Time-Sensitive Update:
If you experienced gender-motivated violence in New York City before January 9, 2022, you may still have the right to file a civil claim, even if you believed the legal deadline had already passed.
This opportunity exists because of a temporary lookback window created by NYC Bill 1297-A (Local Law 2026/050), and that window closes permanently on July 29, 2027.
At Survivor Advocates Law, we know that coming forward takes extraordinary courage. The attorneys at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP and Girard Bengali, APC have collectively spent decades standing with survivors against powerful individuals and institutions, and we are here to stand with you now.
Below is a clear breakdown of what the law allows and whether it may apply to you.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Speak with a trauma-informed attorney about your options. No obligation, and no fee unless we win your case.
What Is the NYC Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law?
The New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law (GMVA — NYC Administrative Code § 10-1101 et seq.) was enacted in 2000. It allows survivors to bring civil lawsuits against people who commit a “crime of violence” motivated, at least in part, by the survivor’s gender, regardless of whether a criminal conviction, or even a police report, ever resulted from the incident.
The GMVA is broader than many survivors realize. It covers assaults motivated by gender even when there was no sex crime involved, and it allows survivors to sue anyone who “commits, directs, enables, participates in, or conspires in” the violence; not only the person who directly caused the harm.
On January 29, 2026, the New York City Council enacted Bill 1297-A, overriding a veto from then-Mayor Eric Adams after the Council had passed the bill unanimously in November 2025. The amendment added a new section to the GMVA—§ 10-1104.1—creating an 18-month lookback window. This window revives claims for gender-motivated violence that occurred before January 9, 2022, even if the standard filing deadline had already expired. The window opened the same day the amendment took effect and closes permanently on July 29, 2027, 18 months later.
A 2022 amendment to the GMVA had already established that survivors could sue institutions, not just individual perpetrators, for enabling, directing, participating in, or conspiring in gender-motivated violence. But courts subsequently held that this institutional liability did not reach back to violence that occurred before that 2022 amendment took effect, leaving many older claims against schools, employers, and other institutions unable to proceed. The 2026 amendment closes that gap by extending the same institutional liability standard to violence that occurred before January 9, 2022.
Who Can File?
To qualify for a claim under the lookback window created by Bill 1297-A, you generally must be able to show:
- crime of violence motivated, at least in part, by your gender
- The violence occurred in New York City
- The violence occurred before January 9, 2022
- Your claim would otherwise be barred under the GMVA’s standard filing deadline, generally seven years from the offense, extended to nine years after any disability, injury, or infancy that prevented filing ends
A conviction is not required. You do not need to have filed a police report or seen your abuser criminally charged in order to bring a civil claim under the GMVA.
Note: general legal principles can still limit a claim that was already litigated to a final judgment or resolved by settlement. If you’re unsure how a past case affects your eligibility, an attorney can review your specific situation.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Speak with a trauma-informed attorney about your options. No obligation, and no fee unless we win your case.
Types of Cases Covered
The GMVA covers a wide range of gender-motivated violence, including but not limited to:
- Sexual assault and sexual abuse, including by known individuals, acquaintances, or strangers
- Domestic violence between intimate partners or within a family unit
- Sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation
- Stalking and other patterns of gender-motivated harassment
- Assault by professionals in positions of trust, including doctors, coaches, and clergy
- Abuse enabled by institutional failures, including negligent hiring, supervision, or retention by schools, employers, religious organizations, and government agencies
- Non-sexual physical or psychological violence motivated by gender-based bias or animus
What If My Case Doesn’t Fall Within the Lookback Window?
The lookback window created by Bill 1297-A applies only to violence that occurred before January 9, 2022. If your case doesn’t fit within that window, you may still have options:
- If the violence occurred on or after January 9, 2022, you may still be able to file under the GMVA’s standard deadlines, generally seven years from the offense
- If you experienced abuse as a minor, separate New York laws with their own filing deadlines and revival provisions may apply to your case.
- If your assault occurred in California rather than New York, a different but related lookback window may apply. See our guide on the AB 2777 revival window.
If you’re unsure which deadline applies to your situation, a confidential consultation with one of our attorneys can help you understand your options before the window closes.
Why Survivors Wait, and Why Now Is the Time
Gender-motivated violence is often committed by people who hold power over the survivor, including intimate partners, employers, clergy, coaches, and other trusted figures. Coming forward is rarely simple. Trauma, fear, shame, financial dependence, and institutional pressure are real barriers, and New York City lawmakers recognized as much in reopening this window for survivors whose claims had otherwise expired.
This law exists because survivors deserve to be heard on their own terms. But the window is closing. July 29, 2027 is the final deadline.
Why Work With Survivor Advocates?
Survivor Advocates is the alliance of Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP in New York and Girard Bengali, APC in California, two nationally respected firms united by a single mission: justice for survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and trafficking.
Our attorneys, Thomas Giuffra, Omar Bengali, and Robert Girard, have collectively recovered hundreds of millions of dollars, taking on some of the most powerful individuals and institutions in the country. What sets us apart is not only our track record, it is how we work. Every client is a partner in the pursuit of justice, not a case number.
We are proud to serve each client with:
- Trauma-informed, survivor-centered counsel
- Nationwide reach with personal attention
- Multilingual accommodation and cultural competency
- Complete discretion and confidentiality
Consultations are free, confidential, and carry no obligation. When you are ready to talk, we are ready to listen.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
If you or someone you know has been affected, our attorneys can help you understand your legal options in a free, confidential consultation. There is no obligation and no fee unless we win your case.
Request a free consultation or call 866-760-5009
Available 24/7 · All conversations are strictly confidential
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Speak with a trauma-informed attorney about your options. No obligation, and no fee unless we win your case.
Support Resources for Survivors
Regardless of where you are in your journey, confidential support is available:
- RAINN — 24/7 confidential crisis support, English and Spanish
- The Alliance NYC — Free counseling, support groups, and other resources for survivors in New York City
- Safe Horizon — 24/7 hotlines and trauma-informed therapy for survivors across NYC
- Mount Sinai SAVI — Emergency room advocacy, counseling, and other direct support
- National Domestic Violence Hotline — 24/7 call, text, and chat
Frequently Asked Questions About the NYC Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law
What is the difference between the standard filing deadline and the lookback window?
The GMVA’s standard filing deadline generally gives survivors seven years from the offense to bring a claim, extended to nine years after any disability, injury, or infancy that prevented filing ends. The lookback window created by Bill 1297-A is separate: it applies only to violence that occurred before January 9, 2022 and revives claims that would otherwise already be time-barred. That window opened January 29, 2026 and closes July 29, 2027.
Can I file a claim against an institution, not just the person who harmed me?
Yes. The GMVA has allowed survivors to sue institutions, not only the individual perpetrator, since a 2022 amendment, covering anyone who directed, enabled, participated in, or conspired in the violence. Courts had ruled, however, that this institutional liability didn’t reach back to violence that occurred before January 9, 2022. The 2026 amendment (Bill 1297-A) closed that gap, so survivors of older gender-motivated violence can now bring claims against schools, employers, and other institutions too.
Do I need a police report or criminal conviction to file a civil claim?
No. A civil claim under the GMVA does not require that your abuser was criminally charged or convicted, or that you ever filed a police report. The conduct must still qualify as a crime of violence under New York law, but the criminal process and the civil process are separate.
What is the difference between a civil case and a criminal case?
These are two entirely separate legal processes. Criminal cases are brought by the government with the goal of punishing the offender, and survivors do not control whether charges are filed. Civil cases are brought by survivors, with the goal of accountability and financial compensation for harm, including therapy costs, lost income, and emotional distress. The burden of proof in civil cases is lower than in criminal cases, and a civil case can proceed even if no criminal charges were filed or a criminal case did not result in a conviction.
What compensation could I recover?
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to economic damages (medical and therapy costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life), and in cases involving particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct.
What if my case was already decided or settled?
If your prior claim was fully litigated to finality or resolved through a settlement, that resolution may affect your ability to bring a new claim under the lookback window. If you’re unsure how a past case or settlement affects your eligibility, an attorney can review your specific situation.
Can I file anonymously?
In many civil gender-motivated violence and sexual assault cases, attorneys can request that a case be filed under a pseudonym, such as Jane Doe or John Doe, to protect the survivor’s identity. While this cannot be guaranteed in every case, it is a common practice our attorneys will always explore on your behalf.
Does this lookback window apply to abuse that happened when I was a minor?
The GMVA lookback window created by Bill 1297-A is not limited by age, but survivors who experienced abuse as minors may also have options under separate New York laws with their own deadlines and revival provisions. If you experienced abuse as a minor, please contact us, as different rules may still apply and provide additional avenues for relief.
How long does it take to build a case?
Building a strong civil case requires gathering evidence, identifying witnesses, reviewing records, and developing legal strategy, a process that can take several months. With the July 29, 2027 deadline approaching, waiting significantly increases the risk that evidence will be harder to locate and that attorneys will have less time to prepare. We encourage survivors to reach out as early as possible, even if you are still deciding whether to move forward.
What if the violence happened outside New York City?
The GMVA and the Bill 1297-A lookback window apply specifically to gender-motivated violence that occurred in New York City. If your case involves conduct elsewhere in New York State, or in California, separate laws and deadlines, including California’s AB 2777 revival window, may apply. An attorney can help you determine which laws govern your situation.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation
Survivor Advocates offers confidential, trauma-informed legal guidance for survivors ready to explore their options. When you are ready to talk, we are here to listen — and ready to stand with you every step of the way.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
If you or someone you know has been affected, our attorneys can help you understand your legal options in a free, confidential consultation. There is no obligation and no fee unless we win your case.
Request a free consultation or call 866-760-5009
All conversations are strictly confidential
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