If You Were Harmed Because of Power, Control, or Gender Based Abuse, You May Have a Civil Case Even If Years Have Passed

This May Apply Even If:

• You never reported what happened
• The abuse was not overtly sexual
• The person had authority over you
• An institution failed to intervene
• You were told it was too late to come forward
• Years or decades have passed

You do not need to know the legal label for what happened.
If it felt coercive, degrading, or rooted in power or control, the law may recognize it now.

What Is the Victims of Gender Motivated Violence Protection Law

New York City’s Victims of Gender Motivated Violence Protection Law provides a civil cause of action for people harmed by violence committed because of gender or on the basis of gender.

Unlike criminal cases, civil cases focus on accountability and compensation, not punishment.
They allow survivors to seek justice even when criminal charges were never brought or are no longer possible.

This law applies to acts motivated at least in part by gender based animus, including abuse involving power imbalance, coercion, and institutional failure.

When Criminal Justice Fails, Civil Accountability Still Matters

In many abuse cases, criminal accountability is unavailable or delayed.
That does not mean justice is out of reach.

Civil lawsuits allow survivors to hold both perpetrators and institutions accountable when abuse was preventable and ignored. This includes employers, organizations, medical providers, schools, and other entities that failed to act.

Civil justice is often the only remaining path for survivors when systems fail them.

Request a Confidential Case Review

Who Can Be Held Accountable

Depending on the facts, civil claims may be brought against:

• The individual who committed the abuse
• Employers or institutions that enabled or ignored it
• Organizations that failed to protect victims
• Entities that concealed misconduct

You are not required to confront the abuser directly.
Your legal team handles that responsibility.

What Compensation May Be Available

Civil claims under this law may allow recovery for:

• Emotional distress and trauma
• Economic losses
• Punitive damages
• Attorney fees and legal costs
• Court ordered injunctive relief

Every case is different. A confidential review helps determine what applies to you.

About Time Limits and Lookback Windows

New York law has expanded time limits for bringing gender motivated violence claims and has reopened previously time barred cases through look-back provisions.

If you were previously told your claim was too old, that may no longer be true.

The safest step is to speak with counsel who can assess your specific timeline.

Jordan Merson has represented more than 40 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and has spoken publicly about institutional accountability when systems fail victims.