A challenge to the city’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act (VGMVPA) officially ended yesterday.
Following calls from Public Advocate Letitia James for the City’s Corporation Counsel to defend a constitutional challenge to the law, Fox News anchor Charles Payne announced on Tuesday a decision to drop his case.
The VGMVPA allows an individual to file for relief and damages if they are the victim of a gender-motivated crime.
Payne, the host of “Making Money” on Fox Business, was challenging the constitutionality of the city law, which allows victims the right to sue for damages and relief,
The dispute involved a case that journalist Scottie Nell Hughes brought against 21st Century Fox for gender-motivated violence, discrimination, retaliation, and defamation.
Hughes alleges that Payne raped and sexually assaulted her for years as he advanced her career. When she ended the relationship, she was retaliated against: blacklisted from Fox News, and publicly defamed.
“I’m pleased that this attack on a city law that protects victims of violent crime has been thwarted. This is a win for all New Yorkers, particularly women who have traditionally been victims of sexual violence,” said James.
The city council legislation was introduced after the U.S. Supreme Court struct down a portion of the Violence Against Women Action, which left no legal remedies that provide meaningful economic relief to victims of gender-based domestic violence.
The VGMVPA provides a seven-year statute of limitations and creates access to compensatory and punitive damages; injunctive and declaratory relief; attorneys’ fees and costs; and other such relief as a court may deem appropriate to victims.
“I commend the Law Department for stepping in and heeding our call for action against a company notorious for evading accountability. We must continue to do everything in our power to prevent sexual violence and provide victims with an opportunity for justice to be served,” added James.
According to the city’s attorneys the case will continue, but without the challenge to local law.
“The City’s intent was to file a brief in defense of this important law. We are pleased the defendants said they no longer will challenge it,” said City Law Department Spokesperson Nicholas Paolucci.
