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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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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From our New York Sexual Abuse Lawyers’ Perspective

When a longtime New York City Department of Education employee is arrested at JFK Airport with alleged child pornography on his phone—including images of his own students—the public has every right to be alarmed. The recent federal criminal complaint against Alejandro Santos, a teacher’s assistant with over two decades of service, raises disturbing questions not only about the individual’s conduct but also about the systems in place to safeguard our most vulnerable children.

According to federal prosecutors, Santos was flagged by customs officials upon returning from a trip to the Dominican Republic. A search of his phone allegedly uncovered approximately 50 images and videos of child sexual abuse material, along with clothed images of his special education students—some of whom are nonverbal—interspersed within his camera roll. This disturbing detail, noted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Sise, signals a potential boundary breach that warrants swift and thorough investigation.

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the American dream school cafe sexual abuse accusationsThe recent indictment of a Bronx middle school teacher accused of repeatedly raping his 13-year-old student is another tragic reminder of the urgent need to protect children from predators in positions of power and trust. According to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, William Jones, a 32-year-old seventh-grade math teacher at American Dream Charter School, is facing multiple charges after allegedly sexually abusing a student over the course of more than a month—acts that reportedly took place inside the child’s own home while her family was away.

As school sexual abuse lawyers representing victims and their families across New York City, we are appalled but not surprised by the details of this case. Abuse by educators is a betrayal of the fundamental trust that students and parents place in schools. It’s not just about the criminal conduct—it’s about institutional failure.

What Went Wrong?

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sexual abuser Zhi Alan ChengThe recent guilty plea of Queens gastroenterologist Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng underscores a chilling breach of medical trust — and a tragic reminder of how vulnerable patients can be to sexual abuse, even in the most trusted settings.

As New York doctor sexual abuse attorneys,  we represent survivors of physician misconduct and work to hold abusers — and the institutions that enable them — fully accountable under the law.

Multiple Victims, Shocking Abuse

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By the New York Sexual Abuse Lawyers at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf

250px-Sean_Combs_in_2023The closure of New York’s Adult Survivors Act (ASA) lookback window in November 2023 brought an end to a powerful but temporary opportunity for adult survivors of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits, regardless of when the abuse occurred. For one year, survivors could hold their abusers accountable in civil court, even if the statute of limitations had previously expired.

High-profile lawsuits against figures like Harvey Weinstein and Sean “Diddy” Combs helped bring national attention to the ASA and encouraged others to come forward. These cases underscored a broader truth: many survivors remain silenced for years, if not decades, before feeling ready or safe to seek justice.

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Mental_Illness_Icon_2Four Winds Hospital provides residential treatment for youth facing mental health challenges. Parents place an immense amount of trust in institutions like this to care for their children, expecting them to provide a safe and supportive environment. Tragically, when that trust is broken through abuse or neglect, the consequences can be life-altering for young patients.

If your child or teenager has suffered abuse while receiving care at Four Winds Hospital, an experienced attorney can help you seek justice and hold those responsible accountable.

At Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf, we have a proven track record of fighting for children and their families, securing some of the highest verdicts and settlements for young victims of sexual abuse .

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2048px-Abercrombie__Fitch_Model_30-scaledThe recent indictment of Michael Jeffries, the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, on charges of running a sex-trafficking operation sends shockwaves through the legal and fashion communities alike. This case involves the exploitation of dozens of aspiring male models, many of whom were lured under the false pretense of career advancement. As sexual abuse attorneys, we understand the profound trauma that victims experience when those in positions of power use their influence for such predatory acts.
Jeffries and his co-conspirators, including his romantic partner and a recruiter, are accused of coercing young men into non-consensual sex acts, leveraging promises of modeling opportunities. Many victims were made to consume alcohol, drugs, and were confined in secretive, controlled environments. Such tactics are common in sex-trafficking schemes, where victims often feel trapped, ashamed, or fearful of retaliation.

For anyone who has endured this type of exploitation, it’s important to know that the law is on your side. The survivors in this case took a courageous step by coming forward, which has led to significant legal actions, including potential life sentences for the accused. However, the path to justice doesn’t end with the criminal prosecution of Jeffries and his associates. Abercrombie & Fitch itself has also been implicated in a class-action lawsuit, with accusations of ignoring or enabling the misconduct.

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John Adams High School where sexual abuse occuredAs New York City grapples with an alarming increase in sexual misconduct complaints within its public school system, the capacity to investigate these claims is severely hampered by budget constraints and staff shortages. The Special Commissioner of Investigation, tasked with overseeing complaints against Education Department employees and contractors, faces unprecedented challenges. This is where the expertise of specialized legal representation becomes indispensable.

A Surge in Complaints, a Decline in Investigations

The Special Commissioner of Investigation received over 10,260 complaints last year, a record high compared to the 9,630 complaints in 2019. Yet, despite this increase, the number of investigations has drastically decreased. In 2023, the agency conducted less than half the investigations it performed in 2015, despite nearly double the number of complaints. This sharp decline underscores the growing strain on the office’s ability to manage its caseload.

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John Adams High School where sexual abuse occuredAs attorneys dedicated to advocating for victims of school sexual abuse, we are deeply troubled by three recent events that have unfolded in schools across New York City, specifically in Queens and the Bronx. The following incidents demonstrate the urgent need for comprehensive measures to safeguard our children and hold perpetrators accountable within educational institutions:

  1. A 23-year-old Queens substitute teacher at Hillcrest High School on Highland Ave. near 162nd St. in Jamaica was arrested yesterday after he allegedly touched a 14-year-old student’s thigh and told her “If I were a student I would make you fall in love with me and have sex with me”. Jasskirat Saini was charged with harassment and child endangerment.
  2. Last Friday, another 23-year-old man working as a grammar school teacher’s aide at Bronx school P.S. 481 was also arrested after he gave a love letter to a 10-year-old student. Estevan Hamilton gave the letter to the student in the morning. The student showed it to her mom at lunchtime and the stepfather went to the school at the beginning of the afternoon to confront the school aid and punched him in the face. The police were called and the school aid was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.
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As attorneys specializing in doctor sexual abuse cases, the recent conviction of Dr. Darius A. Paduch resonates deeply with the ongoing struggle to protect patients and uphold the sacred trust they place in medical professionals. The case, adjudicated in Manhattan federal court, reveals the chilling abuse of power and the devastating impact of sexual abuse perpetrated under the guise of medical care.

Dr. Paduch, a urologist specializing in male reproductive health, was found guilty on all 11 counts related to the sexual abuse of seven patients, including four children. These abuses occurred over several years, from at least 2015 through 2019, while Dr. Paduch practiced in New York. His disturbing actions included claims that certain inappropriate and invasive touches were medically necessary, although it was clear they were intended for his own sexual gratification.

From a legal standpoint, this case is significant not only because of the guilty verdict but also because it involved charges of enticing or coercing individuals to travel interstate to engage in illicit activities, and using interstate facilities to induce or coerce minors into sexual acts. These are serious federal crimes that highlight the complexity of prosecuting sexual abuse cases involving professionals who exploit their positions of authority.

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