Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf is a New York Plaintiff's personal injury law firm specializing in automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, police misconduct and all types of New York personal injury litigation.

Articles Posted in Sexual Abuse

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NYC_DOE_LogoA Brooklyn public school teacher has been arrested after a 16-year-old student reported that he sexually abused her inside a Coney Island school. According to police, Steven Schnee, 48, was taken into custody at the school Wednesday afternoon and charged with forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, and sexual abuse.

The student told investigators that the teacher allegedly inappropriately touched her leg and made her feel uncomfortable. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the school or disclosed when the alleged incident occurred. Schnee, who earned approximately $140,000 last year working for the New York City Department of Education, was awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court.

While the criminal case will determine whether the accused teacher faces penalties under New York law, incidents like this also raise important questions about civil liability and the responsibility of schools to protect students from abuse.

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Client testimonialIn cases involving abuse by powerful institutions, survivors often face not only legal obstacles, but emotional isolation. Standing up to an established religious organization requires courage, strategy, and unwavering support.

Recently, a client shared a review describing what that experience meant to them while working with Peter Saghir and our team. Their words speak not just to litigation skill, but to the human dimension of this work.

“Standing against a powerful religious institution is a lonely, daunting experience. While Peter and his team brought a formidable legal strategy and an unshakable grasp of precedent to my case, their true impact cannot be measured in filings or victories alone.

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A Long Island child therapist has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after admitting to collecting and distributing some of the most disturbing forms of child sexual abuse material imaginable.

According to federal prosecutors, Renee “Rina” Hoberman, a licensed mental health counselor based in Plainview and working with children from infancy through age 17, used encrypted applications to upload and trade graphic videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants. Authorities stated that her online activity triggered multiple reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, ultimately leading to a federal investigation.

Homeland Security agents arrested Hoberman in October 2024. During a search of her home, investigators found additional illegal material and evidence of distribution across messaging platforms, including Telegram and Kik. She later pleaded guilty to collecting and distributing violent child sexual abuse material and surrendered her professional license.

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devante brown sexually abused children in BrooklynA Brooklyn day care worker has been charged with sexually abusing multiple young children entrusted to his care, according to prosecutors. Authorities allege that Devante Brown, a 30-year-old teacher at a Bushwick child care center, repeatedly abused four girls—ages five through nine—over a period spanning more than a year.

Prosecutors state that the alleged abuse occurred both inside the day care facility, identified as The Learning Factory, and in at least one instance at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The allegations include intimidation, with one child reportedly being told that a favorite teacher would lose their job if the abuse were disclosed.

Brown has been indicted in Brooklyn Supreme Court on multiple felony charges, including sexual conduct against a child and endangering the welfare of a child. He is currently being held at Rikers Island following the court’s decision to set bail.

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2025 year in review for the NYC personal injury law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & MackaufThe 2025 Year in Review documents another extraordinary year for the NYC personal injury law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, marked by record-setting verdicts, precedent-shaping settlements, and litigation that advanced safety and accountability across New York.

Throughout 2025, the firm secured results in cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, construction accidents, transportation disasters, premises liability, and sexual abuse, many of which rank among the most significant outcomes in New York State history.

Record-Setting and Notable 2025 Results

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mom conforting an upset childA recent federal arrest involving allegations of child sexual exploitation underscores a painful reality: when a young child is harmed, families are left not only reeling emotionally, but also facing urgent legal questions. Parents often ask what steps they can take immediately—and whether the law allows them to pursue compensation to protect their child’s future.

While the criminal case will proceed in federal court, it is important to understand that criminal prosecution is only one part of accountability. New York law also provides powerful civil remedies for families of child sexual abuse survivors.

Can Parents Sue the Alleged Abuser?

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HandcuffsAn off-duty New York Police Department employee was arrested in Manhattan following allegations of non-consensual sexual contact inside a Lower Manhattan office building. According to published reports, the incident allegedly occurred in the Two Bridges area and resulted in charges including forcible touching, sex abuse, and harassment. The criminal case is pending in Manhattan Criminal Court.

While criminal proceedings determine whether a crime occurred under New York law, adult victims of sexual abuse often have separate and independent civil legal rights that deserve careful consideration.

Civil Claims Available to Adult Victims of Sexual Abuse in New York

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A high-profile sexual abuse and sex-trafficking case involving three brothers from a wealthy Florida family is set to proceed to trial in Manhattan, where federal prosecutors have filed charges alleging years of sexual assault and exploitation involving dozens of women.

The case, brought in the Southern District of New York, accuses Tal, Alon, and Oren Alexander of engaging in a long-running scheme in which women were allegedly lured through social settings and dating apps and then sexually assaulted. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Allegations Include Conduct in New York

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snapchat logoAllegations of sexual misconduct by a public school employee are among the most serious violations of trust in the New York City education system. A recent criminal case involving a Brooklyn public high school gym teacher underscores why students and families must understand their legal rights when abuse occurs in a school setting.

Brooklyn DOE Athletic Director Charged in Sex Crime Case

Prosecutors allege that a 40-year-old athletic director employed by the New York City Department of Education sent explicit sexual content to a 16-year-old student using Snapchat after propositioning her during an offer to drive her home. According to court filings, the teacher sent the minor a photograph of his genitals along with sexually inappropriate messages asking whether she would kiss him.

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Federal prosecutors have charged Howard Rubin, a retired New York City financier with sex trafficking, transportation of women across state lines for sexual purposes, and bank fraud. The indictment alleges that Rubin used his significant wealth and influence to lure dozens of women—many of them former Playboy models—into what appeared to be high-paying arrangements, only for them to suffer violent assaults in a Midtown penthouse prosecutors describe as a “sex dungeon.”

The Allegations

According to the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office, between 2009 and 2019 Rubin restrained, beat, and electrocuted women, often ignoring pleas to stop even when a “safe word” had been agreed upon. Prosecutors allege that many of the victims were financially vulnerable and were given drugs or alcohol before the assaults.

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