involved with the Boy Scouts of America. It gives us particular insight into the sexual abuse of the children. These files have since been released by the courts as there have been more and more cases brought against the Boy Scouts. In late 2012, two decades worth of files were released to the public detailing events from 1965-1985.

As of 2019, there has been rumor that there is a fresh list of leaders that have been added to the Perversion Files, but this is merely fiction. You can access the list of abusers publicly that have been released many years ago. We say this because we need you to know that, if you come across this list and the person who abused you or your child is not on it, that does not mean you do not have a case. It simply means they have yet to be accused and convicted. Unfortunately, there could be thousands more who belong on the list who are not. At Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC, we have represented many of the victims of these abusers. We want you to find justice.

Our purpose it to expose the abusers that have and do continue to lurk in the Boy Scouts of America. We are dedicated to exposing the abuse on a wide scale and protecting future Boy Scouts. We want to help the victims find justice and healing as well as some hope for their future and their recovery.

New York Child Victims Act

New York’s Child Victims Act gives expanded rights to survivors of sexual abuse by extending the statute of limitations for bringing a claim.  This applies to both civil and criminal claims against priests, teachers, counselors, and anyone else who has committed sexual abuse.

Formerly, those who were sexually abused as children could only bring civil and criminal claims up until the age of 23.   Under the new law, victims can bring civil claims up until the age of 55 and criminal claims up until the age of 28. The Child Victim’s Act will also provide all abuse survivors, regardless of their current age, until August 21, 2021 to bring legal action against their abusers. Beginning on August 14, 2019, even those that were previously time-barred by the statute of limitations can file claims even if their abusers have died. The United States Bankruptcy Court, however has set a deadline of November 16, 2020 for filing bankruptcy claims against the Boy Scouts of America.

In recognition of the fact that many victims have already been forced to wait years for access to the justice system, the new law will give trial preference to revived cases.  Judges will also be required to undergo additional training concerning crimes involving sexual abuse of minors.

The Child Victim’s Act will also treat public and private entities equally by removing current notice of claim provisions for public entities and further clarifying that both entities are subject to the one-year look-back window.

When this  time  is up on August 21, 2021, however, so is the opportunity to bring certain claims.  Furthermore, the  window may be significantly shortened if a defendant (such as a diocese or the Boy Scouts) declares bankruptcy.  It is incredibly important, therefore, to contact an attorney as soon as possible to learn about your options since your time to file a claim may be limited.

This type of trauma is absolutely unthinkable and if it has happened to you or your child, you deserve to fight for justice. We will help you get the result you need. Our main objective is to harbor a sense of healing through a successful claim. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve following this horrific incident. If you want a strong, dedicated Rochester Boy Scout abuse lawyer, please call our office today for a legal consultation.