Maryland Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

Call Our Award-Winning Team of Sexual Abuse Lawyers

Levy Konigsberg is dedicated to protecting the rights of sexual abuse survivors nationwide, including those in Maryland.

If you were sexually abused as a child, new legislation in Maryland could give you the opportunity to demand justice and compensation through a civil claim, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.

It would be our honor to help you explore your legal options and hold the perpetrator and any organization that enabled them accountable for such inexcusable wrongdoing.

Why should you trust Levy Konigsberg with your case?

• Success: We have recovered more than $3 billion in compensation for past clients, including tens of millions of dollars secured for sexual abuse clients.
• Recognition: We have been featured on major newscasts and publications for our successful handling of complex and record-breaking lawsuits.
• Reputation: We are trusted by countless legal peers and former clients nationwide to handle difficult, sensitive cases like those involving sexual abuse.

Call (800) 315-3806 for a free consultation with our Maryland sexual abuse lawyers.

New Maryland Law Opens the Door for Child Sex Abuse Survivors

Maryland has been a frontrunner in passing legislation that greatly expands the rights of sexual abuse survivors – and especially survivors of child sexual abuse.

Thanks to the Child Victims Act, which was signed into law in April 2023 by Governor Wes Moore, survivors who were sexually abused as minors in Maryland now have unprecedented opportunities to pursue justice against their abusers and any institutions that failed to protect them.

Here are some key details about Child Victims Act of 2023:

• The CVA eliminates the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits based on child sexual abuse, which means that there is no deadline by which survivors must initiate legal action.
• The CVA creates an unlimited lookback period that allows child sexual abuse survivors to file lawsuits over abuse that occurred at any time in the past, even if such claims were barred by the previous statute of limitations.
• The CVA allows plaintiffs to recover up to $1.5 million in non-economic damages when filing against a private institution, and up to $890,000 in non-economic damages in cases brought against public entities such as school systems and local governments. There is no cap on economic or punitive damages.

As the Child Victims Act went into effect on October 1, 2023, you should now take prompt action to see if you can file a claim against the institution that failed to protect you from abuse that occurred when you were a minor – even if the abuse occurred years or decades ago.

At Levy Konigsberg, our award-winning attorneys are helping a growing number of survivors in Maryland learn more about their rights and options under Maryland’s Child Victims Act. If you have questions about a potential case and whether you can file a civil lawsuit, we’re available to help.

Maryland Statute of Limitations for Adult Sexual Abuse

While Maryland has significantly revised state laws regarding the statute of limitations for civil suits brought by child sexual abuse laws, it has not done so for claims brought by adult survivors.

Under Maryland state law, if the victim was an adult at the time of the abuse, the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit is 3 years from the date of the abuse – no matter if the claim if brought against the alleged abuse or an institution.

Given the 3-year statute of limitations for adult sexual abuse lawsuits, it is advised that survivors with potential claims seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

Who Can You Sue in a Maryland Sex Abuse Civil Case?

In a sex abuse civil case in Maryland, the parties you might sue can vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse and the relationships involved.

Some potential parties that could be sued in a sex abuse civil case in Maryland include:

• Individual Perpetrator: The alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit. This is often the person who directly committed the abusive acts.
• Institutions and Organizations: If the abuse occurred within an institution or organization, such as a school, church, sports club, or workplace, and they failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the abuse, they might also be held liable.
• Employers: If the perpetrator was an employee of an organization or institution, the employer might be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employee if the abuse occurred within the scope of their employment.
• Property Owners: If the abuse occurred on a property owned by someone else, and the property owner failed to provide adequate security or take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse, they might be considered liable.
• Government Entities: In some cases, government entities might be involved, especially if the abuse occurred within a state institution or facility. Suing a government entity might involve specific procedures and limitations.
• Sex abuse cases can be legally complex, so it's highly advisable to consult with experienced legal professionals who specialize in this area to understand your options and pursue the appropriate legal action. Levy Konigsberg, along with our team of Maryland sexual abuse lawyers, is available to provide assistance for your sexual abuse case.

Compensation for Sexual Abuse Claimants in Maryland

In a sexual abuse lawsuit filed in Maryland, you can demand compensation for the many types of harm that the sexual abuse has caused you to suffer throughout the years.

Recoverable damages include the trauma and losses you incurred. This includes both the non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life) and the economic damages (such as medical expenses, therapy costs, and lost wages) that resulted from your abuse.

As mentioned, you might also be awarded punitive damages, even though this is rare. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate you for a loss. Instead, they punish the defendant for egregious wrongdoing. For example, a judge might approve punitive damages against a religious institution that knowingly harbored sex offenders who were abusing children.

Filing Civil Suits Against Powerful Institutions

Now that the Child Victims Act is Law, Levy Konigsberg is helping a growing number of child sexual abuse survivors across Maryland explore their options for pursuing justice and compensation. Currently, our firm is representing numerous clients in claims involving:

• Maryland juvenile detention center sexual abuse. Juvenile detention facilities across Maryland have been identified as having some of the highest rates of staff-on-inmate sexual victimization. Now, Levy Konigsberg is helping former youth inmates seek justice under the Child Victims Act for the harms they suffered years or decades ago.
• Maryland school sexual abuse. Our firm is leveraging the Child Victims Act to represent survivors who were sexually abused by teachers and faculty as public and private schools across Maryland in claims brought against school districts and other responsible entities.

In addition to representing survivors sexually abused in Maryland schools and youth detention centers, Levy Konigsberg is available to speak with survivors who were abused in other settings. With a legacy of litigating high-stakes sexual abuse suits against powerful defendants, we have the experience and resources to help survivors in all types of claims.

We can file sexual abuse lawsuits against these defendants and more:

• Medical institutions
• Religious groups like an archdiocese or Catholic Church
• Prisons and correctional facilities
• Residential Care Group Homes and Foster Care Homes
• Summer / Day Camps and Day Care / Preschools

Schedule a Free, Confidential Consultation Today

Levy Konigsberg and our Maryland sexual abuse attorneys are here to help you with your sexual abuse case. We are standing by to hear from people who want to speak up and demand justice after being sexually assaulted or abused. We can help people who were sexually abused as an adult or as a child. We keep all information discussed in free initial consultations highly confidential, so you can feel safe reaching out to our respectful and experienced legal team whenever you need us.

Maryland Office: 145 West Ostend Street, Suite 600 Baltimore, MD 21230