Baltimore County Sexual Abuse Lawyer

The Maryland legislature has passed, and the Governor has signed the Child Victims Act of 2023. This law removes the Statute of Limitations (SOL) impediment for civil lawsuits to be brought by minors of child sexual abuse. In 2017 Maryland amended the SOL to allow child sexual abuse victims until they turned 38 to file a lawsuit which was up from 25 years old. However, that law was not retroactive, and thousands of victims were left without a remedy. Prior to 2017, if the statute of limitations had already run (the victim was 25 before the law change), the child sexual abuse victims (victims that were minors at the time of the abuse) had until he or she turned 25 to bring a civil lawsuit against their abusers, institutions the abuser worked for and enablers. Even if the victim was unable to recall the abuse until later in adulthood, like in some jurisdictions, any minor that was abused before 2017 could not bring suit after they turned 25. Therefore, the abuser could not be held accountable civilly in Maryland. This allowed abusers, and institutions that hid the abusers or allowed for the abuse to continue such as the Boy Scouts, the Catholic Church, other religious institutions, medical facilities, etc. to avoid civil accountability. The new law, which received momentum after the Maryland Attorney General released the Attorney General’s Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore just a few days before the end of the legislative session, will finally allow victims of child sexual abuse to hold their abusers and others civilly responsible.

Sexual abuse also known as sexual assault, is the unwanted or non-consensual offensive touching. Any offensive sexual touching of a minor (under 18) by an adult (over 18), is non-consensual by law. So, whether there was a rape, oral sexual touching, masturbating, groping or rubbing by an adult, against a minor, the statute of limitations is now waived. Because the Statute of limitations is waived, for some back to a time when caps on non-economic damages did not exist, the new law provides for a $1.5 million cap for non-economic damages against private entities, such as daycare centers or the catholic church, and $890,000 for public entities such as local governments or school boards. The law goes into effect on October 1, 2023, and is retroactive.

The Law Offices of Markey and Orsi have been handling child and adult sexual child abuse cases for 35 years. Steve Markey’s first trial in January 1988, after being admitted to the bar in December 1987, was a jury trial in Anne Arundel County on behalf of a child victim. Steve’s client received a jury verdict and the homeowner’s carrier, on behalf of the abuser, was forced to pay. Since that time the Law Offices of Markey and Orsi have handled well over 100 cases for victims of sexual abuse by teachers, clergy, various churches, daycare centers, hospitals, residential treatment facilities and other medical facilities, doctors, psychologists, social workers, counselors, physical therapists, co-workers, family members and even a driving school instructor and school. They have also handled numerous peeping tom/nanny cam cases and physical abuse cases where there was no sexual motive. We recognize these heinous crimes inflict a great deal of physical and psychological harm on victims and often their families and significant others. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse and would like a free confidential consultation to learn your rights, in the Baltimore area or anywhere in the state contact us at 410-583-0755. Markey & Orsi is here to help. We will fight for the justice you deserve.

Sexual Abuse Lawyer | Fighting for Survivors in Maryland

Few things are more traumatic than being made a victim of sexual abuse in any capacity. That said, if you are a survivor, there is a path to justice, and a compassionate, highly-skilled sexual abuse lawyer from our legal team is here to guide you down that path. Depending on the circumstances of your specific case, you may file a claim against both the perpetrator of the abuse and any potential negligent third parties who could have stopped the abuse but didn’t.

Sexual Abuse Cases We Handle

Markey & Orsi handles all types of sexual abuse cases, including the following:

  • Clergy sexual abuse or assault
  • School sexual abuse or assault
  • Workplace sexual abuse or assault
  • Internet sexual abuse/internet sex crimes
  • Sexual abuse within youth sports
  • Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts sexual abuse
  • Rape
  • Child sexual abuse or assault
  • Doctor or medical provider sexual abuse or assault
  • Daycare sexual abuse or assault
  • Psychologist, psychiatrist, counselor sexual abuse or assault
  • Hospital or institution sexual abuse or assault

How Can Markey & Orsi Help Me?

Just some of the ways in which a dedicated Baltimore sexual abuse lawyer from Markey & Orsi can help you pursue justice and recovery for your suffering are as follows:

  • We will listen to your story and provide you with empathetic and confidential support
  • We will investigate your case and gather evidence to prove liability and the extent to which the incident(s) has impacted your life
  • We can file a lawsuit in civil court and represent you at trial if necessary
  • We will seek the maximum compensation available for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and any other damages you’ve incurred as a result of the incident(s)
  • We will guide you through what will be a difficult and emotional process

At Markey & Orsi, we are dedicated to helping survivors of sexual abuse reclaim their lives. We have the experience, knowledge, and resources needed to handle complex and sensitive cases involving sexual abuse. We understand coming forward to bring a claim is extremely difficult and will help you through the process. Most importantly, we care.

Maryland’s Child Victims Act

In April of 2023, Maryland passed the Child Victims Act. Now, thanks to the Act, anyone who was sexually abused as a child in Maryland can sue their abuser, regardless of when the act of abuse occurred. Importantly, government agencies can now only use the sovereign immunity defense for cases where the claim is more than $890,000 (in most other cases, they may use this defense for claims over $400,000). For non-government defendants, the maximum amount of non-economic damages is $1.5 million.

Contact the Law Offices of Markey & Orsi

If you or a loved one has been sexually abused by a Catholic Priest, Brother, other clergy or by anyone, please don’t hesitate to contact a sexual abuse lawyer from Markey & Orsi today for a free confidential consultation. We are here to give you a voice and hold the right parties accountable for their actions.

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