over sexual assault allegations# dating back to the early '90s.

Previously, those lawsuits couldn't have been# filed because of the statute of limi most were filed under a New York state law that# allowed survivors a one-year window to sue for## past abuse.

About 3,000 civil lawsuits were filed# under the law before its deadline last month.

Joining me now is attorney Mariann# Wang.

She's represented multiple## clients seeking justice for sexual crimes# both before and after this New an d NPR music correspondent Sidney# Madden.

Thank you both for joining us.

So, Mariann, 3,000 civil lawsuits# before that legal deadline closed.## Tell us what you were seeing in your# practice as that deadline approached,## what kind of inquiries you were fielding.

MARIANN MEIER WANG, Cuti Hecker Wang LLP: We sometimes even in the final hours.

But throughout the year, as there was more# awarenes hundreds of women, mostly women, who had been# victims of very serious trauma and rape and sexual## assault many years before and who were finally in# a place in their lives where they had processed## it and were actually able to speak about it# to somebody and who wanted to do something.

And that is precisely the# importance of these laws,## because the trauma that is perpetrated on# women during sex it really takes an enormous amount# of time for people to process.

AMNA NAWAZ: Obviously, this got a lot of attention## because of some of the celebrity# Bu t, Mariann, we know most of the women and# most of the accused here a Just paint us a portrait of your# clients and their circumstances.

MARIANN MEIER WANG: Yes.

have any resources who are preyed upon by those# with a lot more resources or people in relative## power, so employers or members of institutions.# There are people who suffered in foster care or## later in life people who were incarcerated# who were assaulted by guards and others.

And those types of people are often the# most vulnerable and have very little## ability to even first understand# how harmed they are and then over## the years understand that they actually# might have the ability to hold somebody## to account.

And so it just takes a very# long time before people understand that.

AMNA NAWAZ: Sidney, we know one of those# lawsuits was filed by R&B singer Casandra## Ventura.

She's known as Cassie, the# former girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Why did this one case get so much attention?

SIDNEY MADDEN, NPR Music: The tidal wave of# al was filed by, as you said, Cassie Ventura,# who was Diddy's not only longtime partner,## romantic partner, but also one of his# employees at Bad Boy Entertainment.

And this was really big news in the hip-hop space# and beyond for a few key reasons.

First o the severity of the allegations were utterly# shocking.

In the civil suit that Cassie filed,## she detailed almost a decade of# psychological and physical abuse,## moments where he had complete# control over her life, coercion.

She even alleged that he raped her in# her own home towards the end of their## relationship and that he once blew up# the car of a man who was interested in## Cassie.

So the details of this case filing were# absolutely explosive, no pun intended there.

But then also another factor is the# stature of Diddy overall.

This is a## man who's been ubiquitous in the# hip-hop and music space for over## 30 years at this point.

He's credited# with making the careers of people like## Notorious B.I.G.

and Mary J. Blige.

And even# now, he is one of hip-hop's billionaires.

He's someone who's skyrocketed in not only# the music space, but wine and spirits,## restauranteuring, media, with his own company,## Revolt Entertainment.

And so he's someone who's# one of the most well-con and richest people, definitely# a power player in this space.

So to hear of these allegations and# these indiscretions was a big shock.

AMNA NAWAZ: And, Sidney, as you know,# Cassie's case was settled out of court,## relatively quirky, but she wasn't the# only one to come forward.

Three women have come forward, one of whom was# a minor at the time of her alleged abuse.

As you said, Diddy is one of the most powerful# people in this space, though.

When you loo this, is this a moment of a larger reckoning# in the industry, or is that going too far?

SIDNEY MADDEN: It's an interesting question and## one that has been circli As we were talking about, this is# one of many cases that have been## filed.

There were also civil suits filed# against former record exec L.A. Reid,## another record exec, Jimmy Iovine, also two# very powerful people in the music space.

And## so it is definitely bringing back to# conversations of a MeToo reckoning.

And it's a crucial turning point that we could# be having right now, but I do think it is a## bit too early to tell.

So, it's a yes and no.# There are a lot of big events that are coming## up that will determine where Diddy and others# lie in terms of their own cultural capital,## things like the Grammys, which Diddy is# nominated in the 2024 ceremony upcoming.

That's when we will really see the power of# his proximity, the power of his bank account,## and how people relate to him and# align with him going forward.

AMNA NAWAZ: Mariann, meanwhile,## all these The deadline for this Adult Survivors Act has# now passed.

So now what?

What happens with## those cases?

What happens with anyone else who# wants to come forward with a case from long ago?

MARIANN MEIER WANG: Well, I think the most# important thing to tell any survivor is that,## if they think they could have a case or they# have been hurt and they want to seek justice they should try to learn about what# their legal rights -- because the## legal landscape is actually fairly complicated,## and it depends on when the assaults happened# as But the fact of the matter is having a time# limit to immediately file a lawsuit after## you have either been controlled by and/or# abused for years sometimes by a perpetrator,## it's something that takes years to understand# and get healthy from and get to a place where you## actually feel like maybe you can pursue something# and can face this perpetrator again in court.

It's not an easy thing, and I think the public# and the legislators should understand that,## and that should be reflected in extending# or even eliminating statutes of limitations.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is attorney Mariann Wang and NPR## music correspondent Sidney# Madden joining us tonight.

Thank you to you both.

We appreciate your time.

SIDNEY MADDEN: Thank you, Amna.