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MARYLAND SEXUAL ABUSE LAWSUITS
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Levy Konigsberg is dedicated to protecting the rights of sexual abuse survivors nationwide, including those in Maryland.
If you were sexually abused as a child, new legislation in Maryland could give you the opportunity to demand justice and compensation through a civil claim, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
It would be our honor to help you explore your legal options and hold the perpetrator and any organization that enabled them accountable for such inexcusable wrongdoing.
Why should you trust Levy Konigsberg with your case?
- Success: We have recovered more than $3 billion in compensation for past clients, including tens of millions of dollars secured for sexual abuse clients.
- Recognition: We have been featured on major newscasts and publications for our successful handling of complex and record-breaking lawsuits.
- Reputation: We are trusted by countless legal peers and former clients nationwide to handle difficult, sensitive cases like those involving sexual abuse.
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Filing Civil Suits Against Powerful Institutions
Now that the Child Victims Act is Law, Levy Konigsberg is helping a growing number of child sexual abuse survivors across Maryland explore their options for pursuing justice and compensation. Currently, our firm is representing numerous clients in claims involving:
- Maryland juvenile detention center sexual abuse. Juvenile detention facilities across Maryland have been identified as having some of the highest rates of staff-on-inmate sexual victimization. Now, Levy Konigsberg is helping former youth inmates seek justice under the Child Victims Act for the harms they suffered years or decades ago.
- Maryland school sexual abuse. Our firm is leveraging the Child Victims Act to represent survivors who were sexually abused by teachers and faculty as public and private schools across Maryland in claims brought against school districts and other responsible entities.
- Maryland clergy sexual abuse. Maryland’s legacy of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church has been documented by years of high-profile investigations, internal record releases, and legal filings. This includes a landmark report released by the Maryland Attorney General, and a recent update in June 2023 by the Baltimore Archdiocese that added dozens of new names of credibly accused priests to public lists. These sources have revealed reports of sexual abuse committed by priests and other clergy members dating back decades, as well as evidence that shows Church leadership overwhelmingly failed to protect children by engaging in a systemic cover up.
- Maryland doctor sexual abuse. Levy Konigsberg has represented many survivors who were sexually abused by physicians and other medical professionals in cases brought against hospitals, medical systems, and other facilities that employed abusive doctors. Some examples of high-profile child sexual abuse cases involving Maryland physicians:
- In 2019, Dr. Ernesto Cesar Torres, a former pediatrician from Frederick, was arrested in connection to numerous charges of sexual abuse and assault committed against teen and minor patients between July 2002 and April 2019. At the time that Torres was declared incompetent to stand trial in July 2021, he was facing nearly 100 counts of sexual offenses involving nearly two dozen victims. Authorities suspect there may be other victims.
- In 2014, Dr. Leslie Boyd Altstatt, a pediatrician who worked at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center from the mid-1960s to early 1980s, was arrested on 11 counts of child sex crimes involving repeated abuse committed against three female relatives between 1964 and 1996.
In addition to representing survivors sexually abused in Maryland schools and youth detention centers, Levy Konigsberg is available to speak with survivors who were abused in other settings. With a legacy of litigating high-stakes sexual abuse suits against powerful defendants, we have the experience and resources to help survivors in all types of claims.
We specialize in sexual abuse lawsuits against powerful institutions. These include government entities (such as prisons, schools, and juvenile detention / juvenile treatment centers), technology companies, and clergy.
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We work on contingency, which means there’s no cost to hire and no fee unless we win.
Who Can You Sue in a Sex Abuse Civil Case?
In a sex abuse civil case, the parties you might sue can vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse and the relationships involved.
Some potential parties that could be sued in a sex abuse civil case include:
- Individual Perpetrator: The alleged perpetrator of the sexual abuse can be named as a defendant in the lawsuit. This is often the person who directly committed the abusive acts.
- Institutions and Organizations: If the abuse occurred within an institution or organization, such as a school, church, sports club, or workplace, and they failed to take appropriate action to prevent or address the abuse, they might also be held liable.
- Employers: If the perpetrator was an employee of an organization or institution, the employer might be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employee if the abuse occurred within the scope of their employment.
- Property Owners: If the abuse occurred on a property owned by someone else, and the property owner failed to provide adequate security or take reasonable steps to prevent the abuse, they might be considered liable.
- Government Entities: In some cases, government entities might be involved, especially if the abuse occurred within a state institution or facility. Suing a government entity might involve specific procedures and limitations.
Sex abuse cases can be legally complex, so it's highly advisable to consult with experienced legal professionals who specialize in this area to understand your options and pursue the appropriate legal action. Levy Konigsberg, along with our team of sexual abuse lawyers, is available to provide assistance for your sexual abuse case.
Maryland Sexual Abuse Attorneys
Maryland has been a frontrunner in passing legislation that greatly expands the rights of sexual abuse survivors – and especially survivors of child sexual abuse.
Thanks to the Child Victims Act, which was signed into law in April 2023 by Governor Wes Moore, survivors who were sexually abused as minors in Maryland now have unprecedented opportunities to pursue justice against their abusers and any institutions that failed to protect them.
Here are some key details about Child Victims Act of 2023:
- The CVA eliminates the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits based on child sexual abuse, which means that there is no deadline by which survivors must initiate legal action.
- The CVA creates an unlimited lookback period that allows child sexual abuse survivors to file lawsuits over abuse that occurred at any time in the past, even if such claims were barred by the previous statute of limitations.
The Child Victims Act went into effect on October 1, 2023, and prison and juvenile detention systems with long histories of child sexual abuse are seeing a growing number claims brought by survivors abused years and decades ago.
While Maryland has significantly revised state laws regarding the statute of limitations for civil suits brought by child sexual abuse laws, it has not done so for claims brought by adult survivors.
Under Maryland state law, if the victim was an adult at the time of the abuse, the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit is 3 years from the date of the abuse – no matter if the claim if brought against the alleged abuse or an institution.
Given the 3-year statute of limitations for adult sexual abuse lawsuits, it is advised that survivors with potential claims seek legal counsel as soon as possible.
We Represent Survivors in All Types of Sex Abuse Claims
Trust Levy Konigsberg's Legal Team for Proven Results in Sexual Abuse and Negligence Cases
Levy Konigsberg LLP, a nationally recognized law firm, has built a legacy over three decades, recovering over $3 billion in sexual abuse compensation for clients. Led by award-winning sexual abuse lawyers, we specialize in representing survivors in sexual abuse across the country, taking on powerful institutions. Our top-rated trial practice handles all types of sexual abuse or negligence cases, showcasing numerous testimonials and successful case results.