Long Island schools paid $87.6M to settle sex-abuse lawsuits, data shows
Thirty-three Long Island school districts have paid a combined $87.6 million to settle 81 lawsuits brought by former students who say teachers, administrators, fellow students and school staffers sexually abused them, Newsday has found.
The former students brought the cases under the Child Victims Act, state legislation allowing child sexual abuse victims a temporary window to file lawsuits for damages. Before the law, alleged victims couldn't file claims after age 23. The window to file Child Victims Act claims closed in 2021.
Only 25¢ for 5 months
Thirty-three Long Island school districts have paid a combined $87.6 million to settle 81 lawsuits brought by former students who say teachers, administrators, fellow students and school staffers sexually abused them, Newsday has found.
The former students brought the cases under the Child Victims Act, state legislation allowing child sexual abuse victims a temporary window to file lawsuits for damages. Before the law, alleged victims couldn't file claims after age 23. The window to file Child Victims Act claims closed in 2021.
The chart below details each settlement, including the payout and the allegations. Read more about the Child Victims Act here.
'I'm going to try to avoid it' A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.