Despite widespread public outrage over child sexual abuse revealed by a grand jury investigation in Pennsylvania last month and a $27 million settlement paid in New York last week, overwhelming obstacles remain for most survivors to recover damages—mainly the statute of limitations.

“I understand the general reasoning why you have a statute of limitations. You can’t allow people to have the risk of litigation unendingly. That makes sense in many respects—except for the injury of childhood sexual abuse,” said Darren Penn of the Penn Law Group. “Most people don’t disclose the abuse until they’re 42. That’s the average.”