Thousands of Lawsuits Filed Under Maryland Child Victims Act
Over 3,800 sex abuse lawsuits filed against Maryland DJS facilities, with the majority involving Charles H. Hickey Jr. School. State facing estimated $2.7 billion in potential liability.
Summary
Over 3,800 sexual abuse lawsuits have been filed against Maryland Department of Juvenile Services facilities, primarily targeting the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, following the 2023 Maryland Child Victims Act that removed statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases. The state faces an estimated $2.7 billion in potential liability from the lawsuits, which allege decades of systemic abuse and institutional negligence at the juvenile detention facilities.
Over 3,800 sex abuse lawsuits filed against Maryland DJS facilities, with the majority involving Charles H. Hickey Jr. School. State facing estimated $2.7 billion in potential liability.
Following the passage of the Maryland Child Victims Act in 2023, which eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse lawsuits, thousands of survivors have come forward. The Hickey School is named in more cases than any other facility. The lawsuits allege decades of systemic abuse and institutional negligence.