Ad campaign urges Gov. Hochul to force insurers to pay for thousands of cases of sex abuse claims under New Yorks Child Victims Act

An ad campaign is pressuring Gov.Kathy Hochul to force insurance companies to pay claims to thousands of alleged sexual assault victims on behalf of churches, hospitals, schools, Boy Scouts troops and other employers they represent under the Child Victims Act.The victims who were allegedly abused as children decades ago sued the various organizations they claimed allowed the abuse to happen decades later under the New York State Child Victims Act of 2019.But many cases are tied up in court, with insurers of the defendants refusing to make payments on behalf of their clients, including the Catholic Church and other defendants, according to the group behind the ads, The Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation.The group is bankrolled by allies of the Catholic Church, among others.Hochul’s Department of Financial Services is supposed to help enforce the law, advocates said.“Who turns their back on over 14,000 survivors of child sex abuse? Our Kathy Hochul.

She stands with her big insurance buddies denying responsibility while donating to her campaign,” the narrator in the 30-second cable TV ad playing in Albany and upstate media markets says.The ad shows headlines of the Buffalo Diocese shuttering 10 churches.Hochul, according to the ad, has received $578,000 in campaign contributions from the insurance lobby.“Survivors suffer — and justice stalls,” the ad says.“Gov.Hochul has the power to act,” it continues.

“Demand she enforce the law.Make Big insurance pay, not the survivors.” Morning Report and Evening Update: Your source for today's top stories Please provide a valid email address.

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Sex abuse victims also cried foul.“Six years ago, survivors were promised that the Child Victims Act would hold abusers and enablers accountable,” said Steve Jimenez, a survivor and CJCC trustee.“...