So I saw this in the paper today and I couldn't help but chuckle. These two seem to have craftily come up with an issue that can't be argued against. Well, hold on.Let me explain what is really going on here.
The bill introduced by Assemblywoman Marge Markey, A02596, would extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims by five years. Currently, it allows for someone to sue up until the age of 23. This bill would extend the filing time to age to 28. It also would eliminate the statute of limitations all together for one year and allow suits dismissed for exceeding the statute of limitations to proceed.
What the press won't tell you is that the bill only applies to private institutions, like the church, boy scouts, etc. It does not apply to government-run programs or schools. As the Catholic paper, The Tablet, explains:
...as the New York State Catholic Conference has pointed out, it “does absolutely nothing to protect a single child in New York State from sexual abuse. Instead it is designed to enrich trial lawyers by targeting private institutions…”
The conference further stated, “It is unfair and bad public policy when governments exempt themselves from lawsuits of a kind that can bankrupt their private counterparts when engaged in exactly the same behavior.”
Studies have shown that public schools are the most frequent sites of sexual abuse outside the home and yet Markey’s bill would exempt them.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio in his Tablet column of July 5 explained that “…the (Markey) bill seems to distinguish between private and public institutions. This provision seems to strike at the heart of equity. Why then does Markey’s legislation allow for civil suits going back decades against the church but not include the necessary statutory amendments to permit victims in public schools” to file similar claims?
Now, it's well known that Statute of limitations laws are different when bringing claims against the government. Government agencies cannot be sued unless you file an administrative claim within the first 60 days after the injury. Typically, the government will deny your claim, and will inform you of the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. Nothing in this bill will change that.
Why doesn't the Post examine the meat of the proposed bill (and its insufficiencies) instead of what went on at a meeting at the bishop's house?
Bottom line is that Markey and Crowley do what their contributors tell them to do. If these "good Catholics" have to unfairly target the very church they claim to be so dedicated to in order to help out their trial attorney donors, then so be it.
Can you name a cause that Markey has so vociferously championed in the past? Of course you can't. She is scared she will have an opponent again next year and thinks this issue is a slam dunk because we are all stupid. Advise her otherwise.
31 comments:
Honestly, does anyone think that ANYTHING these people do is aimed toward the public good and not toward lining someone's pocket?
Biggest Contributor to Markey is trial lawyers. Her Husband was the last appointed judge by Manton with **No** qualifications, just kick back for being a good soldier for the Party. All the connections are there. Now she has Local 3 which really has a poor record of picking worthy Politicians, (Brian McLaughlin being one)and trial lawyers feeding her coffer. And Joe Crowley. Wasn't one of his relatives arrested for child abuse?But that child went to Public School so there is no waiver of statute of limitaions for that victim. And how about Markeys family? The Boy Scouts, Catholics, Jewish Groups and everyone that this bill is aimed at should run Crowley & Markey out of town for leaving out the public schools.
A competing bill by assembly man Vito Lopez does not exempt any institution public or private. If the purpose of the New York State Legislature is to seek justice for the victims of abuse, and not just punish the catholic Church, then the Lopez bill not the Markey bill is the one the should be passed.
Is that Right? The Church is open to be sued until the child is 23 and the public school only 90 days after the incident? And Markey wants to waive one year the statute of limitions allowing people who may be 50, 60, 70 or more to make allegations of someone who could be dead against private institutions but not the public schools? Please tell me I'm wrong
So was Nunziato against this bill entirely, or would he have been for it if it also opened up the statute of limitations on public institutions?
I also don't understand why there is a temporary lifting of the statute for all ages instead of just those up to the age that the bill is extending it to.
Sheldon Silver is in bed w/ the trial lawyers. Marge Markey is in bed w/ Shelly. Do the math. Vote Nunziato!
Every Catholic needs to remember the self-hating anti-Catholic bigots who are pushing this bill and lying about Bishop DiMarzio just to score cheap points with the other Catholic-hating bigots in the legislature and the trial lawyers.
If they believe this bill actually has merit, then extend the statute of limitations for all institutions where any abuse - sexual, child, or domestic - of any kind occurs.
Crowley is in the US House of Reps. Let him demonstrate his sincerity by introducing a bill to eliminate the statute of limitations of tax cheats. Have people defend against charges on acts committed 30, 40 years ago.
Have him start with a bill to forbid tax cheats from serving in any administration's Cabinet position. No matter how far back the cheating occurred. Even if there are charges but no documentary proof, or witnesses, of any evidence at all.
As for Bishop DiMarzio, let him close all Brooklyn Diocese parochial schools until this bill is withdrawn with apologies. Archbishop Dolan of the NY Archdiocese must follow suit.
We and the hierarchy need to tell Markey and Crowley and the anonymous city council member to shit in their hats.
I didn't realize this site was SO PRO CHILD MOLESTER.
I would trust anyone with my child, no priest , coach, etc....
Shame on you. Hopefully no one in your family circle every experiences this trauma.
this bill would expose all the CHILD MOLESTERS who have gotten away with it for years and have them go to trail for the crimes.
Just look at what has happened in BOSTON and now in IRELAND.
SHAME On YOU for defending this criminals, also this bill isn't against the Catholic, it covers all FAITH and their organizations. Every year their are thousands of children abused and this would help expose this criminal.
SO STOP PROTECTING THE MOLESTERS AND PROTECT THE CHILDREN.
DISGUSTED CATHOLIC DEMOCRAT:
Can you please explain your comment about the Markey Family?
So Taxpayer wants to penalize people for accusations with no evidence? I'm glad everyone here can see how utterly unintelligent his views are.
It is telling that people here are defending covering up child molestations. The current Pope was complicit in this disgraceful cover-up activity before he became Pope.
- A Bigger Taxpayer
Who cares that this bill doesn't cover every instance? Better to catch some perverts than none at all! Me thinks those against this bill are likely the same it targets!
I'm glad those who hve anti-Catholic biases, like A Bigger Taxpayer are showing their true colors.
You can't have two sets of laws for two segments of the population. Equal protection, anyone? Either everyone is covered under the law or no one is. This law, if pass, will be challenged by the church and they will win.
"It is telling that people here are defending covering up child molestations."
Who is doing that? We just want one standard applied equally to all.
I thought that's what this country was known for.
Markey and Crowley would NEVER go against the Board of Education. They are in the pockets of the UFT. All this bill will do is line the pockets of the trial lawyers. I don't know of anyone who would be in favor of a child molestor, but there is a statute of limitations where the victim has seven years to pursue a case. If Markey wants to pass a law against molestors, then she must include the Board of Education and all city and state institutions that deal with children. The law can't be selective. If this bill goes through, it will be the end of all Religeon in New York, not to mention Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. That's just the way big government wants it. They want to play God.
"Better to catch some perverts than none at all"
Asshole! It's not to catch criminals! If that were the case no one would be against it! It's to make lawyers and lying plaintiff's rich!
OMG! I just been molested! of course, since it happened in 1973, when I was in the 10th grade, you can't disprove it! Where's my settlment?
I am against the Catholic Church's cover-up of child molesters. I am also against its discriminatory policies. I hope to show my views, that's the point. Do you realize how ridiculous you sound by disagreeing?
Read the Tablet article. Nunziato never said anything about being in favor of the bill if it included all institutions. He was against it because it would affect the church.
EVERYONE is against the Catholic church's coverup of the molestation. Whether you find their policies discriminatory is something to take up with them. But since you are against discrimination, it would make sense that you would be against this discriminatory law that targets private institutions and exempts public ones.
The law should apply to everyone. Therefore, public schools and institutions should be included in her legislation. She's just going after the private sector. Her legislation doesn't make sense. If she's against child molesters, her bill should include public and private institutions.
This is a money making scheme. No one supports child molesters, but the victims would have already sued by now. She's opening a window to make lawyers rich. There is no way to disprove something that happened 25 years ago.
How about when the person who allegedly did the molesting is dead? I mean that's certainly a possible scenario if the statute of limitations is lifted.
Can you imagine what would happen if the statute of limitations was lifted for all crimes for a period of one year. Just call New York Law Suit City. People would be coming out of the woodwork to make a case and get a settlement. I don't think Markey realizes what a can of worms she has opened. I think she should concentrate on her district and its needs.
If this bill isn't pass , it's a free pass for all child predators. If you have a child in the Boy Scouts, You better be involved, there are complaints every year. Protect your Child, WELL!
"If this bill isn't pass , it's a free pass for all child predators."
Please explain how. The person has until the age of 23 to sue. The bill will extend that age to 28. How will not passing this bill give a "free pass" to child predators that aren't given one now?
If you have a child in Public School, you better keep an eye on your child. There aren't many priests left, but there's plenty of teachers to prey upon your kids.
You mean like the one that was just arrested for banging the 14-year old that texted him all day long?
I added a little more information to this post to make it more clear about the narrow window of opportunity the current statute of limitations offers to plaintiffs suing the government.
Marge Markey sits on her ass all these years and now that she wants her name on something this is the best she can come up with? Unbelievable!
Wow. The last legislation she wrote had something to do with Mad Cow disease. The only problem was that it rarely exists in the United States. What planet does she live on? Good going Marge. Keep up the good work. Now she plans to decimate the churches. What a politician! Can't wait to see what useless legislation she comes up with next.
I wouldn't buy a used car from either one of these clubhouse hacks!
Look at the shady nasty looking pusses on this pair of hucksters!
Local 3, electrical Union does it again! First they back McLaughlin
and now they are backing Marge Markeys attack against the Catholic Church. What the hell is that UNions problem. If this bill goes through, The Catholic Church with be bankrupt and its over. This doesn't protect children, this enriches corrupt politicians and Lawyers. Thats why Unions are no longer good in New York. They back Politicians with the workers hard earned money without doing research on the elected officials. Give the head of the Electrical Union an award and he's
in your pocket. Shame on you. The New Union Leaders are bringing shame to the Electrical Union. Stop the Bill before it stops the Church. Start knowing who you support and what they want to destroy. GOD Bless America.
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