Protect Your Child's Future Before This Follows Them Forever

The Other Family May Be Liable

This is something parents often do not know, and it changes the calculus significantly.

In many high school cases, the perpetrator is also a minor. That does not mean their family escapes accountability. Under New York law, parents can face civil liability for negligent supervision of a minor child who causes harm to another person. If the parents of the student who created or distributed the content knew or should have known that their child had access to these AI tools, was harassing another student, or was engaged in this conduct, and failed to intervene, a negligent supervision claim against those parents may be viable.

Additionally, under New York General Obligations Law, parents can face direct liability for certain willful and unlawful acts of their minor children. We evaluate both theories in every case involving a minor perpetrator.

This matters practically because it means there may be a financially responsible adult defendant even when the person who created or shared the content is a teenager with no assets of their own.

The Clean Slate Process

This is what we actually do from the moment you call us.

Step 1: Emergency takedown. We identify every platform and location where the content appears and submit formal legal removal notices immediately. For covered platforms under the TAKE IT DOWN Act, this triggers a mandatory removal obligation. For platforms outside that framework, we use other legal mechanisms including DMCA notices and direct legal demand.

Step 2: Evidence preservation. Before we remove anything, we document and preserve everything. Courts require evidence. Platforms delete logs quickly. We issue formal preservation letters to platforms to hold account records, IP addresses, upload timestamps, and related data before it is gone.

Step 3: Identify the perpetrator. If you know who did this, we begin building the case. If you do not know, or if the account was anonymous, we use the discovery process through litigation to subpoena platform records and identify the responsible party. We have done this before.

Step 4: Legal action against the perpetrator and their family. We file suit under New York Civil Rights Law section 52-b and federal law as applicable. In school-based cases we also file DASA complaints. We pursue injunctive relief to legally restrain the perpetrator from any further creation or distribution, and we seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.

Step 5: Long-term monitoring. After the content is removed and the legal case is resolved, we advise on monitoring strategies to catch any re-emergence of the content. In cases involving AI-generated deepfakes, the risk of re-creation is ongoing, and we structure injunctive relief accordingly.

What Damages Can a Parent Recover for a Minor Child Victim?

The damages available in a case involving a minor victim are often more concrete and more substantial than in adult cases. This is because the harm to a child's life trajectory is measurable in specific ways.

Emotional distress and psychological harm. Damages for mental anguish, anxiety, depression, and the cost of therapy and counseling are available under section 52-b. For minors whose school functioning, social relationships, and development are disrupted, these damages can be significant.

Cost of changing schools. In cases where the harassment became so severe that the victim had to transfer schools, the financial and developmental costs of that disruption are compensable harm.

Lost educational and professional opportunities. If the situation affected the victim's academic performance, college applications, scholarship opportunities, or other long-term prospects, those losses are part of the damages picture.

Reputational harm. Courts can compensate for harm to reputation, which for a teenager just beginning to build a public identity can be especially damaging.

Punitive damages. In cases where the perpetrator's conduct was intentional, malicious, or egregious, punitive damages are available to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct.

Attorney's fees. Under New York Civil Rights Law section 52-b, a prevailing plaintiff may recover attorney's fees and costs from the defendant.

What If the Perpetrator Is Also a Student?

Cases involving two students at the same school present additional dimensions that require careful handling.

Criminal referrals. Depending on the conduct and the ages involved, the perpetrator may face criminal liability under New York Penal Law section 245.15 for non-consensual disclosure of intimate images. If the images involve actual minors in explicit content, federal child exploitation laws may also apply. We work closely with families on whether and how to involve law enforcement in parallel with civil proceedings.

School discipline proceedings. We advise parents on how to engage with the school's disciplinary process in a way that preserves the civil case and does not compromise the legal strategy. What a parent or child says in a school disciplinary proceeding can affect the litigation. We are involved from the first meeting.

No-contact and protective orders. In cases involving ongoing harassment, threats, or contact, we pursue civil and criminal protective orders to stop further contact between the perpetrator and the victim immediately.

Who We Represent

We represent parents and minor victims in a range of situations. The following are the most common.

Parents whose child's real photos were shared without consent by a classmate or ex-classmate, with or without sexual content.

Parents whose child was targeted with AI-generated deepfakes, where a real photograph of the child was used to fabricate explicit imagery.

Parents whose child received threats demanding money or sexual content in exchange for not distributing images, sometimes called sextortion.

Parents who discovered the content during a background check, through a teacher, or because another student came forward.

Parents whose child's school was notified of the situation and failed to act appropriately.

Parents who are also dealing with a criminal investigation or school disciplinary proceeding simultaneously and need an attorney coordinating across all three tracks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue on behalf of my child without waiting for them to turn 18?

Yes. As a parent, you can bring a civil lawsuit as your child's natural guardian or as a guardian ad litem appointed by the court. You do not have to wait until your child turns 18 to take legal action. In fact, acting now while evidence is available is strongly advisable.

What is the statute of limitations when the victim is a minor?

Under New York's infancy tolling rule, the statute of limitations does not begin to run against a minor victim until they turn 18. This gives minor victims a significantly longer window than adult victims. However, evidence preservation and the removal tools available under federal law are most effective early. The extended deadline is not a reason to delay.

Can I sue the parents of the student who created or shared the images?

Potentially yes. Under New York law, parents can face liability for negligent supervision of a minor child who causes harm. If the parents of the perpetrating student knew or should have known about the conduct and failed to stop it, a negligent supervision claim may be viable. We evaluate this in every case involving a minor perpetrator.

Can the school district be held liable?

Possibly. If the content was created or distributed using school resources or on school property, or if the school was notified and failed to act appropriately under the Dignity for All Students Act, there may be a claim against the district. These cases require careful evaluation of what the school knew, when it knew it, and what it did or failed to do in response.

What if my child does not want to file a lawsuit?

This is a common and understandable concern. We discuss it directly with parents in the consultation. A child's reluctance does not necessarily end the legal options, and it often reflects the shame and fear the perpetrator has deliberately created. We have experience working sensitively with families where the minor victim is not yet ready to engage with litigation. There are often steps, including emergency takedowns and preservation of evidence, that can be taken now without requiring a decision about filing suit.

What is the TAKE IT DOWN Act and how does it help my child?

The TAKE IT DOWN Act is a federal law signed in May 2025 that requires covered online platforms to remove non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, after receiving a valid notice from the victim or the victim's representative. Platforms have legal obligations to respond quickly to removal requests involving minors. We submit these notices on your behalf as part of the Clean Slate Process.

What if we do not know who created the images?

You can still file a lawsuit against an anonymous defendant. Once litigation is initiated, we use the discovery process to subpoena platform records, account data, IP addresses, and related information to identify the responsible party. Courts in New York permit this process where the plaintiff can demonstrate a viable underlying claim.

What does this cost?

We offer free consultations and discuss fees directly and honestly in the first meeting. We are transparent about what a realistic case strategy looks like and what the likely costs are. In cases where section 52-b claims succeed, attorney's fees are recoverable from the defendant.

Call Us Before Evidence Disappears

If your child is dealing with this right now, call Veridian Legal P.C. at (212) 706-1007 or email info@veridianlegal.com. The consultation is free and completely confidential. You will speak directly with an attorney.

We understand that families in this situation are in crisis. We move quickly. The first conversation is about understanding what happened, what evidence exists, and what can be done immediately to stop the spread. If emergency removal is available and appropriate, we tell you that in the first call.

You do not have to handle this alone, and you should not wait.