New York law unleashes ‘avalanche’ of historic sexual abuse claims

Report: Thousands of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Filed in New York State

One evening in 2001, music executive Drew Dixon was being driven home from a work event in New York with her boss, where she hoped to play him a demo from a singer she wanted to sign.

But shortly into the ride, her boss groped and kissed her without her consent, she alleges. She pushed him away while his driver “stared straight ahead” in the front seat. She froze and her boss digitally penetrated her, also without consent, Dixon alleged in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court this month.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of sexual abuse and harassment faced by women in the workplace. It is a violation of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

According to the suit, this was the second time that year that Dixon had been assaulted by Antonio Marquis “LA” Reid, a Grammy-winning producer and executive who has been a powerful figure in the music business since the 1990s, when he helped develop stars such as Mariah Carey, TLC, and Usher.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

This case also highlights the power dynamics and inequalities that exist within the music industry. SDG 10 aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries, including addressing inequalities in income and promoting the social, economic, and political inclusion of all.

At the time of the alleged incident, Dixon stayed quiet, fearing that reporting it would be “career ending”.

“There [was] nothing in the culture that indicated . . . that there was any reason for me to believe that coming forward would preserve my professional momentum, my healthcare at the time, my livelihood, my options in life,” Dixon said in an interview. With a recent cancer diagnosis, Dixon feared that she would lose her health insurance if she lost her job.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

This case raises concerns about the lack of decent work and economic growth for women in the music industry. SDG 8 aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

Now, two decades later, Dixon says she is looking to “reclaim some fraction of what I’ve lost”.

Her lawsuit is one of almost three thousand filed over the past year in New York state under the Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for civil claims brought by victims of historic sexual abuse.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The Adult Survivors Act plays a crucial role in promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions by providing survivors of sexual abuse with a legal avenue to seek justice and hold their abusers accountable.

Journalist E Jean Carroll won $5mn in damages from Donald Trump in a claim brought under the act, in which she alleged the real estate mogul had assaulted her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Other high-profile cases were filed against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, who settled with his accuser, and against comedians Russell Brand and Bill Cosby, whose cases remain unresolved.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

These cases demonstrate the importance of SDG 16 in ensuring access to justice for all and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

But as the Thanksgiving deadline approached, lawyers said they were dealing with an “avalanche” of last-minute claims, the vast majority of which had been brought by former inmates against New York prisons.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The high number of claims filed by former inmates against New York prisons highlights the need for stronger institutions and justice systems to address issues of sexual abuse and misconduct within correctional facilities.

“By the close of business this week, I will have under the Adult Survivors Act close to 630 cases filed, 600 of which consist of cases filed on behalf of formerly incarcerated women who were sexually abused by correctional officers,” said Anna Kull, a partner at Levy Konigsberg.

The total number of claims to date is still dwarfed by the 11,000 brought under the ASA’s predecessor, the Child Victims Act, which saw landmark suits brought against the Catholic Church and Boy Scouts of America. Campaigners expect that cases like Dixon’s will drum up further publicity for the ASA in its final days.

Addressing Sexual Abuse and Harassment

“We hope that people knew about the law and still have time and were able to make a decision about whether or not it also was right for them,” said Michael Polenberg of Safe Horizons, a charity that backed the legislation that led to the ASA.

“It can be a mistake to look at the number of lawsuits and say, oh, there should have been more,” he added, “because there were folks who knew about the Adult Survivors Act and maybe in consultation with their family, with an attorney, decided that moving forward may not have been in their best interest. And that’s OK.”

“It takes time for a victim to process what has happened to them, and then they have to find the courage to report,” said Kenya Davis, a partner at Boies Schiller, the law firm representing Dixon. “Why are we surprised that victims don’t just run to the local police station and say, ‘hey, look, this happened to me yesterday, I want something done about it’?”

SDG 5: Gender Equality

This highlights the need for a supportive and understanding environment for victims of sexual abuse and harassment, in line with SDG 5’s goal of achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.

The ASA should be “federalized or adopted in every state”, Davis argued.

Anna Kull, a partner at Levy Konigsberg, said the statutory limitation period for claims over sex crimes should be lifted permanently, so that alleged perpetrators could be identified or sued “at any point in time”.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Permanently lifting the statutory limitation period for claims over sex crimes aligns with SDG 16’s aim of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all.

Dixon first came forward against Reid in a 2017 New York Times article, in which she and other women accused music executive Russell Simmons of rape. Simmons has denied the allegations. Dixon again spoke out in a 2020 HBO documentary called On The Record.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis:

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses issues related to sexual assault, harassment, and the legal rights of survivors. These issues are connected to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities, is also relevant as it seeks to ensure equal opportunities and eliminate discriminatory practices. Additionally, SDG 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions, is connected to the article’s discussion of legal frameworks and the need for survivors to have access to justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

The article highlights the need to address violence against women and girls, which aligns with Target 5.2 of SDG 5. It also emphasizes the importance of empowering survivors and promoting their inclusion in society, which relates to Target 10.2 of SDG 10. Additionally, the article discusses the role of legal frameworks and access to justice, which corresponds to Target 16.3 of SDG 16.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities
• Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, based on the issues discussed, potential indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets include the proportion of women and girls subjected to violence by intimate partners (Indicator 5.2.1), the proportion of people living below a certain income threshold (Indicator 10.2.1), and the proportion of victims of violence who report their victimization to authorities (Indicator 16.3.1).

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: ft.com

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