True justice for NYC sexual violence victims

True justice for NYC sexual violence victims

By Lesley Brovner & Mark Peters
New York Daily News
Jul 12, 2022

Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation into the NYPD’s handling of sexual assault cases. This is a very big deal, and it’s quite possible the remedy should lead to additional federal oversight of one of the police department’s most important functions.

Here’s why:

The failure to properly investigate sexual assault runs broad and deep within the NYPD. In 2018, while in charge of the Department of Investigation (DOI), the city’s inspector general, we issued a report showcasing NYPD’s Special Victims Division’s (SVD) egregious failure to properly investigate sexual assault. The findings from our report were gravely disturbing. The department knowingly and egregiously understaffed SVD for many, many years. Further, the officers in SVD were woefully undertrained.

Continue Reading

True justice for NYC sexual violence victims2024-09-30T01:07:54+00:00

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters analyze the significance of the ASA passed by New York State

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters analyze the significance of the ASA passed by New York State

In an Op Ed published today in Gotham Gazette, Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters write that in light of the Supreme Court’s apparent imminent overturning of Roe v. Wade, the fight over women’s rights will likely move to the various states’ capitals. In that regard, one piece of good news from New York’s State Capital is the passage of the Adult Survivors Act, modeled after the Child Victims Act.

Continue Reading

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters analyze the significance of the ASA passed by New York State2024-09-30T01:09:52+00:00

In an Op Ed in the New York Daily News, Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters urge the new NYPD police commissioner to overhaul sexual assault policing

In an Op Ed in the New York Daily News, Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters urge the new NYPD police commissioner to overhaul sexual assault policing

In an Op-Ed in today’s Daily News Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters explain that improving the way NYPD investigates sexual assaults must be a priority for the new NYPD commissioner.
They write “As [police commissioner] Sewell moves forward with both addressing the increasing violence in New York City and reforming the department, we urge her to ensure that these reforms include another crisis of violence: The NYPD’s failure to properly investigate sexual assault against women.”
Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters are the founding partners of the law firm Peters Brovner and have represented multiple victims of sexual assault.

Continue Reading

In an Op Ed in the New York Daily News, Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters urge the new NYPD police commissioner to overhaul sexual assault policing2024-09-30T01:11:37+00:00

DOJ Announces Plan to Turn Up the Heat on Corporate Criminal Conduct and Urges Stronger Compliance Programs

DOJ Announces Plan to Turn Up the Heat on Corporate Criminal Conduct and Urges Stronger Compliance Programs

By Lesley Brovner & Mark Peters

Last Month, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco gave a speech to the ABA in which she discussed certain DOJ priorities that amounted to a much more aggressive stance toward corporate criminal conduct. Indeed, in emphasizing the seriousness of this policy shift, Monaco stated that “corporate crime has an increasing national security dimension.” More substantively, Monaco stated that DOJ will “surge” resources to these types of cases and make clear to line level prosecutors that they are not to shy away from hard cases even if they will, from time to time, result in acquittals.

Continue Reading

DOJ Announces Plan to Turn Up the Heat on Corporate Criminal Conduct and Urges Stronger Compliance Programs2024-10-04T19:26:04+00:00

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Argue for the Passing of the Adult Survivor Act

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Argue for the Passing of the Adult Survivor Act

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Pen Opinion in Favor of New York’s State Senate Passing the Adult Survivor Act for the Gotham Gazette.

Brovner and Peters explain the importance of Passing the Adult Survivors Act now so that victims of sexual assault can finally begin to get the justice they deserve.

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters are the founding partners of the law firm Peters Brovner and have represented multiple victims of sexual assault.

Read the full article here.

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Argue for the Passing of the Adult Survivor Act2024-09-30T01:14:51+00:00

New York State’s Sexual Abuse Lookback Statutes Explained by Lesley Brovner & Mark Peters

New York State’s Sexual Abuse Lookback Statutes Explained by Lesley Brovner & Mark Peters

By Lesley Brovner & Mark Peters
September 14, 2021

1. What is the New York Child Victims Act?

In February 2019, New York State passed a “lookback window,” the Child Victims Act (CVA), extending the statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse in criminal and civil cases in New York.

Continue Reading

New York State’s Sexual Abuse Lookback Statutes Explained by Lesley Brovner & Mark Peters2024-09-30T01:16:56+00:00

Peters Brovner is proud to have filed this latest Child Victims Act case

Peters Brovner is proud to have filed this latest Child Victims Act case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2021

Child Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Public School (P.S.) 189 – The Bilingual Center, New York City District #17, Former P.S. 189 Teacher Jean Pamphile, The New York City Board Of Education, The New York City Department Of Education

Continue Reading

Peters Brovner is proud to have filed this latest Child Victims Act case2024-09-30T01:18:18+00:00

Peters Brovner LLP Celebrates 2 Year Anniversary!

Peters Brovner LLP Celebrates 2 Year Anniversary!

Thanks to all of you, we’ve had a rewarding first two years, doing internal investigations, helping clients navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment in New York and advocating for survivors of sexual assault.

Continue Reading

Peters Brovner LLP Celebrates 2 Year Anniversary!2023-04-24T07:57:17+00:00

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Lay Out Why They Support the Attorney General’s Lawsuit Against the Mayor and the NYPD in the Gotham Gazette OpEd.

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Lay Out Why They Support the Attorney General’s Lawsuit Against the Mayor and the NYPD in the Gotham Gazette OpEd.

Brovner and Peters write, “This Mayor and his police commissioners have repeatedly shown an unwillingness to make needed changes even when confronted with evidence of problems. If they haven’t taken steps they’ve known were needed for the last seven years, it’s hard to imagine they will do so now. For this reason, we’ve reached the point where a federal monitor to force change on the NYPD is the best option for this Department.”

Their opinion is informed by their five year-experience of running the City’s Department of Investigation, which oversees the NYPD’s Inspector General, during which time they “issued several reports on systemic failures that were largely brushed aside by the NYPD’s top leadership and the Mayor.”

Continue Reading

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Lay Out Why They Support the Attorney General’s Lawsuit Against the Mayor and the NYPD in the Gotham Gazette OpEd.2024-09-30T01:19:40+00:00

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Join Distinguished Panel for the 33rd Annual Accredited CLE Update on Dec. 10-11.

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Join Distinguished Panel for the 33rd Annual Accredited CLE Update on Dec. 10-11.

The 2-day event was hosted by Carver Financial Services and included 2 judges and 9 speakers. In their session on Dec. 10, Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters discussed employers’ duties and responsibilities in reporting the misconduct of their employees. They also discussed the ethical considerations and best practices surrounding these issues, including best practices with an eye toward minimizing misconduct at the outset.

Continue Reading

Lesley Brovner and Mark Peters Join Distinguished Panel for the 33rd Annual Accredited CLE Update on Dec. 10-11.2023-04-24T07:57:18+00:00