Published January 28, 2025
Levy Konigsberg, a law firm dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of those who have survived childhood sexual abuse and exploitation.
Today announced that it has filed a significant number of new civil lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by employees at juvenile detention facilities in Brooklyn and the Bronx. The firm announced the filing of 115 new lawsuits, bringing the total number of lawsuits filed since April 2024 to 539. Attorneys Jerome Block and Madeleine Skaller along with several survivors, local elected leaders, and advocates gathered today at the Brooklyn Law School to take a stand against the systemic abuse and culture of secrecy at Crossroads Juvenile Center, Spofford Juvenile Detention Center (also known as Bridges Juvenile Detention Center), Horizon Juvenile Center, and Rikers Island.
The lawsuits aim to hold the City of New York accountable for its failure to protect vulnerable children under its care. Despite the gravity of the accusations, the City is actively working to have the cases dismissed. In late October 2024, the City of New York filed a motion to dismiss the complaints, arguing that the law assigns liability only to the individuals who committed sexual assault rather than to the institutions that enabled the abuse, and asserting that institutions cannot be sued under the two-year revival window put into place by the City Council in 2022. In response to this motion, Levy Konigsberg contends that the City’s interpretation is inconsistent with the law asserting that the clear intent of the the City Council in passing the 2022 Amendments to the Gender-Motivated Violence Act, proposed by Council Members Carlina Rivera and Selvena Brooks-Powers, and co-sponsored by 26 other council members, was to allow cases like those filed by the Plaintiffs to proceed.
“Today we stand with survivors of sexual abuse at juvenile detention centers to be heard, believed and most importantly to hold accountable the City and its agencies who allowed this egregious sexual abuse to occur.” said Levy Konigsberg Partner Jerome Block. “For nearly a year now, we have stood with elected officials, advocates, and members of the community to say enough is enough and something must be done. We have now filed over 500 cases from men and women who suffered sexual abuse in New York City juvenile detention centers as teenagers. The City and its broken juvenile system must be held to account. This institutionalized sexual abuse and culture of secrecy has persisted for decades and there is no evidence that the City has done anything to fix its procedures to ensure the safety of children in the juvenile system. It’s outrageous and appalling that the perpetrators of this horrific sexual abuse are the very adult staff members that were supposed to keep children safe. Our clients want justice, accountability and for sexual abuse in New York City juvenile detentions centers to end.”
“I was only 13 years old when I was removed from my home and placed in Juvenile Detention. I was supposed to be safer there than in my own home, but what I encountered was far from safety,” said Survivor Kendra Monsanto. “At the facility, I was coerced, manipulated, and exploited by staff members. The impact of what happened to me has been deep, and it changed the course of my life. The people responsible must be held accountable, and our stories must be heard. This is not just about seeking justice for the past, but about creating a safer future for our children.”
“I was incarcerated at the Crossroads Juvenile Detention facility in 2011. I’m here today not just to share my experience, but to ensure that no child in the juvenile system today has to endure what I went through,” said Survivor Angel Sanchez. “The system should be a place of rehabilitation, not harm. We must push for reform and oversight in the juvenile justice system, so that future generations of young people are treated with dignity and respect.”
“We are not just files or cases. We are human beings—New Yorkers who care deeply about the humanity of everyone in this City,” said Survivor Rashawn Jones. “When you ask for these cases to be dismissed, you’re not just dismissing legal matters—you’re dismissing my humanity. I stand here today not just as a survivor, but as a voice for those who can’t speak up—those who are still suffering in silence, forgotten by a system that was meant to protect them. So, I ask you today: Please, do not dismiss our stories. Do not dismiss our humanity.”
“I was incarcerated at the Horizon Juvenile Center in the early 2000s, and the experiences I endured there still affect me to this day,” said Survivor Laquan Rivera. “While I’ve worked hard to heal and grow, the abuse I faced continues to impact my life in ways I’m still trying to process. As a father now, the thought of anyone hurting my children is unbearable. It is our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable, and that includes the children in our juvenile justice system. We must demand accountability from those who are entrusted with the care and safety of our young people.”
With 539 cases already filed, it has become evident that many of these survivors were victimized by repeat perpetrators. The City of New York allowed these prolific abusers to sexually abuse children in the City’s care for years. Natalie Medford, a former staff member at Horizon, is alleged to have abused at least 21 of the survivors with cases currently pending. Additionally, Tony “Tyson” Simmons, a registered sex offender who was imprisoned for sexually assaulting several young girls at New York City’s juvenile detention centers, has been named by 11 additional survivors. As these cases continue to be filed, a culture of secrecy which protects the perpetrators at the expense of the victims has been exposed. Investigation into these cases has revealed that several accused perpetrators of child sex abuse at New York City’s juvenile detention centers continue to be employed by the City today.
Despite widespread reports, investigations, and campaigns to close or reform these juvenile detention facilities, the City of New York has allowed a culture of sexual abuse and brutality to continue unabated. The abuse endured by these plaintiffs stretches across decades. Sexual abuse of children at New York City’s juvenile detention facilities likely continues to this day.
The suits filed by Levy Konigsberg were brought under the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law. Enacted in 2000, this law provides legal pathways for victims of this type of sexual abuse to pursue damages from their abusers and from the institutions that enabled their abuse. In 2022, the New York City Council created a two year lookback window for survivors to file civil suits against their perpetrators and the institutions that failed to protect them, even if it has been years or decades since the gender-motivated sexual abuse took place. This lookback window is open until March 1, 2025, and allows survivors a meaningful opportunity to seek justice.
The continued involvement of local leaders and advocates highlights the broad support for survivors and the importance of addressing systemic issues within the juvenile detention system.
“This is a critical moment for accountability and reform in our criminal legal system,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Systemic failures, including over incarceration and a lack of oversight and accountability in our juvenile detention centers, have allowed gender-motivated abuse to persist and proliferate, and it is our responsibility to create safer environments and stronger protections for those in our city’s care. I am incredibly grateful to those who entrusted us with their stories and to the attorneys and legal advocates who are working alongside survivors to hold our City accountable.”
“As we approach the closing of the lookback window under the Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, we urge survivors of gender-based violence to use this opportunity to pursue justice. The law I passed in coalition with survivors and advocates, which temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for civil claims, has empowered many individuals to come forward who otherwise might not have been unable to seek accountability,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02). “This two-year window closes on February 28, 2025, after which the 9-year statute of limitations will resume. It’s crucial that we raise awareness about this window closing, and that we continue advocating for the rights of survivors, eliminating barriers to justice, and supporting survivors in their journey toward healing.”
“The trauma of sexual abuse takes years to process before many are able to even think about reporting the harm done to them. Look back windows, like the Gender Motivated Violence Act, are frequently the only available pathway to justice for these survivors and are critical in ensuring the individuals and institutions who allowed this violence to occur are held responsible,” Emily Miles, executive director of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault. The Alliance is proud to stand with these survivors as they seek accountability for the trauma they experienced at the hands of those tasked with ensuring their care.”
“There is still time for survivors to seek justice and reclaim their voices,” said Sonia Ossorio, Executive Director of the National Organization for Women – New York City chapter. “The Gender Motivated Violence Act is more than a legal tool—it is a powerful statement that gender-based violence will not be tolerated and that survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and supported. As the February 28, 2025, deadline for the lookback window approaches, we urge survivors to take advantage of this critical opportunity. Let this be a moment not just of accountability, but of empowerment and healing.”