New York City Seeks to End Legal Defense of Former Mayor Eric Adams in 1993 Sexual Assault Lawsuit
New York City has asked a judge for permission to stop having its Law Department defend former Mayor Eric Adams in a civil sexual assault lawsuit, saying he "was not acting within the scope of his City employment" at the time of the alleged attack in 1993. The suit, filed in 2024 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act by a woman who says Adams sexually assaulted her in a car when she approached him for career help at the NYPD Transit Bureau, had initially been defended by city attorneys. Corporation Counsel Steve Banks said that, based on "new evidence" reviewed since the original decision, he has concluded Adams is not entitled to city-funded representation and must secure his own lawyer if the judge grants the motion. Adams has denied the allegation and previously said he does not recall meeting the plaintiff, while the current mayor’s office says Mayor Zohran Mamdani was not involved in Banks’ decision. The move raises questions about how and when cities decide to cover legal costs for current and former officials in historic misconduct claims, an issue already drawing sharp public scrutiny in other jurisdictions when taxpayers end up footing the bill for personal behavior.
📌 Key Facts
- New York City filed a motion Tuesday asking to withdraw its Law Department’s representation of former Mayor Eric Adams in a sexual assault lawsuit.
- Corporation Counsel Steve Banks said a review of "new evidence" led him to conclude Adams was not acting within the scope of his city employment and is not entitled to city-paid defense.
- The plaintiff alleges Adams sexually assaulted her in a car in 1993, when she sought his help regarding her career at the NYPD Transit Bureau and he was active in the Guardians Association.
- The lawsuit was filed in 2024 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily reopened the statute of limitations for older sexual-assault claims.
- Adams has denied the allegations, saying when the suit was filed that he did not recall ever meeting the plaintiff during his time in the police department.
📊 Relevant Data
In 1994, the New York Police Department was 11.6% Black, while New York City was almost 29% Black.
Minorities in Blue -- A special report.; New York Police Force Lagging in Recruitment of Black Officers — The New York Times
Since the Adult Survivors Act was passed, more than 3,000 civil suits have been filed under it.
New York Times: A Final Wave of Sex-Abuse Lawsuits as One-Year Window Opens in N.Y. — New York State Senate
New York City's Corporation Counsel has discretion to provide legal representation to city employees if the alleged acts occurred within the scope of their employment.
Why Are Taxpayer-Funded City Lawyers Defending Eric Adams in a Lawsuit? — THE CITY
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