New York Adult Survivors Act Creates New Lawsuit Window — November 2022
New York's Adult Survivors Act (ASA) takes effect, providing a one-year litigation window for adult survivors of sexual abuse whose civil claims would otherwise be time-barred. Dozens of Epstein victims use the window to file civil lawsuits naming major institutions and individuals connected to his network, including JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and individuals not previously named in civil actions.
People Involved
On November 24, 2022, the New York Adult Survivors Act (ASA) took effect, opening a one-year revival window for adult sexual abuse survivors whose civil claims were otherwise barred by New York’s statute of limitations.
What the ASA Did
The ASA suspended the statute of limitations for one year — until November 24, 2023 — allowing adult survivors of sexual abuse to file civil claims regardless of when the abuse occurred. This window was modeled on the Child Victims Act that had similarly opened a window for childhood sexual abuse claims in 2019.
Epstein-Related Filings
The ASA window generated a significant wave of new civil litigation related to Epstein, including:
- Lawsuits against JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank directly by victims
- Lawsuits against named individuals in Epstein’s network who had not previously been sued
- Expansion of existing claims by previously uncompensated victims
- Claims related to institutions including modeling agencies and talent agencies connected to recruitment
Major New Defendants
Several individuals who had not previously been named in civil litigation were sued during the ASA window, including prominent financiers, politicians’ associates, and others named in flight logs or Maxwell’s network documentation.
Claims Against JPMorgan
The class action against JPMorgan Chase — which settled for $290 million in June 2023 — was among the most consequential suits filed during the ASA window, establishing that financial institution liability for trafficking was actionable.
Significance
The ASA window significantly expanded the scope of civil accountability in the Epstein case beyond what had been achieved through Epstein’s estate alone. It represented an important legislative response to the challenge of time-barred claims in historical sexual abuse cases.