Two kinds of institution dominate
Bronx claims tend to involve either a large hospital system or a school, and among schools,
private institutions feature prominently. The county’s long-running historic abuse litigation
involving Horace Mann School is a matter of public record and remains one of the
better-known institutional abuse cases in the state.
Private schools differ from public districts in how they are governed and how records are
kept, which affects both who the defendant is and what can be obtained. It is worth
establishing early.
Historic claims are common here
A significant share of enquiries from the Bronx concern abuse from many years ago, often at an
institution the survivor attended as a child. Delay of that kind is ordinary in these cases, and
the institutional records that matter frequently still exist.
Local detail that shapes a claim here
| Local detail | Who or what |
|---|---|
| County | Bronx County |
| Police | NYPD |
| Hospital system | Montefiore Medical Center |
| Hospital system | NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi |
| Hospital system | BronxCare Health System |
| University | Fordham University |
| University | Manhattan University |
| University | Lehman College (CUNY) |
| Local crisis support | Safe Horizon Rape & Sexual Assault Hotline, (212) 227-3000 |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of New York, NO, did not file Chapter 11 |
| Institutional litigation | Horace Mann School, long-running historic institutional abuse claims |
Support in the Bronx
If what you need right now is support rather than a lawyer, the services above are free and
independent of this firm. See survivor resources for
the full statewide list, including the RAINN hotline on
1-800-656-4673.
Time limits in New York turn on how old you were, who was responsible and the particular facts. Two rules anchor most cases: someone abused as a child can generally bring a civil claim up to their 55th birthday, and certain felony sexual offences suffered as an adult carry a 20 year window. Neither is the whole picture, and people regularly assume they are out of time when they are not. Ask rather than assume, it is a free call.
Do you take cases in the Bronx?
Yes. The practice covers New York State, including the Bronx. Where the abuse happened matters because it determines which institution is responsible and which court hears the claim, so tell us early in the conversation.
Do I have to come to your office?
No. The first conversation is by phone, and we make arrangements that suit you after that. Nobody is required to travel in order to ask a question.
Is a claim here different from elsewhere in New York?
Often, yes. The responsible institution, the county and, in clergy cases, the diocese all affect how a claim proceeds. That is why local detail is worth establishing at the start.
What does it cost?
Nothing to ask. These cases are handled on a contingency fee, so there is no fee unless there is a recovery.