Child Sexual Abuse

"While it may not happen very often that this is used, I think the circumstances of the...epic, historical mistake, warrant an epic, historical action on the part of the legislature to correct it."

ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - A former Brighton resident is suing the Democrat and Chronicle and its parent company, Gannett, claiming he was sexually abused by…

A local attorney announced the filing of a lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo which includes a RICO civil action, or Racketeer Influenced Criminal Organizations Act.

A Tonawanda attorney has filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Buffalo which includes a strategy best known as one used by federal prosecutors against the mafia.

Under the Child Victims Act, victims up to the age of 55 now have twelve months to sue their alleged abusers or the institutions that employed them.

"You have to ask yourself, why is every diocese in the country dealing with child sex abuse? The answer is, the coverup, the protection afforded to child predators."

Advocates said the most urgent change is the one-year ‘look-back’ window. It allows adult survivors younger than age 55 to file civil suits against their abusers and any responsible institution.

The one-year look-back period in New York's Child Victims Act does a lot, but its effect might be different on the Catholic Church than other institutions.