In 2019, James Manfredonia and his former Little League teammates initiated legal action against their coach, Tony Sagona, under New York's Child Victims Act, hoping to finally confront him over alleged abuses that occurred decades prior. Despite their efforts, they still await a trial date five years later, with their case caught in a backlog that has stalled many others filed under the same law. The Child Victims Act, passed in January 2019 by the New York Legislature, was designed to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue their abusers, regardless of when the abuse occurred, by temporarily lifting the statute of limitations. This legislative change led to a flood of lawsuits—10,783 in total between 2019 and 2021—filed on behalf of 14,588 individuals claiming to have been abused by authority figures such as teachers, coaches, and priests. However, the legal system has struggled to keep pace with this influx. Of the cases filed, 7,632 were assigned to judges, and only 2,052 have been settled or otherwise resolved, leaving many, like Manfredonia's, in limbo. This has led to frustrations among plaintiffs, who feel that their quest for justice has been sidelined. Manfredonia expresses his frustration, stating that despite the initial attention and promises of justice when the lawsuits began, there has been little progress. He questions why these cases are not a priority, especially since the law was specifically enacted to address such injustices. Several factors contribute to this bottleneck. Advocates point to a shortage of judges handling these cases and a lack of state intervention to expedite proceedings. Additionally, ongoing legal disputes between major institutions, such as the Archdiocese of New York, and their insurers over settlement responsibilities have further delayed progress. Heather Cucolo, a professor at New York School of Law, critiques the system, noting that despite the legislative intent to support victims, the mechanisms to expedite these cases are ineffective. She emphasizes the need for systemic changes to address these inefficiencies. David Catalfamo, head of the Coalition for Just & Compassionate Compensation, criticizes the state, particularly Governor Kathy Hochul and the Department of Financial Services, for allegedly siding with insurance companies rather than supporting survivors. He argues that the state has failed to intervene meaningfully in the ongoing legal battles that hinder the resolution of these cases. The shortage of judges is a significant issue, as highlighted by Manfredonia’s lawyer, Bradley Rice, who notes that the state was unprepared for the volume of lawsuits. In an attempt to manage the caseload, some lawsuits are being grouped together, a step typically taken early in the legal process. Efforts to address the judicial shortage are underway. State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a key advocate for the Child Victims Act, has introduced a bill to increase the number of state Supreme Court judges. However, this legislative change faces a lengthy process, requiring approval by both legislative houses and a public vote. Beyond judicial scarcity, other procedural factors add to the delay. The discovery process, confidentiality rules, and the need for victims to meet specific evidentiary thresholds all contribute to the prolonged timeline for these cases. Additionally, disputes between institutions and insurers, such as the ongoing conflict between the Archdiocese of New York and Chubb, their insurer, over financial responsibility for settlements, further complicate and delay resolutions. The Archdiocese has been a prominent target due to accusations of covering up systematic abuse by priests. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who previously opposed the Child Victims Act, has criticized Chubb for allegedly evading its obligations to settle claims, which he argues are necessary for victim healing. Chubb, in turn, accuses the Archdiocese of withholding information and insists that the church should prioritize compensating victims. While the Archdiocese has established an Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program to assist victims who choose not to sue, many cases remain unresolved. The legal struggle between the Archdiocese and Chubb highlights the complex insurance and financial dynamics that further entangle the legal process. Even cases involving smaller organizations, like Manfredonia's lawsuit against his former coach and the Great Kills Babe Ruth League, face similar delays. Sagona, the coach in question, denies all allegations and has not been criminally charged. His lawyer asserts that Sagona did not coach Little League and is unfamiliar with some of the plaintiffs. Despite these setbacks, there is a gl