Mayor Adams vetoes legislation aimed at simplifying the legal process for gender violence victims seeking to file lawsuits.
On Christmas Eve, New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivered a controversial veto against a City Council bill aimed at allowing victims of gender-based violence to litigate claims exceeding the statute of limitations. This decisive action comes just one week before Adams exits office on December 31, following a tenure marked by significant challenges and controversies.
The City Council had overwhelmingly passed the bill, known as Intro 1297, with a unanimous vote of 48-0. This legislation would have reopened an 18-month window for alleged victims of gender-based violence to file civil lawsuits for incidents occurring prior to January 9, 2022. A previous version allowing similar claims had lapsed earlier in the year. The bill emerged in response to numerous instances where former juvenile detainees were unable to pursue lawsuits for sexual abuse due to legal barriers.
The author of the bill, Queens Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, expressed strong discontent with the veto, asserting that it represents a failure to uphold the rights of survivors seeking justice. She emphasized the necessity for the City Council to override the veto when they reconvene in early January. The council will need a supermajority, with three-quarters of its 51 members in favor, to successfully overturn the mayor’s decision.
In his statement regarding the veto, Mayor Adams cited concerns about the motivations of a specific law firm representing the alleged victims, claiming that the bill would enable this firm to claim up to 0 million from taxpayers. He expressed that while domestic violence and its perpetrators must be held accountable, the current bill, as written, does not serve justice for survivors but rather benefits a select legal entity.
Jerome Block, an attorney from Levy Konigsberg LLP, the firm criticized by Adams, asserted that the City Council would likely override the veto, emphasizing the importance of addressing the rights of survivors from various circumstances, including abuse suffered in juvenile detention centers and by medical professionals.
This veto comes amid a convoluted relationship between Adams and the City Council throughout his administration, during which he has faced multiple overrides of his decisions on various legislative matters, ranging from police reforms to housing policies. With incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani set to take office on January 1, 2024, the future of this legislation, alongside other pending initiatives, remains uncertain.
Overall, this veto not only underscores the complexities of governance but also highlights the ongoing struggle for justice among survivors of gender-based violence in New York City. The outcome of the potential legislative override will be closely watched as it embodies a larger societal dialogue about accountability and support for vulnerable populations.
