News Alert

The New York City Counsel has enacted a significant correction to the City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA), overriding former Mayor Eric Adam’s New Year’s Eve veto and reinstating claims that had been dismissed following a 2025 appellate ruling. The Legislation – Intro. 1297A – clarifies that survivors may pursue claims not only against abusers but also against institutions and agencies alleged to have enabled gender-motivated violence.

The measure responds directly to the First Department’s June 2025 decision holding that the 2022 GMVA amendments permitting suits against institutional enablers did not apply retroactively. That ruling led courts to dismiss hundreds of cases, including actions involving alleged abuse at Rockefeller University Hospital and New York City juvenile detention facilities. As attorney Jordan Merson noted, survivors were told “you came forward for nothing” after believing the 2022 amendments allowed their claims.

Under Intro. 1297a, survivors now have an 18-month window to bring claims for misconduct occurring before January 9, 2022. The law also permits plaintiffs who filed GMVA claims between March 1, 2023 and March 1, 2025 to amend or refile to add revived causes of action. According to the City Council, the legislation ensures that “victims of gender-motivated violence, whenever it occurred, can come forward and pursue their claims in court.”

This override followed sustained advocacy from survivors, plaintiff’s attorneys, and organizations including the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

To read the complete article from Law.com about the legislation, click here.