NATALIE MEDFORD SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS

Fighting for Survivors Sexually Abused by Natalie Medford from Horizon Juvenile Center in New York

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Natalie Medford at Horizon Juvenile Center in New York, seeking justice through New York legal claims.

Levy Konigsberg has been at the forefront of representing survivors in lawsuits against the City of New York for the sexual abuse these survivors suffered while confined at juvenile detention facilities at the hands of City employees.  Levy Konigsberg has already filed over 500 cases on behalf of survivors of child sexual abuse at juvenile detention facilities throughout New York City, including Horizon.  

Of the more than 500 lawsuits filed, just under half involve abuse that occurred at Crossroads and Horizon Juvenile Detention Centers.

Levy Konigsberg is continuing to fight for the brave survivors of abuse at New York City juvenile detention centers.

On November 25, 2025, the New York City Council passed Introduction 1297, an amendment to the Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA).  Introduction 1297 reopens the GMVA lookback window for 18 months and explicitly reaffirms that the law applies not only to individuals, but also to institutions such as juvenile detention centers. This allows survivors with previously time-barred claims to bring their cases during the 18-month window and to seek justice against the institutions that enabled their abuse.

Horizon Juvenile Center, in particular, has faced considerable scrutiny over claims that children were regularly groomed and abused by staff. In addition to the numerous lawsuits, it is also the subject of an ongoing federal investigation.

Levy Konigsberg is a top-rated trial practice with a legacy of litigating sexual abuse lawsuits for survivors across New York and the nation, and is now reviewing claims from former Horizon Juvenile Center residents who were sexually abused by former staff including Natalie Medford. If you have a potential case, we want to help.

History of Sexual Abuse and Misconduct by Natalie Medford at Horizon Detention Center

Examples of alleged abuse, and of conditions likely to lead to abuse, include the following:

• In January 2025, Levy Konigsberg filed lawsuits in behalf of 115 former juvenile detainees against the City of New York, alleging sexual abuse within city-run juvenile detention facilities, including Horizon Juvenile Center. Partner Jerome Block stated that these legal actions aim to hold the city and its agencies accountable for a culture of secrecy and systemic failures that allowed such abuse to occur. 

These complaints identified former supervisor Natalie Medford as an alleged perpetrator of abuse against minors at the facility.

According to the filings, Medford was named in 12 additional cases in this round of litigation. 

• In October 2024, Levy Konigsberg filed 168 lawsuits, alleging sexual abuse within city-run juvenile detention facilities, including Horizon Juvenile Center.  

Medford was identified as an alleged perpetrator of abuse against minors. 

She allegedly abused at least thirteen victims during the time she worked at the center. 

• In July 2019, a former Horizon inmate filed a federal lawsuit claiming that he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by former counselor Natalie Medford, who was also known as “Ms. C,” when he was 15 years old in 2012. The lawsuit also claimed that Medford threatened to plant drugs and weapons in his cell if he reported the abuse.

• In February 2019, New York City agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by a 22-year-old Bronx man who claimed that he and other inmates were turned into “sex slaves” by staffers at Horizon. According to the suit, the man, who was housed at Horizon from 2013 to 2014, was offered special privileges and protection from disciplinary actions if he agreed to have sex with supervisor Natalie Medford. The suit also accused another staffer of engaging in inappropriate conduct with inmates and claimed that staff members looked the other way or encouraged abuse. Medford, who was in her 40s at the time of the abuse, was implicated in previous complaints, including a May 2018 lawsuit brought by an inmate who claimed that the ACS employee raped him 10 times beginning in 2013 and that he faced fake misconduct reports after putting an end to the abuse, and a Department of Investigation report which found that Medford had “an inappropriate sexual relationship” with a teen inmate.

• In August 2017, a multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed against the City of New York and several guards involving allegations of abuse at the Horizon Juvenile Center. 

According to the legal complaint, supervisor Natalie Medford allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted a minor who was held at the facility between 2013 and 2014. 

Medford allegedly used her position of authority to demand sexual favors, gained the youth’s trust by giving him special privileges such as extra food, candy, and access to her personal cell phone, provided him with alcohol, and coerced him into sexual acts by promising protection from discipline if he complied and threatening him if he refused.

Medford allegedly abused another individual before these incidents and continued the behavior after the victim left the facility.

Do I Have a Case?

You may have grounds to file a civil legal action if:

• You were sexually abused by a guard, counselor, nurse, or other youth residential treatment or juvenile detention center staff member.
• The abuse occurred at any youth residential treatment or juvenile detention facility.

Levy Konigsberg represents survivors in civil lawsuits that aim to hold youth residential treatment facilities,  juvenile detention centers, private healthcare companies, and other facility operators accountable for their failures to stop abusive staff members and protect young residents.

As civil claims, these cases are separate from any criminal proceedings that may arise from abuse and focus instead on holding institutions liable for damages. This means you may still have a claim even if:

• Your abuser is no longer alive.
• Your abuser was never charged with or convicted of a crime.

Recoverable Damages in Sexual Abuse Claims

In addition to providing accountability and a sense of justice, civil sex abuse lawsuits allow survivors to recover financial compensation for their damages, which may include:

• Past medical and mental health expenses
• Future mental health expenses, including therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish and psychological harm
• Lost income
• Other economic and non-economic damages

New York Juvenile Detention Center Attorneys

A statute of limitations sets deadlines for victims to bring claims against their abuser or entities responsible for the abuse. New York has pioneered efforts to make it easier for sexual abuse survivors to seek justice and compensation.

In 2019, New York passed the Child Victims Act, expanding the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Under current law: (1) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at privately operated juvenile detention centers who were born after February 14, 1998, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits; and (2) survivors of childhood sexual abuse at juvenile detention centers operated by governmental entities, who were born after November 15, 1999, have until age 55 to file civil lawsuits.

In addition, on January 29, 2026, the New York City Council enacted Introduction 1297, an amendment to the Gender-Motivated Violence Act (GMVA). Introduction 1297 reopens the GMVA lookback window for 18 months. As a result, survivors with previously time-barred claims for sexual abuse that occurred in New York City and prior to January 9, 2022 can file lawsuits between January 29, 2026 and July 29, 2027. Survivors of sexual abuse that occurred in New York City and on or after January 9, 2022 have seven years to bring their claims.

Thus, there may be new avenues to seek justice for previously time-barred claims of abuse at New York juvenile detention centers. If you were sexually abused at a New York juvenile detention center at any time, reach out today.