Thousands Sue Maryland Under the New Child Victims Act: What This Means for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

According to NewsNation, since the passing of the Child Victims Act in Maryland in 2023, over 3,500 people have filed civil lawsuits against the state and local agencies, alleging they were sexually abused as children. This is as of March 19, 2025. For most of these individuals, these incidents happened several decades ago. However, their cases are still valid because of the Child Victims Act. This Act eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. Many of the victims allege that they were victimized in schools, state and local agencies, and religious institutions. Maryland is working to resolve some of these cases through out-of-court settlement negotiations, but there are at least 29 pending legal complaints involving hundreds more claimants. Some estimates suggest that Maryland could end up paying more than $3.1 billion to claimants.

Understanding the Child Victims Act

Maryland’s Child Victims Act gives survivors of sexual abuse the right to file claims regardless of how long ago the abuse happened. Before the passing of this Act, the state imposed a strict statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse. Generally, before the passing of the Child Victims Act, a survivor was not eligible to file a claim after they turned 38.

The elimination of the statute of limitations means that plaintiffs no longer have to deal with legal fights about whether their claims are time-barred. In the past, defendants often tried to get cases dismissed by claiming that too much time had passed. These arguments could last months or even years and cost a lot of money in lawyer fees and court expenses. The Child Victims Act removes that problem, so survivors can focus on telling their story and proving their case instead of whether they are allowed to sue.

Under the Child Victims Act, sexual abuse survivors can sue both private and government entities and seek both economic and non-economic damages. Some of the institutions named in the above lawsuits include the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, the Key School, and the Board of Education of Harford County. However, there is a limit on the financial compensation a claimant can receive from a civil suit. For those suing public agencies, the limit is $890,000 per incident. On the other hand, those suing private organizations can receive up to $1.5 million.

However, it is vital to note that the Act specifically states that an alleged victim must be alive when the claim is filed. This provision means that claims cannot be brought on behalf of deceased individuals. As a result, families or estates of deceased victims are not allowed to pursue compensation under this Act.

What To Do if You Were Abused

If you were sexually abused as a child, regardless of how long ago it happened, you may still have the right to file a civil suit. Talk to an attorney experienced in sexual abuse cases as soon as possible. An attorney can help you understand and protect your legal rights. They can help you gather evidence that can help support your case. Even without a statute of limitations, the sooner you speak to an attorney, the better.

Contact a Towson Sexual Abuse Lawyer

If you were the victim of sexual abuse as a child and need help seeking the compensation you deserve, contact an experienced Towson sexual abuse lawyer at Hardball Law. We serve clients in Towson, Baltimore, and throughout Maryland.

Source:

newsnationnow.com/crime/thousands-sue-maryland-alleged-sexual-abuse/