C.Q. v. Estate of David Rockefeller

Background

C.Q. brought this diversity lawsuit under New York’s Child Victims Act. According to the letter, C.Q. alleges that she was sexually assaulted multiple times when she was seven years old while staying at the Westchester County home of David Rockefeller, who has since died. The alleged abuser was Rockefeller’s driver, whom Rockefeller had enlisted to babysit C.Q. C.Q. alleges that Rockefeller was negligent in his roles as landlord and caregiver and in hiring, retaining, and supervising the driver.

C.Q. asked to continue litigating under the pseudonym “C.Q.” and requested an order requiring redaction of her name and identifying personal information from publicly filed documents. Her letter described emotional and psychological effects from the alleged abuse and stated that public disclosure could cause additional harm. The letter also stated that C.Q. would provide her identity and relevant records to defense counsel for discovery under an order protecting her confidentiality.

Court’s Action

The court did not grant or deny the pseudonym request. Instead, the order instructed defendants to file a response to C.Q.’s letter-motion explaining any reasons they opposed it, on or before May 6, 2022. The order was signed by Judge Vernon S. Broderick. Because the court only directed a response and did not decide the underlying claims or the anonymity request, this is a procedural order.

Scope of This Order

The text discusses legal authorities and factors concerning pseudonyms, including privacy, potential mental harm, prejudice to defendants, and the public interest in protecting sexual-abuse victims. Those discussions appear in C.Q.’s letter requesting relief; the court’s directive itself only sets a deadline for defendants’ response.