Maryland Supreme Court Affirms Ending Time Limit in Child Sexual Abuse Claims

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Upholding the stateโ€™s Child Victims Act allows now-adult victims of alleged abuse to file lawsuits.

The Supreme Court of Maryland voted 4โ€“3 this week to uphold the constitutionality of a 2023 state law repealing the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits.

A statute of limitations is a legal provision that bars the filing of a legal action after a specified period of time from the date the alleged crime or injury took place.

The court decision, issued Feb. 3, means that Maryland plaintiffs who allege they experienced sexual abuse as children will be able to sue regardless of how old they are now or when the abuse took place.

The court ruling came after Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown published a lengthy report in April 2023 that stated upward of 150 Catholic priests and individuals associated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore had abused more than 600 children since the 1940s. The abuse uncovered was โ€œpervasive and persistentโ€ and subject to โ€œrepeated dismissal or cover up … by the Catholic Church hierarchy,โ€ the report said.

During oral arguments in September 2024, the court heard three consolidated cases and considered the authority of the Maryland General Assembly under the Maryland Constitution.

The court looked at the General Assemblyโ€™s decision to pass the Child Victims Act of 2023, which modified a 2017 law that barred child sexual abuse victims from suing once they reached the age of 38โ€”20 years after attaining the age of majority, or 18. The court also examined whether the 2017 law had the effect of permanently shielding some defendants from liability.

Defendants argued that the enactment of the 2017 law meant that they could not be held liable in child sexual abuse claims, but the court said in its decision that when the General Assembly takes away access to a remedy for a legal claim, this legislative determination does not absolve defendants from legal responsibility.

One of the defendants, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, argued in a brief that while โ€œa legislature may repeal existing laws and substitute new ones … it may not do so in a manner that destroys substantive rights that have vested under the terms of the existing law.โ€

Byย Matthew Vadum

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

The Sacred Honor of the 56

Today we're celebrating the sacred honor of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Alligator Alcatraz: A Bold Step Toward Secure Borders

Alligator Alcatraz funded through FEMA, represents a decisive move by the Trump admin to address illegal immigration with efficiency and resolve.

Is America Broke?

Silicon Valley investor and economic commentator Balaji Srinivasan made...

Hungary: Prideโ„ข Cometh Before the Color Revolution

The EU engaged in a diplomatic siege of the Eastern European nation-state of Hungary pressuring it into embrace global trannyism or face wrath of Brussels.

Understanding the Trump/Musk Feud

The passion Trump and Musk exhibit over the OBBB is not contrived or for show. Each is addressing the problem from completely different approaches.

New White House Faith Office Aims to Ensure US Is Beacon of Freedom for Others

The White House Faith Office wants to see the United States as the leader in advancing religious freedom, its faith director Jennifer Korn said.

Federal Reserve Rates Are Too High, Says Former World Bank Chief

Rates should be between 0.25 and 1.75 percent rather...

Newly Naturalized Citizens Say What American Freedom Means to Them

Nearly 820,000 people pledged allegiance to the United States and became naturalized citizens in 2024.

Noem Waives Environmental Restrictions to Fast-Track Water Barriers in Rio Grande

DHS Sec Kristi Noem waived federal environmental laws to fast-track construction of 17 miles of waterborne barriers in the Rio Grande in South Texas.

US Keeps Pressure on Chinese Goods Amid Vietnam Trade Deal

Transshippingโ€”rerouting goods through a third country to disguise the origin of the productsโ€”is a focal point of trade negotiations with Asian markets.

White House Report Reveals Top Earners, Staffers Working for No Salary

The Trump admin released its yearly report that shows the salaries for White House staffers, also revealing officials who arenโ€™t accepting salaries at all.

Transportation Secretary Urges Governors to Remove Political Messages From Crosswalks, Intersections

Duffy sent letters to governors, mayor of D.C., and gov of Puerto Rico urging them to remove political messaging from intersections and crosswalks.

Bessent: US, India Near Agreement to Lower Tariffs

The United States and India are โ€œvery closeโ€ to a trade agreement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday.
spot_img

Related Articles