In an advice letter last month, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) wrote that he can “in good faith defend the legislation should it be challenged in court.” “I’m absolutely convinced that this bill is unconstitutional and will be so held by the Maryland Supreme Court,” he said. Chris West (R-Baltimore County) was the only senator on the committee to vote against the bill. They just need to do what they thought was right from a public policy perspective.” didn’t have to figure out the constitutional question. “I don’t know that I shocked them, instead, maybe brought them to a level of comfort that they understand now. “I think the overarching thing is nobody even understood what a statute of repose even was, how there could even be one in cases of child sexual assault,” she said. Kathleen Hoke, a University of Maryland professor who explained the legal concept of a statute of repose to lawmakers in January, hugged and cried with Lorenz and other supporters and survivors in the committee lobby Friday. However, lawmakers have debated since 2019 whether it would be unconstitutional to repeal a statute of repose, which had been included in the law passed two years prior. Legislation first passed in 2017 to increase the age limit by which victims of child sexual abuse needed to file claims from 25 to 38. Smith said the bill could come to the Senate floor for debate early next week. “I’m glad we’re able to provide this as a chance for access to justice for the survivors that have been denied so far.” He’s been leading this effort for years,” Smith said. Wilson because he’s been working with me on this. Wilson (D-Charles), who pushed legislation in the House of Delegates for several years, for sponsoring the bills on behalf of survivors. Lorenz and other advocates praised Smith and Del. An amendment approved Thursday, Smith said, removes the cap for economic damages like therapy or medical treatment. The liability limit for a single plaintiff increases to $1.5 million for claims against private institutions for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Smith said the changed was made to confirm with police reform legislation passed two years ago. (D-Montgomery), who chairs the committee, would allow a victim to file a suit “at any time.” A few amendments were approved Thursday that include a liability cap at $890,000 against public institutions such as school boards, which was originally $850,000 in the bill. “This will give survivors, vindication, validation, they get to tell their story.” I know three of them who…passed away,” said Lorenz, the Maryland director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, also called SNAP. I have watched people come up here and testify. “I don’t get benefit from this bill one bit because my abuse took place in Kentucky. Lorenz, who pushed to get this legislation passed for 15 years, suffered abuse as a teenager when he attended a private school in Kentucky. That’s because the committee voted 10-1 on Friday to advance a bill that would retroactively, as well as prospectively, repeal statutes of limitation on lawsuits by plaintiffs who claim they suffered child sexual abuse. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Īs each Maryland senator with the Judicial Proceedings Committee cast their yes vote, David Lorenz cried and embraced his wife, Judy. This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Business & Finance Click to expand menu.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |