According to Public Justice, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a lawsuit brought by former model Carré Otis under New York’s Child Victims Act (CVA). Represented by Public Justice and other legal teams, Otis alleges she was sexually abused as a teenager by the head of Elite Model Management’s European agencies after being sent to Paris by the New York-based company.
The court’s decision rejected arguments that the CVA does not apply to abuse occurring outside New York. It clarified that the Act protects survivors who were New York residents at the time of their abuse even if the abuse occurred outside of New York. This ruling ensures Otis’s case will now proceed, marking a win for survivors of childhood sexual abuse across various industries.
The case highlights the broader problem of unchecked sexual abuse in the modeling industry, sparking support from advocacy groups like the Model Alliance and the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Otis, now a board member of the Model Alliance, called the decision “a huge win for all survivors” and urged Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Fashion Workers Act into law. This proposed legislation would create labor protections for models, including safeguards against harassment and unsafe working conditions.
Public Justice attorney Alexandra Brodsky emphasized the importance of the ruling, noting it opens the door for justice for other survivors, while attorney John Clune highlighted the need for systemic change to ensure models can work safely.
The lawsuit, along with the push for the Fashion Workers Act, underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform within the fashion industry.
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