Published October 10th, 2025. Reviewed by Ethan J. Cohen, Esq.
If you recently received a letter from the New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) notifying you that you may be entitled to funds belonging to the person who assaulted or harmed you, you may be confused or even skeptical.
The letter likely refers to New York Executive Law § 632-a, also known as the “Son of Sam” Law, which allows the State to temporarily freeze money belonging to convicted offenders via Preliminary Injunction, so their victims may have a chance to claim compensation from these frozen funds through a civil lawsuit.
However, your time to recover those funds is limited, and quick action is required to preserve your rights to these funds.
At Rheingold, Giuffra, Ruffo, Plotkin & Hellman, LLP, our attorneys represent survivors of violent and sexual crimes who receive these rare and important OVS notices. We help victims file lawsuits, obtain judgments, and recover the frozen funds discussed in your letter before they are released to the offender.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation or call 212-684-1880 to speak to a member of our team.
If your letter says that the New York State Comptroller or another state agency is holding funds — often a settlement or other payment to the person who hurt you — and cites Executive Law § 632-a, it means OVS is prepared to petition the court, on your behalf, to freeze that money.
For example:
“The intent of the OVS is to assist the victim of a crime or representative of one in obtaining a Preliminary Injunction. This Injunction freezes the funds of the convicted person…to give victims of a crime time to bring their lawsuit.”
Once those funds are frozen, you must file a civil lawsuit and obtain a judgment against the offender before the freeze expires. That judgment gives you the legal right to ask the court to release those funds to you.
Our team provides comprehensive representation for victims who receive these OVS letters.
Once you contact us, our attorneys:
Our goal is to ensure that money held under this law goes where it should — to the survivor, not the offender.
We handle all communication with the court and OVS, ensuring all recoverable compensation is seized. We work on a contingency basis, so we are paid via a portion of your final settlement recovered.
Ethan J. Cohen, Esq. leads the firm’s work on cases involving frozen funds recovered under Executive Law § 632-a. These matters require precise timing, procedural understanding, and a trauma-informed approach to representation.
Beyond these specialized cases, Ethan’s practice includes the litigation and trial of sexual abuse, discrimination, and harassment matters, as well as other personal injury actions. He has played a vital role in many of Rheingold’s high-profile sexual abuse cases, including the firm’s representation of survivors in the Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Dr. Darius Paduch lawsuits.
If you’ve received an OVS letter, Ethan can efficiently guide you through the process.
First enacted in 1977, the Son of Sam Law originally sought to prevent convicted criminals from profiting off their crimes through book or media deals. Although parts of the original statute were struck down in the 1991 Simon & Schuster v. Crime Victims Board decision, the law was later rewritten to focus on protecting victims’ rights to recover money from offenders.
Today, under Executive Law § 632-a, the State may:
This modern version of the law is a powerful but time-sensitive tool for victims of violent and sexual crimes.
The New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) is a government agency created to support victims of crime and help them rebuild their lives.
Operating under New York Executive Law Article 22, OVS provides financial assistance, compensation, and advocacy for crime victims and their families.
Most people know OVS for helping victims cover out-of-pocket expenses related to a crime — things like medical bills, counseling, funeral costs, or lost wages. But OVS also has a broader mission: to protect victims’ rights under New York law and ensure offenders do not unjustly benefit from their crimes.
You may qualify if:
If you’re unsure whether the letter you received qualifies, our attorneys can review it immediately.
When you choose our attorneys to represent you, you receive staunch, well-regarded legal advocacy. Our firm has recovered over $2 billion for our clients in the 50 years since our founding and offers a track record of success in high-stakes litigation.
You received the letter because the Office of Victim Services (OVS) has learned that the offender in your case is about to receive a payment (often from the City or State) and has petitioned the court to freeze those funds. The letter notifies you of your right to sue the offender and claim those funds through a civil judgment.
No. OVS freezes the offender’s funds but does not release money directly to victims. You must file a lawsuit and obtain a judgment before the court can release those funds to you.
It’s a court order that temporarily freezes the offender’s funds. Once granted, those funds cannot be spent, transferred, or hidden while you pursue your civil claim.
Deadlines are strict. The freeze is temporary — if you don’t act promptly, the court can release the funds back to the offender. Contact us immediately after receiving your letter.
Most cases are handled entirely by your attorney through filings and motions. Many offenders never appear or respond, and your attorney can seek a default judgment on your behalf.
If a default judgment is obtained, you will likely have to appear in Court, with your attorney, at a special hearing known as an Inquest. At the Inquest, you and your attorney will prove your damages to the Court and show that you are entitled to offender’s frozen funds, if not more.
You will likely never have to see or interact with your assailant. Our attorneys are sensitive to this issue and will do everything they can to shield you from them.
Call us right away at 212-684-1880. In some cases, courts can re-freeze or extend the injunction period if the funds are still available.
There is no cost upfront. Consultations are free, and you will not owe legal fees unless we recover funds for you.
No. This is a civil process — separate from the criminal prosecution. It allows you to recover money damages directly from the offender’s frozen assets.
After the court grants a judgment, your attorney will file a motion to release the frozen funds to you. Once approved, the State transfers those funds directly to satisfy your judgment.
If you’ve received a letter from the New York Office of Victim Services about frozen settlement funds related to someone who assaulted or harmed you, don’t ignore it, as it may be your opportunity to finally secure justice and compensation.
Our attorneys can review your letter, explain your rights, and begin the process to recover the frozen funds on your behalf.
Contact us online for a free, confidential consultation with Ethan Cohen or his paralegal at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP.
