Maryland Sexual Abuse Settlement Calculator
Estimate compensation under Maryland's Child Victims Act of 2023 — no statute of limitations, retroactive and prospective — subject to recent 2025 damage cap reduction
How do the 2025 cap reductions affect my case value? Significantly — the caps were reduced roughly 50%+ across both private and public defendants. A claim filed today against a private defendant is capped at $700K non-economic.
⚠ Maryland's SOL is PERMANENTLY ELIMINATED for childhood abuse — no filing deadline. But revived claims (time-barred before October 2023) filed since June 1, 2025 face lower caps: $700K private (was $1.5M), $400K public (was $890K).
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PTSD, depression, anxiety, complex trauma — formally diagnosed?
Larger institutions have more resources and higher settlements.
Estimated Settlement Range
$176,400 — $327,600
Abuse settlements vary widely by jurisdiction, institutional resources, and the documented impact. This is a benchmark range based on reported cases.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
Maryland Eliminated the Childhood Abuse SOL — But Cut the Damage Cap
Maryland's Child Victims Act of 2023 (Md. CJP § 5-117, signed April 11, 2023, effective October 1, 2023) did something no other US state has done: eliminated the statute of limitations for civil childhood sexual abuse claims entirely — retroactively and prospectively. The Maryland Supreme Court upheld the 2023 Act on February 3, 2025, by a narrow 4-3 majority in Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Doe. Survivors of abuse from decades ago can file today.
However, Maryland substantially reduced the damage caps for revived claims in April 2025 (HB 1378, signed by Governor Moore, effective June 1, 2025). For a suit filed on or after June 1, 2025 over abuse that would have been time-barred before October 1, 2023, the caps are $700,000 in non-economic damages per claimant against each private defendant (reduced from $1.5M) and $400,000 per claimant against the State, a local government or a county board of education (reduced from $890K). The per-'incident' language was changed to per-'claim' — meaning the cap applies regardless of how many separate abuse incidents occurred — and attorney fees in child sexual abuse suits filed since June 1, 2025 are limited to 20% of a settlement or 25% of a judgment. Over 3,800 lawsuits were filed in April–May 2025 BEFORE the cap reduction took effect — those claims retain the higher original caps.
The Baltimore Archdiocese filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 29, 2023 (Bankr. D. Md. No. 23-16969). Its first plan (October 2025) offered $33 million from Catholic entities plus its insurance assets; a revised plan filed June 5, 2026 proposed $246 million, while the survivors' committee proposed $441.3 million from Catholic entities plus at least $100 million from one insurer. In late September 2026 the bankruptcy judge postponed key matters by about 45 days so the parties could try to reach a consensual resolution. No plan has been confirmed as of October 2026. The Maryland state government also faces substantial exposure from state-run juvenile detention facilities.
Maryland's Permanent SOL Elimination
Unlike other states' time-limited revival windows, Maryland permanently eliminated the SOL for childhood abuse. This is not a window — it is the new law:
Maryland Child Victims Act 2023
OPENMd. CJP § 5-117
All childhood sexual abuse, retroactive and prospective, no time limit
Not a 'window' — permanent elimination of SOL. Technically the SOL itself is gone, not just revived temporarily. Retroactivity UPHELD 4-3 by the Supreme Court of Maryland, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Doe (Feb 3, 2025).
Maryland Statute of Limitations — Current Rules
Childhood sexual abuse (under 18 at the time): No statute of limitations. Md. CJP § 5-117 (Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023, effective October 1, 2023) completely eliminated the SOL for civil childhood sexual abuse claims — retroactively and prospectively. Victims of any age may file at any time. The MD Supreme Court upheld this on Feb 3, 2025 on a narrow 4-3 vote. The discovery rule is superseded for childhood claims because no time limit exists.
Adult sexual abuse (18+ at the time): Maryland's general 3-year personal-injury SOL under Md. CJP § 5-101 applies. The 2023 Act primarily addressed childhood abuse — it did NOT extend adult SOL or create an adult revival window. Maryland courts recognize a discovery rule for adult claims: the 3-year clock can be tolled until the victim discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury and its connection to abuse. Still significantly less generous than California's 10-year cover-up rule or New York's 20-year SOL.
Maryland's Controversial 2025 Damage Cap Reduction
The 2023 Maryland CVA set damage caps for revived claims — claims that had been time-barred — of $1.5M in non-economic damages against private defendants and $890K against the State, local governments and boards of education. In April 2025, Governor Moore signed HB 1378, reducing these to $700K private and $400K public for revived claims filed on or after June 1, 2025. The per-'incident' language was also changed to per-'claim' — so a survivor with multiple incidents gets ONE capped recovery, not per-incident multiplication. Revived claims filed before June 1, 2025 retain the HIGHER original caps — over 3,800 such filings occurred in the April–May 2025 window before the reduction. Claims that were never time-barred fall outside these revival caps: Maryland's general cap on non-economic damages (CJP § 11-108) applies to private defendants, and government liability for child sexual abuse is limited to $890,000 per claimant. Advocates have signaled constitutional challenges to the 2025 amendment; we have not found an appellate ruling on it. If your claim was time-barred before October 2023, this is the most important factor: new filings face the reduced caps.
Landmark Maryland Sexual Abuse Settlements & Proceedings
Maryland's major matter is the Baltimore Archdiocese bankruptcy. Final settlement values remain undetermined:
| Defendant / Case | Amount | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Baltimore (proposed plan, not confirmed) | $246M | 2026 | Revised plan filed June 5, 2026. The Archdiocese's first plan (October 2025) offered $33M plus insurance assets; the survivors' committee proposed $441.3M plus at least $100M from one insurer. In Chapter 11 since September 2023; no plan confirmed as of October 2026. |
Institutional Liability: Why the Real Money Is There
Individual abusers often have limited assets. Institutional defendants (churches, schools, organizations) have deep pockets AND legal liability for enabling abuse. Understanding institutional liability theories explains the massive recoveries.
Negligent hiring
Negligent hiring: Institution hired an abuser despite red flags (prior complaints, criminal history, industry warnings). Liable for inadequate background checks and ignoring references.
Negligent supervision
Negligent supervision: Institution failed to supervise the abuser appropriately given their role and contact with vulnerable populations. Applies to teachers, clergy, coaches, caregivers.
Negligent retention
Negligent retention: Institution kept the abuser on staff after learning of concerning behavior. This is the 'priest shuffle' theory — moving abusers between locations without action.
Respondeat superior
Respondeat superior: Employer is vicariously liable for employee acts committed in the course of employment. Narrower for intentional acts but still applies to many abuse scenarios.
Breach of fiduciary duty
Breach of fiduciary duty: Special relationships (clergy-parishioner, teacher-student, counselor-client) create heightened duties. Breach creates liability beyond negligence.
Fraudulent concealment
Fraudulent concealment: Institution actively hid the abuse from law enforcement, new victims, or parents. Often unlocks punitive damages and extends SOL (the clock starts from discovery of concealment).
Maryland Sexual Abuse Settlement FAQs
Is there really no statute of limitations in Maryland for childhood abuse?
Yes, correct. Md. CJP § 5-117 (the 2023 Maryland Child Victims Act) completely eliminated the SOL for civil childhood sexual abuse claims — both retroactively (reviving time-barred claims) and prospectively (no future deadline). The Maryland Supreme Court upheld this on February 3, 2025 by a narrow 4-3 vote in Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Doe. You can file at any age. However, if your claim was time-barred before October 1, 2023 and you file on or after June 1, 2025, lower caps apply — $700K private, $400K public. Revived claims filed before June 1, 2025 retain the higher original caps of $1.5M private / $890K public.
What are the current damage caps in Maryland sexual abuse cases?
For revived claims — abuse that would have been time-barred before October 1, 2023 — filed on or AFTER June 1, 2025: $700,000 per claimant for private defendants (churches, schools, employers), $400,000 per claimant for government entities (state agencies, county boards of education). These caps apply per-'claim' — one cap per claimant regardless of how many separate abuse incidents occurred. Revived claims filed BEFORE June 1, 2025: $1.5M private / $890K public. Claims that were never time-barred fall outside these revival caps (Maryland's general non-economic cap applies to private defendants; government liability is limited to $890,000 per claimant). Advocates have signaled constitutional challenges to the 2025 amendments; any appellate ruling restoring the higher caps would be a major development — consult an attorney to track the litigation status.
Can I still sue the Baltimore Archdiocese if it's in bankruptcy?
Yes, but the process runs through the federal bankruptcy court. The Archdiocese filed Chapter 11 on September 29, 2023. All civil claims against the Archdiocese are now channeled through the bankruptcy estate — individual state-court lawsuits are stayed. The Archdiocese's first plan (October 2025) offered $33 million from Catholic entities plus its insurance assets; a revised plan filed June 5, 2026 proposed $246 million, and the survivors' committee proposed $441.3 million plus at least $100 million from one insurer. No plan had been confirmed as of October 2026. You must file a proof of claim in the bankruptcy proceeding to preserve your rights — consult a bankruptcy attorney familiar with Chapter 11 survivor settlement processes.
How do the 2025 cap reductions affect my case value?
Significantly — for revived claims the caps were reduced roughly 50%+ across both private and public defendants. A revived claim (time-barred before October 2023) filed today against a private defendant is capped at $700K non-economic; against a state agency or county school system, at $400K. Economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages) are NOT capped and can still be recovered above these limits. Punitive damages in Maryland are narrowly available and subject to additional limitations. If your claim has significant economic damages (extensive therapy history, earnings impact), the cap matters less. If your claim is primarily pain-and-suffering-driven, the cap substantially limits recovery.
What about adult sexual abuse claims in Maryland?
The 2023 Maryland CVA did NOT extend adult SOL or create an adult revival window. For adult sexual abuse (18+ at time), the standard 3-year personal injury SOL under Md. CJP § 5-101 applies. Maryland courts recognize a discovery rule — the 3-year clock can be tolled until you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the injury and its connection to abuse. If you are past 3 years from the act but only recently connected psychological injury to the abuse, consult an attorney about discovery-rule tolling. Maryland is significantly less generous for adult survivors than California (10-year cover-up rule) or New York (20-year SOL).
Pending Legal Developments
Legal situation is evolving. As of October 2026:
- Advocates have signaled constitutional challenges to the 2025 cap reduction; we have not found an appellate ruling on it.
- MD Supreme Court upheld 2023 CVA on 4-3 NARROW majority. Further challenges possible on different grounds.
- The Baltimore Archdiocese bankruptcy is unresolved: the plans on file range from $246 million (Archdiocese, June 2026) to $441.3 million plus insurance (survivors' committee), and no amount has been approved.
- The 2025 caps ($700K private / $400K public) apply only to claims that were time-barred before October 1, 2023 and filed on or after June 1, 2025; over 3,800 lawsuits filed in April–May 2025, before the reduction, retain the higher original caps.
This page is informational only. Consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2023/courts-and-judicial-proceedings/title-5/subtitle-1/section-5-117
- marylandmatters.org/2025/02/03/court-rules-2023-child-victims-act-is-constitutional
- natlawreview.com/article/maryland-legislature-slashes-child-victims-act-damages-cap-more-50
- www.workforcebulletin.com/major-changes-to-the-maryland-child-victims-act-in-2025
- www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/archdiocese-maryland-sex-abuse-settlement-bankruptcy
Other State Sexual Abuse Calculators
California
3 revival windows (AB 218/2777/250)
New York
CVA + ASA + NYC GMVA (open Jul 2027)
New Jersey
Age-55 + 7-yr discovery rule
All States — Main Calculator
Nationwide settlement ranges + institutional liability overview
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Other Calculators for Maryland
Each Maryland calculator reflects state-specific laws (caps, statutes of limitations, comparative-negligence rules) and uses Maryland verdict data where available.
Sexual Abuse Settlement Calculators by State
Lookback windows and settlement ranges for survivors vary by state: