The Adult Survivors Act Deadline Passed. What Options Remain?
New York’s Adult Survivors Act gave adult survivors one year to file revived lawsuits. That Adult Survivors Act deadline passed on November 24, 2023, leaving many survivors to assume the courthouse door closed with it. However, it did not close for everyone. Earlier this year New York City reopened a separate window, and two recent filings in Manhattan show survivors using it. Here is what the law still allows across New York.
What the Adult Survivors Act Deadline Meant
The Adult Survivors Act added CPLR 214-j to state law in 2022. That provision revived lawsuits for sexual offenses committed against people who were 18 or older, even where the old limitations period had long expired. Survivors had one year, from November 24, 2022, to November 24, 2023, to file those revived cases.
Today that window is closed. Because the revival period has ended, a survivor cannot rely on CPLR 214-j to bring a new case. Still, the Adult Survivors Act deadline was never the only path. Several other rules can keep a case alive, and one of them opened only this year.
Recent Manhattan Lawsuits Use the New GMVA Window
On September 1, 2026, seven women sued Frederic Fekkai, his salon company and one of its employees in Manhattan Supreme Court. According to the complaint, Jeffrey Epstein sent victims to the salons as part of a grooming process. Those allegations remain unproven, and the defendants will have a chance to respond in court.
What stands out is the legal basis. Their complaint relies on the revival window of the New York City Gender-Motivated Violence Act. Weeks earlier, on August 19, 2026, six other women filed a GMVA lawsuit against the Epstein estate and its co-executors. Both groups of survivors turned to city law after the state window shut.
Under a 2026 amendment, the new GMVA revival window took effect on January 29, 2026. It stays open for about 18 months, so it should run until roughly July 29, 2027. During that period, survivors may bring lawsuits that the ordinary limitations period would otherwise bar.
Notably, the amended law reaches more than the person who committed the violence. It also covers those who enable it. For example, an employer or business that allegedly helped make the abuse possible may face liability. Our discussion of workplace sexual assault lawsuits against employers explores that kind of responsibility.
Outside the revival window, the GMVA generally allows seven years to sue. Since it is a city law, it generally applies to violence connected to New York City. Anyone weighing both statutes may find our comparison of the GMVA, the Child Victims Act and the Adult Survivors Act helpful.
CPLR 213-c and the 20-Year Limitations Period
Separate from any revival window, CPLR 213-c gives survivors 20 years to sue for injuries caused by certain serious sex offenses. Its list of qualifying crimes draws heavily on article 130 of the Penal Law. Examples include rape in the first degree and aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree.
In addition, CPLR 213-c reaches more than the abuser. A survivor may sue any party whose intentional or negligent acts or omissions allegedly resulted in the conduct. Therefore, an institution that ignored warning signs may face a lawsuit within the same 20-year period. Not every offense qualifies, however, so the details of what happened matter a great deal.
Often, trauma delays disclosure for years, and many survivors come forward only after a news story like the Fekkai filing. Our post on how trauma and PTSD delay disclosure explains why that timing is so common. As a result, a 20-year period can give adult survivors more room than they realize.
A Pending Bill Could Extend the Window
Lawmakers in Albany have introduced a bill, S10498/A11444, that would extend the Adult Survivors Act window. As of this writing, the bill sits in committee and has not passed either house. Nobody should plan around a bill that may never become law.
Instead, the safer course is to act under the rules that exist today. If the bill passes, a lawyer can advise whether it changes your options. Until then, most adult survivors who missed the Adult Survivors Act deadline will look to the GMVA window or CPLR 213-c.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still sue if I missed the Adult Survivors Act deadline?
Possibly. Depending on the facts, the GMVA revival window or CPLR 213-c may still allow a lawsuit. Every case turns on where and when the abuse happened and what offense it involved.
When does the GMVA revival window close?
Because it took effect on January 29, 2026, with a run of about 18 months, the expected closing date falls around July 29, 2027. Waiting until the final weeks leaves little time to prepare a strong complaint.
Can I sue someone who helped the abuser?
Yes, in many cases. Both the amended GMVA and CPLR 213-c can reach people and organizations beyond the abuser, including those who enabled the violence.
Talk With The Law Firm of Andrew M. Stengel, P.C. About Life After the Adult Survivors Act Deadline
A missed deadline does not always end a case, but the remaining windows have firm end dates of their own. Fortunately, an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer can review your timeline and explain which options may still apply. The Law Firm of Andrew M. Stengel, P.C. represents survivors throughout New York in Gender-Motivated Violence Act lawsuits and other civil cases.
Contact us to discuss your case. Email info@stengellaw.com or schedule at https://calendly.com/stengellaw.
