MIAMI (FL)
WPEC CBS 12
Dec. 13, 2019
By Danielle Waugh
Thousands of survivors of childhood sexual abuse in Florida could soon have a window of time to file civil lawsuits against their abusers, even if their statute of limitations already expired.
Lauren Book, a state senator from Broward County, announced legislation this week that includes a one year look back window for child sex abuse claims.
“I think there is a strong will [to pass this legislation] because of the things we have seen in our state: Jeffrey Epstein, and several other cases,” Sen. Book said.
Sixteen other states and Washington D.C. already have some form of a look back law, according to statute of limitations reform advocacy group CHILD USA.
The thinking behind these pieces of legislation is that it often takes child victims many years to report the abuse they suffered and, in many cases, the statute of limitation expires before they’re ready to come forward.
New York is one of the most recent states to adopt a look back window through the Child Victims Act.
The new law allowed Epstein accuser Jennifer Araoz to sue the convicted predator’s estate.
In an op-ed for the New York Times, Araoz wrote: “For years I felt crushed by the power imbalance between Epstein, with his enablers, and me. The Child Victims Act finally offers a counterweight…I hope more states pass similar laws so that more survivors who endured abuse, assault and rape as a child can know what wrestling back their power feels like.”
Jack Scarola, a West Palm Beach-based attorney who represents multiple Epstein accusers in Florida, believes there are many more women like Araoz in South Florida.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.