In 2023, Maryland passed the Child Victims Act (House Bill 1/Senate Bill 686) to eliminate the statute of limitations in civil suits based on child sexual abuse. It gave survivors another chance to have their day in court.
On Tuesday, Governor Wes Moore signed House Bill 1378 into law, and amended the Child Victims Act. There are thousands of claims against the State and potentially billions of dollars in liability. The new law sets lower caps on claims and limits attorney fees.
Lisae C. Jordan, Esq., MCASA's Executive Director & Counsel, was quoted in Maryland Matters:
“House Bill 1378 will save the state a lot of money, but it remains to be seen whether some of the savings will be used to help prevent future abuse or to provide services for survivors who can’t prove their case in court...Helping people who were sexually abused while in state custody doesn’t require a lawsuit, but it will require more resources.”
Legal challenges to the new law are expected.
