Maryland Sex Abuse Lawsuits

New laws in Maryland have enabled victims of child sexual abuse to bring civil lawsuits against churches, schools, and other negligent third parties even decades after the sexual abuse occurred. This has prompted a wave of sex abuse lawsuits in Maryland and victims are expected to receive billions in settlement compensation over the coming years.

On this page, our Maryland sex abuse lawyers will look at the legal basis for civil sex abuse lawsuits. We will also discuss some of the various categories of sex abuse lawsuits currently being filed. Finally, we will examine the potential settlement value of sex abuse cases in Maryland.

Our Maryland sex abuse lawyers are taking abuse cases. Contact us at 888-322-3010 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

Defining Sexual Abuse and Assault

Sexual abuse or assault generally refers to any unwanted or non-consensual sexual contact or touching. This includes any interaction involving a person’s private or intimate body parts. Sexual abuse can range from inappropriate touching (groping) to forced sexual acts, including rape.

The key factor that defines sexual abuse or assault is the lack of consent. If the contact is not consensual, it is considered assault. In the case of minors—anyone under 18 years old—they are legally unable to give consent. Therefore, any sexual contact between an adult and a minor is considered abuse, regardless of the circumstances.

Each state, including Maryland, has specific laws outlining what qualifies as sexual abuse or assault. For civil lawsuits, the definition may be broader than in criminal cases.

Filing a Civil Lawsuit for Sexual Abuse or Assault in Maryland

Sexual abuse or assault is a serious crime and can be prosecuted in criminal court. However, regardless of whether criminal charges are filed, survivors always have the right to pursue a civil lawsuit to seek financial compensation.

You can file a civil case even if the person responsible was never arrested or convicted. That’s because the standard of proof in civil court is lower than in criminal cases, making it easier to hold the abuser legally accountable.

Another important aspect of civil lawsuits is that survivors can also seek compensation from third parties who may have played a role, such as organizations or institutions that failed to

protect them.

In civil court, the survivor is not just a witness—they are an active party in the case. This gives them greater control over how the process unfolds, including the decision to continue or stop the case.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Maryland Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

In most sexual abuse lawsuits, the most obvious person to sue is the individual who committed the abuse. However, in many cases, suing the abuser alone may not lead to any meaningful financial compensation. The abuser may be in prison, deceased, or simply without the resources to pay a judgment—even if you win in court.

That’s why a successful sexual abuse lawsuit often involves holding third parties accountable. These can include organizations or institutions such as schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, companies, or other entities that had a responsibility to protect the victim or could have prevented the abuse.

If it can be shown that a third party had a duty of care and either ignored warning signs, failed to take action, or created an environment where abuse was possible, they can be held legally responsible for damages.

Example 1:

Jane was sexually abused by her school guidance counselor, John, while she was a student at Acme Private School. Jane can file a civil lawsuit against both John and Acme Private School, if the school failed to properly supervise John or ignored previous complaints.

Example 2:

Teacher Jon taught math at Acme High School and he also coached the girls soccer team. Jon had a sexual relationship with Sally, a 15-year student who was in his class and on the soccer team. Prior to this, school administration had received 3 other complaints about Jon having inappropriate contact with female students, but no investigation was ever done. Sally and her parents could sue the school for negligence.  

Any third party that contributed to the abuse through negligence—such as failing to run background checks, ignoring red flags, or not having proper safety measures in place—can be named in a lawsuit. A common example is a negligent security claim, where a property owner may be sued for not having adequate safety features like lighting, cameras, or security staff, especially in places where abuse could have been prevented.

Filing a Maryland Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit: What You Need to Know

For survivors thinking about filing a child sex abuse lawsuit in Maryland, recent changes in the law have created both expanded opportunities and new challenges. The state’s legal landscape now makes it easier than ever to come forward. But it is important to understand what has changed and how it may affect your case.

Thanks to the Maryland Child Victims Act, survivors of child sexual abuse are no longer bound by traditional statute of limitations rules. This means you can file a Maryland child sexual abuse claim even if the abuse happened decades ago. Whether the abuse occurred at a school, church, foster home, or youth detention center, survivors now have the legal right to pursue justice in civil court, regardless of how much time has passed.

Unfortunately, recent amendments to the law have capped the amount of non-economic damages survivors can recover.  If you are filing a Maryland child sexual abuse lawsuit after May 31, 2025, the maximum amount recoverable from institutions like churches or private schools is $700,000. Claims against state-run institutions, such as juvenile detention centers, are capped at $400,000. These limits apply only to non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. There is still no cap on economic damages such as medical bills, therapy costs, or lost income.

For survivors of clergy abuse, the process of filing a clergy sexual abuse lawsuit in Maryland may also involve naming the Archdiocese or a specific parish as a defendant. In those cases, Maryland child sexual abuse lawyers will evaluate not just the actions of the individual abuser but also the role the institution played in enabling or concealing the misconduct.  That latter is the key to getting fair settlement compensation in 98% of sex abuse lawsuits in Maryland.

If you are considering filing a child sexual abuse lawsuit in Maryland, it is critical to work with an experienced Maryland sex abuse lawyer who understands the law and the procedural steps required. The strongest cases are built not just on testimony, but on a clear timeline, institutional accountability, and a careful strategy tailored to the facts of your experience.

Damages Available In Sex Abuse Lawsuits

In a lawsuit, damages are awarded to a plaintiff to compensate for losses and pain caused by another. There are different types of damages that plaintiffs are entitled to receive in a successful civil case, including:

• Pain and suffering, both mental and physical
• Lost wages
• Medical Expenses (past and future)
• Loss of consortium (loss of relationship with spouse, companion, or family)
• Loss of enjoyment of life

In a sexual abuse lawsuit, most of the damages a plaintiff will get will be for pain and suffering. Although sexual abuse or assault can cause physical injuries, the damages from this are primarily mental pain and anguish. In most sexual abuse lawsuits, pain and suffering accounts for more than 90% of the damages awarded.

New Law Eliminates All Deadlines For Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits In Maryland

In October 2023, a new law called the Maryland Child Victims Act (“CVA”) took effect. The CVA completely eliminates any and all statute of limitations and other legal deadlines on how long a victim could wait before filing a lawsuit based on child sexual abuse. Under the new CVA, victims of child sex abuse can file civil lawsuits regardless of how many years have passed since the abuse occurred.

The CVA also applied retroactively to revive all sex abuse claims that had previously expired under the prior statute of limitations laws. This meant that if someone was sexually abused by a priest back in the 1960s and their civil claim expired years ago under the prior SOL law, that claim is now revived, and the victim

is once again legally eligible to bring a lawsuit.

The CVA was challenged as invalid under the Maryland state constitution, but the Maryland Supreme Court recently upheld the validity of the CVA.

Residential Treatment Facility Sex Abuse Lawsuits

Over the past 20 years, residential treatment facilities have become increasingly common, offering inpatient mental health care for issues like depression, addiction, anxiety, and eating disorders. These centers often provide 24/7 care in a controlled, structured environment. Many are specifically designed for adolescents, often vulnerable teens referred by their parents or state agencies like the Department of Juvenile Services.

But despite their intended purpose, numerous investigations across the U.S. have uncovered a disturbing pattern: widespread sexual abuse within these facilities, particularly those housing minors. These reports point to serious problems, including poor oversight, understaffing, and institutional neglect, all of which create an environment where abuse can occur unchecked.

As a result, a growing number of civil lawsuits have been filed against both the facilities themselves and the large healthcare corporations that operate them. Among the most frequently named are:

• Acadia Healthcare
• Universal Health Services (UHS)
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health

These are some of the largest companies in the residential treatment industry, and several of their Maryland

facilities are currently facing increased scrutiny due to histories of abuse, neglect, and regulatory violations, as detailed in recent congressional findings.

Juvenile Detention Center Sex Abuse Lawsuits in Maryland

Since the CVA took effect, Maryland has been a hotbed for sex abuse lawsuits involving juvenile detention centers. Sadly, countless juveniles who were inmates at detention facilities in Maryland became victims of sexual abuse and assault.

The juvenile detention center sex abuse lawsuits allege that staff members at these facilities abused their positions of authority to sexually exploit or harm juvenile detainees. These legal actions contend that the sexual abuse of children stemmed from negligence in hiring and supervising staff, as well as failures to maintain a safe environment for the detainees. The allegations often involve direct abuse by staff members or failure to prevent abuse between residents, which the administration

could have mitigated or avoided. Some of the juvenile detention centers at the heart of these lawsuits in Maryland are:

• Charles H. Hickey Jr. School
• Cheltenham Youth Detention Center
• Thomas Waxter Children’s Center

Settlement Value of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits in Maryland

The potential settlement value of a sexual abuse civil lawsuit in Maryland depends on a range of factors. Each case is unique, but several key elements consistently influence how much a case may settle for:

1. Nature and Severity of the Abuse

The more serious and prolonged the abuse, the higher the potential settlement value. Cases involving physical violence, repeated abuse over time, or abuse that results in lasting emotional or psychological trauma typically result in higher compensation than those involving a single or less severe incident.

2. Strength of the Evidence

The ability to clearly prove that the abuse occurred is crucial. Cases backed by physical evidence, medical records, witness testimony, or documentation are typically stronger—and more valuable—than cases that rely solely on the victim’s word against the defendant’s.

3. Third-Party Liability

When a third party, such as a school, church, treatment center, or other institution, can be shown to have failed in their duty to prevent the abuse, the settlement value often increases. Strong evidence of negligence or cover-up by a third party significantly enhances the case’s value.

4. Size and Reputation of the Third-Party Defendant

The financial resources and public image of the organization involved can also affect the outcome. Larger institutions with reputational concerns—such as major religious groups, private schools, or healthcare providers—may be more inclined to offer higher settlements to avoid public trials or damaging publicity.

5. Your Lawyer

The skill and experience of the attorneys involved matter. An experienced Maryland sexual abuse attorney with a strong track record can significantly impact the outcome, often securing higher settlements through aggressive negotiation, strategic litigation, and deep knowledge of the law.

How the CVA Cap Has Changed in Maryland

In April 2025, the Maryland legislature passed an awful amendment to the Maryland Child Victims Act that changes how much survivors of child sexual abuse can recover in lawsuits against institutions like churches, schools, and youth facilities. Under the original version of the CVA, survivors could seek up to $1.5 million in non-economic damages from organizations that enabled or failed to prevent the abuse. That cap has now been reduced to $700,000 for any lawsuit filed after May 31, 2025.

This change does not affect lawsuits that were already filed before the deadline. Survivors who met the deadline may still pursue claims under the original $1.5 million limit. But moving forward, anyone filing a new case in Maryland under the CVA will be limited to the new, lower cap.

The same legislative amendment also affects lawsuits against state-run institutions, including juvenile detention centers and foster care facilities operated by Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services. For these cases, the cap on non-economic damages is now $400,000, down from the previous $890,000 cap.

The law still removes any statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual abuse. Survivors can still bring claims no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. The change is purely about the maximum amount a jury or court can award for pain and suffering in cases against institutions.

For new plaintiffs, the takeaway is clear: you still have the right to file a case, but the financial cap on damages is lower. This may influence how cases are negotiated or settled. However, other types of damages—such as medical costs, lost income, and punitive damages in some cases—may still be available depending on the facts of the case.

This shift in Maryland law marks a new chapter for how the state handles institutional abuse claims. While the path to justice remains open, the financial ceiling has been lowered for future cases. Survivors thinking about filing a lawsuit now face a different legal landscape than those who filed before the change.

Contact Our Sex Abuse Lawyers

If you are considering filing a civil lawsuit for sex abuse in Maryland, contact us at 888-322-3010 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.