Statute of Limitations
New York: NEW lookback window opens March 2026. Archdiocese of NY: $300M fund (2025). Diocese of Rochester: $246M settlement (July 2025). Diocese of Buffalo: $150M settlement (~900 claims).
New lookback window opens March 2026 — file as soon as window opens
Where to File in New York
New York's Child Victims Act (CVA, 2019) created a one-year lookback window that ran from August 14, 2019 through August 14, 2021, generating over 11,000 childhood sexual abuse civil claims statewide — the largest such litigation wave in U.S. history. The CVA also permanently extended the civil SoL to age 55 with a discovery rule tolling the clock until the survivor reasonably discovers the connection between the injury and the abuse. Claims filed during the CVA window are now in discovery or pre-trial posture in state courts.
A new lookback window for certain previously time-barred claims opened in November 2023 under the Adult Survivors Act for adult victims, but a separate March 2025 bill created an additional narrow window for previously CVA-barred claims. Survivors who missed the original 2019-2021 window should consult an attorney to determine whether any subsequent window or discovery-rule toll applies to their specific circumstances. Several New York diocese bankruptcy proceedings directly affect civil claims.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2020 with approximately 500 abuse claims; the plan of reorganization was confirmed in late 2023 and provides a trust for survivors. The Diocese of Rochester filed for bankruptcy in September 2019; its reorganization plan was also confirmed. The Archdiocese of New York (Manhattan/Bronx/Staten Island) and Diocese of Brooklyn have not filed for bankruptcy and remain subject to direct civil litigation. Survivors with Rockville Centre or Rochester claims must have their rights adjudicated through the respective bankruptcy trusts.
New York survivors can contact the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA) at (518) 482-4222, SNAP's New York chapter, and RAINN at 1-800-656-4673. The New York Attorney General's Office investigated dioceses following the CVA and published findings. The Diocese of Brooklyn published credible-accusation lists; other New York dioceses have done the same. CHILD USA tracks all New York SoL and lookback window litigation developments.
Exposure in New York
Source: New York State Legislature
Source: New York court statistics
Source: Archdiocese of New York
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, W.D. New York
Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, W.D. New York
Your Legal Team
Catherine Oduya
Senior Partner
New York, NY
Catherine Oduya has spent 22 years representing survivors of institutional sexual abuse, with a primary focus on Catholic clergy abuse litigation in New York state courts. She was among the first attorneys to file claims under New York's Child Victims Act in 2019 and has represented over 300 survivors in diocesan bankruptcy proceedings and direct civil litigation against New York dioceses. Catherine's background in psychology informs her trauma-informed approach to client advocacy — she understands the unique psychological barriers that prevent survivors from coming forward and provides a safe, judgment-free environment for initial consultations. She has recovered over $120 million for Catholic Church abuse survivors in her career. Catherine is a member of CHILD USA's attorney network and collaborates with SNAP to connect survivors with legal resources. She is actively preparing cases for New York's March 2026 lookback window.
Education
- J.D., Fordham University School of Law (2004)
- B.A., Psychology, New York University (2001)