Lawsuit

 From January 2026 until December 2027, a new California law allows an adult sexual assault survivor to file a civil lawsuit, regardless of how long ago the alleged assault occurred. This law targets institutional cover-ups of abuse; it allows claims against both perpetrators and responsible entities. 

2026: Were you a victim in Oakland or Santa Monica, California?

In May 2022, New York State enacted the Adult Survivors Act to allow alleged victims of sexual offenses to file civil suits for which the statute of limitations had lapsed. In 2023, two adult victims of Muktananda’s alleged sexual abuse in South Fallsburg filed a lawsuit in New York State.

The lawsuit was resolved in March 2025. This typically means that the parties have reached an agreement outside of court and are choosing to terminate the formal legal proceedings. We infer—but cannot be sure—that this statement means that the case was settled— typical when cases are discontinued. And we further assume (rightly or wrongly) that SYDA made a payment to settle the case. We hope that the outcome was a success in the eyes of the plaintiffs, and they feel that justice was done.

We believe that for any action in civil court, a successful outcome is a payment to make amends for a claimed harm. It is very rare in such civil cases for the defendant to agree to anything beyond a financial payment. And while the plaintiffs in such cases might dearly want a public apology to appear in the press or online, it is highly unusual for that to happen.

The links below include the run-up to the lawsuit, the lawsuit itself, and some of what followed:

2024: A response to SYDA’s denial

2024: SYDA’s denial

2023: Victims file a lawsuit

2023: Sexual abuse statute of limitations

2022: Were you a victim?

Would you like to sign a petition in support of the victims of sexual abuse in Siddha Yoga?