New trial granted in Staten Island sexual abuse case
A state appeals court has granted a new trial to a man convicted in Staten Island of sex abuse because a barely audible recording was admitted into evidence.
Bill aims to open lawsuit window for adult sex abuse suits
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Churches, youth groups and schools were hit by a tsunami of lawsuits in 2019 after New York gave survivors of childhood sexual abuse a one-year window to sue over allegations ordinarily barred by statutes of limitation. Now, some lawmakers want to open the same window for people abused as adults, a […]
NY legislation would mandate sex abuse awareness in schools
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Supporters of a bill to require schools to offer education on sexual abuse awareness are returning to Albany to make another push. The bill, known as Erin’s Law, would mandate age-appropriate lessons to help children understand the difference between inappropriate and appropriate touching, as well as how to report abuse to […]
US Catholic church hit with two national lawsuits by sex-abuse victims
Two groups of victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy members have launched simultaneous lawsuits against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, with one class-action suit also naming the Holy See as a defendant. The suit accuses the Catholic church of conspiracy and operating a continuing criminal enterprise under federal racketeering statutes, and attempts to […]
Washington’s attorney general opens probe into sexual abuse by Catholic clergy
WASHINGTON – District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine said Tuesday that his office has launched an investigation into sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Washington, the latest in a string of state-level law enforcement officials now looking into the Catholic Church’s handling of abuse complaints. The investigation, announced by Racine at […]
NY sex abuse victims to push again for child victims’ act
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Advocates for a bill in New York that would loosen the statute of limitations for molestation are hoping the national attention on sexual misconduct gives their cause fresh momentum. The bill would have given victims more time to file civil lawsuits or seek criminal charges against their abusers. It also would […]
DA agrees to hearing on evidence in NY abuse case
MINEOLA (AP) — Prosecutors have agreed to an evidence hearing in a 1980s sex abuse case that was the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary. The Nassau County district attorney’s office said Wednesday it’s confident Jesse Friedman’s conviction will be upheld. His lawyers say witnesses were coached to lie. The hearing has not yet been scheduled. […]
Reverend charged with sexually abusing child
The Rev. Roy Harriger of the Community Fellowship Church in Middleport, Niagara County, was arraigned Monday in the Orleans County Court on an indictment charging him with three counts of course of sexual conduct against a child, two counts of incest and one count of first-degree incest. Orleans County Court Judge James P. Punch issued […]
Syracuse man to get maximum for sex abuse
SYRACUSE — A 33-year-old Syracuse man who admitted raping two toddlers while his wife held them down is expected to be sentenced Thursday to the maximum punishment allowed. Ronald Clark pleaded guilty in December to two counts of first-degree rape for the acts against two little girls, ages two and four, and possessing child pornography. […]
Court of Appeals — Sex Abuse — Civil Liability: Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA
New York State Court of Appeals Sex Abuse — Civil Liability Multiple Occurrences — Apportionment Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA No. 69 Judge Rivera Background: At issue was the apportionment of liability for a settlement between the plaintiff and a minor plaintiff in an underlying civil […]
Fourth Department — Sex Abuse: Matter of Arianna M.
Appellate Division, Fourth Department Sex Abuse Social Worker’s Report — Admissibility Matter of Arianna M. CAF 12-00442 Appealed from Family Court, Jefferson County Background: The respondent father appealed from an order determining that he sexually abused and neglected his children. He argued that a written report of a social worker was inadmissible as it contained […]
Court of Appeals — Sex Abuse: People v. Diaz
New York State Court of Appeals Sex Abuse Expert Testimony Mirroring that of the Complainant — Defense Witness People v. Diaz No. 52 Judge Pigott Background: The defendant, the step-grandfather of the complainant, was charged with sexual conduct against a child in the first and second degree. The complainant had testified that while she was […]
Case Digests
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Attorney misconduct: Opinion 22-164
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Independently written bench book: Opinion 22-163
- Fourth Department – Suppression: People v. Saeli
- Second Circuit – RICO: Horn v. Medical Marijuana Inc.
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Uncompensated interview: Opinion 22-159
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Uncompensated guest speaker: Opinion 22-158
- Fourth Department – Negligent performance: Rosenthal v. Syracuse University, et al.
- Second Circuit – Visual Artists Rights Act: Kerson v. Vermont Law School Inc.
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – Former foreclosure referee: Opinion 22-157
- NYS Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics – College honorarium: Opinion 22-156
- Second Circuit – Reasonable accommodation: Tafolla v. Heilig
- Fourth Department – Labor Law: Primisch v. Peroxychem LLC
Law News
- Appeals court upholds Supreme Court ruling
- Assistant district attorney appointed City Court judge by Rochester mayor
- Murder conviction affirmed despite trial judge error
- NY appeals court upholds conviction in burglary case
- Federal lawsuit reinstated against jail officer over strip search, delayed release
- Hyzon to pay $25M penalty to settle alleged fraud charges by SEC
- NY appeals court reinstates lawsuit over contract to remove snow
- Fourth Department affirms $400K judgment in contract dispute