Maryland Sexual Abuse Lawsuits

At Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. our Maryland sexual abuse lawyers understand the courage it takes for survivors to come forward and seek justice. We are dedicated to supporting our clients through every step of the legal process and working tirelessly to ensure that their voices are heard.

Unwanted sexual contact, touching or other abusive behavior can have a long-lasting physical and emotional impact. In many situations, the assault may have been prevented if a responsible organization or employer had taken different actions.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy in September 2023. The new deadline to file a childhood sexual abuse lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Baltimore is now May 31, 2024.
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Types of Sexual Abuse Lawsuits
A sexual abuse lawsuit not only provides financial compensation, but helps ensure that steps are taken by organizations to avoid similar conduct by predators placed in a position of trust, such as:

  • Clergy, Priests or Other Church Officials
  • Club Leaders, Counselors or Other Youth Group Volunteers
  • Teachers, Coaches or Other Figures of Authority
  • Doctors, Therapists, Nursing Homes or Other Treatment Providers
  • Uber, Lyft or Other Ride Share Service Drivers

It is our mission to hold perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse and the organizations that enabled the conduct accountable, and help survivors get the justice and compensation they deserve.

While no amount of money can ever truly compensate for the harm and suffering caused by sexual abuse, pursuing legal action can help survivors take back control of their lives and send a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

Clergy Abuse and Child Sexual Assault Lawsuits

In response to mounting evidence involving clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Maryland legislature passed the Child Victims Act of 2023, which allows survivors of childhood sex abuse to pursue a lawsuit, regardless how long ago the abuse occurred.

Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023

Governor Wes Moore signed the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 in April, 2023, which went into effect on October 1, 2023. The new legislation introduces several critical changes designed to address the injustices endured by survivors of childhood sexual abuse, including the following.

  • Removes the Maryland child sex abuse lawsuit statute of limitations, allowing previously barred claims to now be pursued.
  • Increases the maximum non-economic damages for sex abuse in Maryland to $1.5 million for claims against the Catholic Church and other private institutions.
  • Increases the maximum non-economic damages for sex abuse in Maryland to $890,000 for claims against public schools, state or local government entitles.

Archdiocese of Baltimore Bankruptcy Filing Forces Claims Deadline

The Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections on September 29, 2023, just two days before the Child Victims Act was set to take effect on October 1, 2023.

While the Archdiocese has stated that its bankruptcy filing was intended to efficiently handle the sexual abuse lawsuits being filed while maintaining its ability to emerge with operations intact, our lawyers have viewed this strategy as an attempt to circumvent the broader intentions of the Child Victims Act and limit the opportunities for survivors to seek justice and compensation through traditional legal channels.

Here is why: The Child Victims act removed the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse claims, affording victims the opportunity and necessary time to bring forth claims against their perpetrators. The legislation was designed to make sure that victims always had a pathway to seek compensation and justice through traditional civil proceedings for childhood sexual abuse.

However, when the Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy, it triggered an “automatic stay,” which shifted the handling of all civil lawsuits against it to the bankruptcy court, and halted all civil litigation actions against the Archdiocese outside of the bankruptcy process. This means that any ongoing or future lawsuits against the Archdiocese of Baltimore are paused and must be addressed within the bankruptcy proceedings.

As part of the bankruptcy courts’ claims process, all creditors, including individuals with childhood sexual abuse lawsuits against the archdiocese, must now file their claims by a specified bar date to be considered for payment. This effectively side-steps the Archdiocese’s liability for claims filed beyond the bankruptcy proceedings deadline, and negates much of the intent of the Child Victims Act.

What is the new deadline to file a childhood sexual abuse claim against the Archdiocese of Baltimore?

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michelle M. Harner has set a May 31, 2024 deadline (bar date) for filing childhood sexual abuse claims against the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

If a victim does not file a claim against the Archdiocese of Baltimore by the established deadline of May 31, 2024, they may be barred from seeking compensation.

Learn More About Victim Legal Rights

Our Message to Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

You Are Not Alone

If you or a family member were a victim of childhood sexual abuse, know that you are not alone. Let us help you start the healing process and to hold those responsible for the abuse accountable.

Help is Available

It takes a tremendous amount of courage to ask for help. If you are ready, we will be there to help you seek justice and compensation. After your confidential case evaluation, it is your decision whether to hire our lawyers and pursue the claim.

It May Not Be Too Late

Even if your abuse happened many years ago, it may not be too late to take back your life and pursue a claim. Filing a sex abuse lawsuit can hold your abuser accountable and uncover years of wrongdoing.

Allegations Raised in Sex Abuse Lawsuits

When a church, school or other organization fails to protect individuals from abusive behavior, they can be held legally and financially responsible for:

  • Failure to conduct reasonable background checks on employees or volunteers;
  • Negligent hiring, training or failure to adequately supervise;
  • Failure to conduct reasonable investigation into credible allegations or suspicious behavior;
  • Failure to report sexual abuse allegations or properly train employees to report conduct of co-workers;
  • Negligent security to prevent criminal abuse by third parties;

FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A SEXUAL ABUSE CASE

No Fees or Expenses Unless You Receive a Settlement

Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is a nationally known injury law firm that is focused exclusively on representing individuals, we do not represent corporations or insurance companies.

Over the course of more than 40 years, clients of our law firm have collected more than $1 billion in compensation in cases involving product liability, medical malpractice, automobile accidents and other personal injury lawsuits.

All sex abuse cases are being handled on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are never any out-of-pocket costs to hire our lawyers and we receive no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.

Protect your family and find out if you or a loved one may be entitled to a sexual abuse settlement.

CONTACT OUR VICTIM ADVOCATE LAWYERS No Fees or Expenses Unless a Recovery is Obtained.

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Saiontz & Kirk, PA, Attorneys & Lawyers, Baltimore, MD

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