The Adult Survivor's Act comes into effect today-- it will enable adult survivors of sexual abuse to sue their abusers in New York – even if the statute of limitations on their claims has expired.

Under the new law, adult survivors have one year to file lawsuits against their perpetrators. The law also lets those who work in institutions like hospitals or jails sue the entity if they were assaulted at work.

“I think there will be some very interesting cases that come about in the employment cases where powerful men, who were supervising women or overseeing women, sexually assaulted them and they will be able to hold their perpetrator accountable but also their employers,” Attorney Doug Wigdor, who helped push for the law told CNN. Wigdor had represented women who testified against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

A writer who accused former President Donald Trump of rape filed an upgraded lawsuit against him on Thursday in New York, minutes after a new state law took effect allowing victims of sexual violence to sue over attacks that occurred decades ago.

E. Jean Carroll's lawyer filed the legal papers electronically as the Adult Survivor's Act temporarily lifted the state's usual deadlines for suing over sexual assault.

She sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for pain and suffering, psychological harm, dignity loss and reputation damage. Hundreds of cases are expected to be filed under the new law. 

-- With PTI inputs