Breaking News: Maryland Child Sex Abuse Bill Signed into Law
On April 11, 2023, Maryland survivors of child sexual abuse finally had their voices heard after Gov. Wes Moore signed the Child Victims Act of 2023 into law. The bill, which passed with flying colors through the Senate last month, removes the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Previous attempts to enact this legislation had skidded to a stop at the Senate level.
In January 2023, this proposed legislation gained Senate support after the Maryland Attorney General implored a Baltimore court to allow the release of a report outlining rampant, heartbreaking child sex abuse in the Catholic Church spanning decades. The grand jury report was released last week, with a series of redactions, but reveals the names of dozens of clergy members who skirted their transgressions for decades.
This development provides a huge sense of relief for survivors whose claims were previously time-barred by the law. It is often difficult for abuse survivors to come forward with their claims, especially when the abuse happened at such a young age. Now, they have a chance to take action against their perpetrators as well as the institutions protecting their abusers. This may be a first step not only to achieve justice for themselves, but also to ensure that no institution turns a blind eye again to the sexual exploitation of children.
G&E, Jenner Law, and Baird, Mandalas, Brockstedt, Federico & Cardea have been zealously advocating for survivors who were sexually abused by Baltimore clergy members—for some, spanning decades. These survivors deserve justice and now have a chance to seek accountability.
Grant & Eisenhofer is Here to Listen to Your Story
The attorneys at Grant & Eisenhofer represent survivors of child sexual abuse, whether at the hands of a priest or clergy member, teacher, coach, or other trusted adult. We help our clients seek damages for the harm they suffered. If you or a loved one experienced sexual assault as a child, speak with our attorneys as soon as possible. Our legal team can help you determine if you have a viable sexual assault claim and answer your legal questions. Contact us today, your information will remain completely confidential.
