Can You Recover Money for Abuse in New York City?
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When Abuse Causes Real Harm — You May Have a Legal Case
You may be able to recover money for the harm that was done to you.
Most people think that if something serious happened in a relationship, it either gets handled in divorce or not at all.
That is not correct.
In New York City, there are situations where a person can take legal action to recover money for harm caused by abuse.
In limited circumstances, this may include situations that occurred years ago, if they fall within a current legal window allowing certain older claims to be brought.
These situations are often seen in marriages or long-term relationships, but they can also arise in other settings.
It can arise in:
- A marriage or long-term relationship
- Someone you were dating
- A former partner
- Someone who had authority or influence over you at work
- Someone in a position of trust in a religious or community setting
- Another situation where one person had power over the other
What matters is not the label of the relationship.
What matters is what actually happened.
When the Line Is Crossed – You Do Not Have to Accept It.
This is not about ordinary relationship problems or difficult situations. It applies to situations where a clear line was crossed.
That usually involves conduct such as:
- Being physically hurt, threatened, or put in fear
- Being forced or pressured into sexual activity
- Being touched or treated in a way that was not voluntary
In many cases, this type of conduct would be considered an assault, even if there was no police report or criminal case. Situations like this are usually looked at in two parts: what happened, and how it affected you.
This includes both the conduct itself and the impact it had on you, which may be physical, emotional, or psychological.
This is about situations where what happened was not just wrong – it caused meaningful harm that may be addressed through a legal claim.
Why the Law Treats This Differently
In many of these situations, the behavior is not random or just the result of an argument.
It reflects a pattern of control and harm.
It is also often connected to how the other person saw and treated you as a woman or a man.
That can include situations where:
- They believed they had a right to control you
- They expected you to act a certain way in the relationship
- They reacted strongly when you acted independently
- They treated you differently based on your role or position
This matters because the law looks at whether the conduct was tied, at least in part, to your gender.
It does not have to be the only reason. But it does mean the situation is more than a personal dispute. It reflects a pattern of control or harm connected to how you were treated because of your gender.
How This Differs From Divorce
Some of these situations happen in a marriage. Many do not. When divorce is involved, it still does not address this type of harm.
Divorce deals with:
- Dividing assets
- Support
- Custody
A separate legal claim focuses on:
- What was done to you
- The harm it caused
- Holding the other person financially responsible
These are different issues.
When a Situation May Lead to a Case
If you have experienced abuse, the next question is whether that situation can be the basis for a legal claim.
You do not need to have that answer on your own.
In most cases, the law is looking at a few key things.
First, there must be clear conduct, such as:
- Physical violence or threats
- Sexual coercion or forced activity
- Behavior that would be considered an assault
Second, the situation is not just about what happened, but how and why it happened.
The law looks at whether the conduct was connected, at least in part, to your gender.
That can include situations where:
- The other person believed they had a right to control you
- They expected you to act a certain way based on your role in the relationship
- They reacted strongly when you acted independently
- They treated you differently as a woman or a man
It does not have to be the only reason for the behavior.
But it does mean the situation involves more than a personal conflict. It reflects a pattern of control or harm tied to how you were treated.
Third, there must be real harm.
That can include physical injury, but it can also include emotional or psychological harm if it is serious and has had a meaningful impact on your life.
Many people are unsure how to think about what happened, especially where things developed over time or were not clearly defined at the time.
That is common.
The next step is to speak with a lawyer about your situation.
You May Have a Case If:
- You were physically hurt, threatened, or forced into something
- What happened had a real impact on you, even if you are still sorting that out
- The situation involved control, pressure, or a lack of real choice
- The other person has the ability to pay
Speak With a Lawyer About Your Case
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Know Your Rights – Abuse & Financial Compensation
Yes.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) is a New York City law that allows survivors of domestic or intimate partner violence to bring a civil lawsuit for money damages when they were harmed by a crime of violence motivated, at least in part, by gender.
This means you can bring a civil claim against a spouse, partner, or ex-partner for abuse, whether you are married, separated, divorced, or in the middle of a divorce.This is different from divorce.
Divorce addresses property, support, and custody. A GMVA claim is a separate civil case focused on compensating the harm caused by abuse, including emotional distress, medical treatment, therapy, lost income, and in appropriate cases, punitive damages.
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) is a New York City law that allows a person to bring a civil lawsuit for financial compensation if they were harmed by a crime of violence—such as assault or sexual abuse—that was motivated, at least in part, by gender.
In practical terms, this means the law applies to serious abuse involving physical violence, sexual misconduct, or coercive conduct that reflects control, domination, or gender-based harm within a relationship.
A criminal case is not required. The law allows a victim to bring a civil claim directly for damages, including compensation and, in appropriate cases, punitive damages. This claim is separate from divorce and separate from criminal proceedings. It focuses on holding the wrongdoer financially accountable for the harm caused.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 10-1103, 10-1104
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.
No.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) is a New York City law that allows a survivor to bring a separate civil lawsuit for money damages based on a crime of violence motivated, at least in part, by gender.
A divorce case and a GMVA case serve different purposes.
Divorce courts handle property, support, and custody. While abuse may be considered, divorce does not typically compensate a survivor for the personal injuries caused by that abuse. A GMVA claim focuses specifically on that harm and may include damages for emotional distress, medical care, therapy, lost income, and punitive damages.
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.
It depends.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) applies when a person is harmed by a crime of violence—such as assault or sexual abuse—that was motivated, at least in part, by gender.
This usually means more than arguments or a difficult relationship.
Examples of conduct that may qualify include:
- Physical assault
- Sexual assault or coercion
- Threats of serious harm
- Strangulation or choking
- Violence used to control or intimidate
- Punishment for leaving or becoming independent
- Patterns of isolation or domination
The strongest cases typically involve both violence and a pattern of control.
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.
Yes.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) requires that the violence be motivated, at least in part, by gender.
This does not require explicit statements. The issue is whether the conduct reflects gender-based control, coercion, or domination.
A case is stronger where the abuse involves:
- Sexual coercion or entitlement
- Control over finances or independence
- Isolation from support systems
- Punishment for leaving or asserting independence
- Patterns of domination within the relationship
The focus is not just on what happened, but why it happened.
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.
Yes.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) allows a civil claim for financial compensation even if there was no arrest or criminal prosecution.
What matters is whether the conduct can be proven and whether it qualifies as a crime of violence motivated, at least in part, by gender.
Evidence can include medical records, communications, photographs, or witness observations. Even if the abuse was never reported at the time, a claim may still be possible.
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.
It depends.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) allows a survivor to bring a civil claim for financial compensation when they were harmed by gender-motivated violence.
A GMVA claim may include damages for:
- Medical expenses
- Therapy and mental health treatment
- Future care needs
- Lost income or career impact
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages in serious cases
The value of a case depends on the severity of the abuse, its impact, and the available proof.
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.
It depends.
The Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA) allows a limited period of time to bring a civil claim for damages based on gender-motivated violence.
In many cases, the deadline is measured in years, but the exact time limit can depend on the facts and any applicable extensions.
In limited circumstances, New York City law also allows certain claims based on older conduct to be brought within a defined time period, even if they would otherwise be time-barred.
Because these rules can be strict, it is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
If this issue affects you or your family, you can speak with me personally –
Steven Gildin, Gildin & Chapman
(516) 524-5657 – direct cell phone
Prefer to schedule a time? Request your free consultation here.