Tue Sep 10 18:21:55 UTC 2024: ## Maryland Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit Statute of Limitations
**ANNAPOLIS, MD** – The Maryland Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments about the constitutionality of a 2023 law that eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits. This law, dubbed the Child Victims Act, was passed in response to a scathing report detailing widespread abuse by clergy within the Archdiocese of Baltimore spanning 80 years.
The focus of the arguments centered on the intent of the Maryland legislature when they passed a 2017 law that established a 38-year age limit for filing such lawsuits. The question before the court is whether this provision should be considered a statute of limitations or a statute of repose, which would permanently protect certain defendants from liability.
Attorneys representing survivors of abuse argued that the 2017 law was not intended to prevent future lawmakers from revisiting the issue and changing the time limits. They emphasized the urgency of addressing child sexual abuse, a crime that often takes survivors decades to confront.
However, attorneys for defendants, including the Archdiocese of Washington, argued that the 2017 law clearly intended to establish a permanent “vested right to be free from liability.” They expressed concern about the difficulties of finding witnesses and preserving evidence in cases filed decades after the abuse occurred.
The Maryland Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the coming months. This decision will have a significant impact on the ability of survivors of child sex abuse to seek justice in Maryland.
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