
Maryland lawmakers seek to address many significant issues children in the state face, which they call Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The Child Victims Act of 2023 supports these plans by allowing adults who experienced sexual abuse as children to name the perpetrator and hold those who allowed the abuse legally accountable.
If you believe you may have a sexual abuse case in Maryland, you should speak with an attorney handling these cases now. You could file a lawsuit in civil court against the private institution or public entity that allowed the abuse to occur, even if you previously ran out of time to do so.
Understanding ACEs and the Child Victims Act of 2023
According to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, Maryland’s leadership wants to identify and address the root causes of ACEs to improve life for children across the state. This includes identifying and stopping child sexual abuse. Additionally, it means holding those accountable who abuse and allow abuse to occur.
Under the state’s plan, the Children’s Justice Act Committee oversees investigations and judicial handling of these cases. Its focus is primarily on child sexual abuse and exploitation, although it also reviews actions related to child abuse and neglect.
Under the Child Victims Act of 2023, the state’s governor signed in April 2023, adults who endured sexual abuse as children now have more time to file civil claims, identify their abusers, and hold the institutions liable for the abuse accountable. This not only lets these survivors seek justice, but it could help children currently suffering abuse under similar circumstances or by the same perpetrator.
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What Does the Child Victims Act of 2023 Change?
The Child Victims Act of 2023 makes several significant changes to Maryland law, giving those who endured childhood sexual abuse more rights to act, recover more financial compensation, and hold other parties accountable.
The Act Defines Child Sexual Abuse
The Child Victims Act of 2023 redefines what Maryland considers child sexual abuse for civil cases. It now includes those who perpetrate this abuse directly and those who allow or encourage it.
It Eliminates the Statute of Limitations
Since 2017, adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse in Maryland had until their 38th birthday to file a civil case in most circumstances. The new law will eliminate this deadline beginning October 1, 2023, when it takes effect.
It Permits Retroactive Lawsuits
The law also allows adults who experienced sexual abuse as a child but previously ran out of time to sue because of the applicable deadlines to act. This means anyone who endured this type of abuse as a child in Maryland and is not limited because of other laws can bring a civil case against those who failed to protect them as children.
It Raises Caps on Recoverable Damages
Child sex abuse survivors can also recover more money in these cases. The Child Victims Act of 2023 alters the caps on recoverable damages in several ways. This includes:
- Eliminating the cap on economic damages (such as medical bills for mental health care) from private institutions
- Raising the cap on non-economic damages (emotional distress) to $1.5 million per case from private churches, schools, or other entities
- Increasing the cap to $890,000 per claim against government agencies
How Does This Law Affect Adults With Adverse Childhood Experiences?
Adults with ACEs related to sexual abuse in their church, school, or organization may now hold an entity liable for the pain and suffering they endured regardless of when the abuse occurred. This allows more survivors to receive justice while helping prevent similar ACEs in the current generation of children and teens.
When adult survivors come forward, this allows authorities to identify the abuser and the organization’s role in their abuse. Often, this could include actively covering for the abuser or hiding the accusations within the organization. Identifying abusers and enablers could empower children and teens to report the abuse they are experiencing or stop these perpetrators from continuing the pattern of abuse with the children around them currently.
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What Brought About the Passage of the Child Victims Act of 2023?
While the Child Victims Act of 2023 was not a direct result of a recent report on Baltimore clergy abuse or the state’s action against ACEs, both likely played a role in the bipartisan support and passage of this law.
In spring 2023, the Maryland Attorney General published a report on its four-year investigation into child sex abuse allegations within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This report identifies 156 clergy members as abusers, with more than 600 child victims. The report admits there are likely many more.
To investigate the reports of Baltimore clergy abuse, the Attorney General’s Office took reports from more than 300 victims and interviewed many other witnesses. Many told their stories of childhood sexual abuse for the first time during these interviews.
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What Should I Do If I Am a Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse in Maryland?
If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse in Maryland, you may be able to pursue justice through a civil case against those who allowed or encouraged the abuse to occur. A lawyer handling these claims can discuss your options and how the Child Victims Act of 2023 may support your case.
With help from a child sexual abuse attorney in Maryland, you might be able to hold the at-fault parties accountable and recover money for your:
- Past and present medical bills, including therapy and mental health support
- Past and present income losses and reduced working and earning ability
- Past and present pain and suffering, such as emotional distress
Call Us Today – We Help Maryland Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
At Jenner Law, our attorneys are accepting Maryland clergy abuse cases. We provide free consultations and go to work on these claims with no upfront fees or costs. You only pay if we win. Contact us via telephone or using our online contact form to learn more.
Call or text (888) 585-2188 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form