Reform Sought in Child Sexual Abuse Statute

By Michael Petro
Buffalo Business First
June 5, 2015

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/blog/buffalo-law-journal/2015/06/reform-sought-in-child-sexual-abuse-statute.html

A few months ago, Diane Tiveron and some of her colleagues at HoganWillig went to Albany to stand behind state Assemblyman Margaret Markey as she lobbied for the Child Victims Act of NY.

The Amherst law firm represents Buffalo natives Antonio Flores and Vanessa DeRosa, victims of child sexual abuse who are now adults with no legal remedy due to the state’s statute of limitations on such cases.

Tiveron, the firm’s managing partner, was in Albany on behalf of her clients but also, she said, because she felt the reform effort was right and just.

She pointed out that New York is on the wrong end of an anomaly among states that allow only five years after a victim’s 18th birthday to commence a lawsuit against their abuser.

The five years is on the lower end of similar state statutes, joining the ranks of such places as Georgia, Alabama and Missouri, she said. Many other states have expanded the number of years in their statutes or have no limitations.

“That doesn’t seem to be a good place for our state to be. ... I think Albany is ready for (this reform),” said Tiveron, who oversees the case being handled by HoganWillig associate William Lorenz.