The New York Son of Sam Law permits crime victims to bring civil actions to recover money damages from the person convicted of the crime that injured them. The expanded Son of Sam Law framework is not itself the final judgment; rather, the Son of Sam Law requirements help to alert victims as to the existence of funds and extends the time in which certain lawsuits may be brought. The civil lawsuit is where damages are pursued to compensate the crime victim.
For example, a victim who learns that a convicted person has received covered funds may decide to sue for injuries caused by the original crime. The lawsuit can seek money damages, and the newly discovered funds of a convicted person may make recovery more realistic. Notice gives the victim information that might otherwise remain unavailable. The new expanded law is helpful in that the earlier version focused on ‘profits of the crime,’ such as book, movie, or similar deals tied directly to the offense. The expanded law reaches much further by creating notice rules when certain convicted people receive significant funds from many sources, including the receipt of a large inheritance, litigation settlement, or other payment unrelated to publicity about the crime.
Another example involves an older conviction where an ordinary limitations period might have expired. The New York Son of Sam Law prescribes additional time periods that may allow suit after discovery of covered funds that exceeds a threshold of more than $10,000. That can revive litigation opportunities in situations where money was discovered later.
The potential outcomes include a money judgment, settlement, or dismissal depending on the facts and legal defenses involved in each case. That is why it is important to hire an experienced personal injury attorney. For questions about how these rules may affect a specific case, call experienced New York personal injury attorneys, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at (516) 452-9010 or initiate a chat at www.weberprakope.com.
