Maryland Child Victims Act
The 2023 law ending time limits on child abuse suits and the wave of claims against the state that followed.
22 developments, 2023–2026, oldest first.
2023
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Maryland Senate overwhelmingly passes Child Victims Act
The Senate approved the bill eliminating the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims, including against public institutions.
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Gov. Wes Moore signs Child Victims Act, ending time limit on abuse lawsuits
Moore signed the law removing the statute of limitations for civil child sexual abuse claims. It set per-claim damage caps of $890,000 against public entities and $1.5 million against private ones.
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Abuse suits under Maryland's new law, including against juvenile justice system, begin to stack up
As the law took effect Oct. 1, lawsuits were filed against the state's juvenile justice system, schools and the Catholic Church.
2024
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Prince George's judge rules Child Victims Act constitutional
A circuit judge upheld the law against a constitutional challenge brought by the Archdiocese of Washington.
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Montgomery County judge finds Child Victims Act unconstitutional
A second circuit judge ruled the law violated the Maryland Declaration of Rights, creating conflicting rulings for the state's top court to resolve.
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Maryland Supreme Court agrees to decide Child Victims Act's constitutionality
The state's highest court took up the challenge to the law that allowed decades-old abuse claims.
2025
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Legislators warned of enormous liability from thousands of abuse suits against the state
Analysts told lawmakers that about 3,500 suits had been filed against state agencies, mainly the Department of Juvenile Services, with potential costs in the billions.
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Maryland Supreme Court upholds Child Victims Act in 4-3 ruling
The court held the 2017 limit was an ordinary statute of limitations the Legislature could repeal, allowing revived claims to proceed.
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Maryland lawmakers weigh limiting state liability under Child Victims Act
Senate leaders said they would consider changes to reduce the state's exposure after the court upheld the law.
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Maryland faces about $3 billion exposure from abuse claims under 2023 law
Legislative documents showed roughly 3,500 suits against the state and potential liability of about $3.11 billion. A bill to reinstate a filing deadline was being rewritten.
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Survivors rally as Maryland faces pressure to settle billions in abuse claims
More than 100 people alleging abuse in state agencies rallied in Baltimore, urging state leaders to resolve their claims amid a budget deficit.
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Attorney general's office says proposed abuse-claim changes not clearly unconstitutional
The AG's office advised that the legislature's proposed limits on Child Victims Act damages could likely withstand challenge.
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Maryland lawmakers pass bill lowering damage caps on child sex abuse claims
The General Assembly passed caps of $400,000 for claims against public institutions and $700,000 for private ones, for suits filed after June 1, 2025.
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Moore rejects calls to veto Child Victims Act overhaul
The governor declined survivors' calls for a veto as attorneys rushed to file cases before the lower caps took effect.
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Child Victims Act overhaul with lower caps signed into law
The bill reducing damages for future claims became law, with court challenges expected.
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About 3,880 abuse claims filed in rush to beat Maryland's new caps
Thousands of claims were filed in the weeks before the June 1 cap change, with the Department of Juvenile Services facing the most allegations.
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Child Victims Act cases resume in Baltimore court after five-month pause
Cases in Baltimore City Circuit Court resumed after a temporary stay.
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More than 10,000 suits against Juvenile Services loom over Maryland's budget
With a $1.4 billion deficit, lawmakers faced more than 10,000 abuse claims against the Department of Juvenile Services and no settlement plan.
2026
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Maryland faces about 12,000 juvenile justice abuse claims with no payout plan
Roughly 12,000 people allege abuse in the state's juvenile justice system, with potential liability in the billions and disputes over which cap applies.
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Special magistrate appointed for Child Victims Act cases against Maryland
The Maryland Supreme Court appointed a special magistrate to manage common issues in the thousands of suits against the state.
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Maryland Supreme Court rules public schools immune from pre-1971 abuse claims
The court held that victims cannot sue public school systems for abuse that occurred before mid-1971, when governmental immunity applied.
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Maryland claims immunity from some Child Victims Act suits; top court agrees to hear it
The state Supreme Court agreed to hear Maryland's argument that it is immune from some claims, a challenge that could end hundreds of suits.