Yesterday, the House Judiciary committee had a hearing on House Bill 629, which would discourage sex offenders from using the courts to silence survivors.
Sexual assault continues to be one of the most under-reported and under-prosecuted crimes in Maryland and across the country. The National Crime Victimization Survey (2010-2016) found that when the offender was a friend or acquaintance, 61% of completed rapes, 71% of attempted rapes, and 82% of other sexual assaults were not reported. When the offender was a stranger, 54% of completed rapes, 44% of attempted rapes, and 34% of other sexual assaults were not reported to the police
When sexual assaults are not reported, sex offenders go free. Civil lawsuits are increasingly being used as a weapon to threaten, silence, intimidate, and dissuade survivors of sexual assault from speaking out against their abusers and exposing predators.
HB629 would change this by helping to balance access to justice with preserving the right to sue for intentionally sharing false information or making malicious accusations of assault.
This bill raises the bar for lawsuits against people who have disclosed sexual assault. It does not prevent these suits, it instead requires that the plaintiff prove that the person stating sexual assault occurred “acted with actual malice” or “intentionally or recklessly disclosed false information”. The bill also provides for attorney's fees and costs for successful defendants in most cases.
Please ask the House Judiciary Committee to support HB629 to stop silencing survivors!
MARYLAND HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Leadership:
Luke H. Clippinger, Chair (District 46, Baltimore City)
Phone: 410-841-3488 | 301-858-3488
[email protected]
J. Sandy Bartlett, Vice Chair (District 32, Anne Arundel County)
Phone: (410) 841-3370 | (301) 858-3370
[email protected]
Members:
Anne Arundel County
LaToya Nkongolo (District 31, Anne Arundel)
Phone: 410-841-3510 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3510
[email protected]
Stuart Michael Schmidt, Jr. (District 33B, Anne Arundel)
Phone: 410-841-3110 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3110
[email protected]
Gary Simmons (District 12B, Anne Arundel)
Phone: 410-841-3581 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3581
[email protected]
Baltimore City
Frank M. Conaway, Jr. (District 40, Baltimore City)
Phone: 410-841-3189 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3189
[email protected]
Elizabeth Embry (District 43A, Baltimore City)
Phone: 410-841-3638 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3638
[email protected]
Baltimore County
Jon S. Cardin (District 11B, Baltimore County)
Phone: 410-841-3054 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3054
[email protected]
Robin L. Grammer, Jr. (District 6, Baltimore County)
Phone: 410-841-3298 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3298
[email protected]
Cheryl E. Pasteur (District 11A, Baltimore County)
Phone: 410-841-3448 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3448
[email protected]
N. Scott Phillips (District 10, Baltimore County)
Phone: 410-841-3358 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3358
[email protected]
Dorchester & Wicomico Counties
Sheree Sample-Hughes (District 37A, Dorchester & Wicomico)
Phone: 410-841-3427 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3427
[email protected]
Frederick County
Karen Simpson (District 3, Frederick)
Phone: 410-841-3436 | 301-858-3436
[email protected]
Frederick & Carroll Counties
Christopher Bouchat (District 5, Frederick & Carroll)
Phone: 410-841-3200 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3200
[email protected]
Chris Tomlinson (District 5, Frederick & Carroll)
Phone: 410-841-3359 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3359
[email protected]
Frederick & Washington Counties
William Valentine (District 2A, Washington & Frederick)
Phone: 410-841-3636 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3636
[email protected]
Harford County
Lauren C. Arikan (District 7B, Harford)
Phone: 410-841-3334 | 301-858-3334
[email protected]
Montgomery County
Charlotte Crutchfield (District 19, Montgomery)
Phone: 410-841-3485 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3485
[email protected]
Aaron M. Kaufman (District 18, Montgomery)
Phone: 410-841-3314 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3314
[email protected]
David Moon (District 20, Montgomery)
Phone: 410-841-3474 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3474
E-mail: [email protected]
Prince George's County
Kym Taylor (District 23, Prince George's)
Phone: 410-841-3557 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3331
[email protected]
Karen Toles (District 25, Prince George's)
Phone: 410-841-3524 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3524
[email protected]
Nicole A. Williams (District 22, Prince George's)
Phone: 410-841-3058 | 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3058
[email protected]
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