Maryland Sex Abuse Lawyer

April 22, 2025 – Charitable Immunity Nonsense

Survivors of child sexual abuse are locked in a legal battle with the Archdiocese of Baltimore, accusing church leaders of trying to shield substantial assets and avoid full accountability. The dispute stems from the archdiocese’s controversial claim that it can use a rarely invoked legal defense—the doctrine of charitable immunity—to limit victim compensation strictly to insurance funds, while preserving its own wealth.

The survivors’ committee, formally representing those harmed by decades of abuse and cover-ups, declared a partial impasse earlier this month. They argue that the archdiocese’s position is not only legally flawed but morally bankrupt, especially given the Church’s repeated public commitments to healing and justice for abuse victims.

Plaintiffs’ sex abuse lawyers are asking the bankruptcy judge to reject the archdiocese’s use of charitable immunity. Their legal argument is multifaceted:

• The Church’s own words and actions—asserting that victim support is part of its mission—render the defense invalid.

• The archdiocese filed for bankruptcy just days before Maryland’s Child Victims Act (CVA) took effect, a move seen as a deliberate attempt to evade accountability under the new law, which lifted the statute of limitations for abuse claims.

• The Church forfeited its right to claim charitable immunity by seeking bankruptcy protection and failing to meet the legal standard for being shielded by a charitable trust.

The archdiocese’s bankruptcy declaration revealed it controls between $100 million and $500 million in assets, while facing up to $1 billion in liability—a financial picture that further calls into question why victims should be denied access to church funds for compensation.

April 15, 2025 – Former SRO Accused of Sex Abuse in New Baltimore County Suit

Two former Dundalk Middle School students have filed suit alleging sexual abuse by James Blankenship Jr., a former school resource officer who was mentoring them in 2004–2005. The complaint, filed under Maryland’s Child Victims Act, also names the Baltimore County Board of Education for negligence in hiring and supervision. Blankenship is already a convicted sex offender.

April 7, 2025 – Maryland Lawmakers Pass Amendment to CVA Cutting Damages

If you are a survivor of institutional abuse—whether in juvenile facilities, churches, schools, or foster care—here is what you need to know:

• After June 1, 2025, the amount of compensation you can recover in a Maryland lawsuit will be cut nearly in half.
• If you were abused by someone tied to a state institution, the most you could recover drops from $890,000 to just $400,000.
• If the abuse occurred in a private institution—such as a Catholic church or private school—your cap falls from $1.5 million to $700,000.
• And here is the kicker: even if you were abused dozens of times, the new law says you are only entitled to that one capped payout. One predator, ten assaults, same cap.

There’s Still a Path Forward—But the Clock Is Ticking

If you file your claim before June 1, 2025, the original law still applies. That means you can seek up to $1.5 million if the abuse occurred in a church, private school, or youth organization.  You may pursue up to $890,000 if the institution was run by the state. Arguably, it also means you are not limited to one incident but that is a battle that will probably be found in the Maryland Supreme Court. Our lawyers believe these changes are wrong. We believe the legislature failed survivors. And we expect this law will be challenged in court.

But while we fight those battles, we also have to protect you right now. That means filing before the door partially closes.

April 4, 2025 – St. Agnes Catholic School Teacher Arrested and Charged with Clergy Sex Abuse

Baltimore County Police arrested former priest William “Father Bill” Mannion for multiple child sexual abuse crimes. He is accused of abusing a victim, beginning when they were 7, between 1991 and 1994 at St. Agnes Catholic School in Catonsville, Maryland. Mannion, 62, was taken into custody and charged with second-degree child abuse and multiple sex offenses. The Archdiocese of Baltimore stated it was unaware of these incidents and noted that Mannion had left the priesthood in the late 1990s to marry and start a family. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

April 3, 2025 – Maryland House Judiciary Committee Approves Dangerous Rollback Bill

On March 31, 2025, the Maryland House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 1378, a deeply troubling measure that would gut key protections in the 2023 Child Victims Act. If passed, the bill would slam the courthouse doors shut on survivors of childhood sexual abuse by barring all claims against the State or its agencies after January 1, 2026. But that is not the worst of it. This bill would slash the cap on non-economic damages from $890,000 to $400,000 for any case filed on or after June 1, 2025.

This would be a heartbreaking blow to survivors seeking accountability from state-run institutions like public schools, juvenile facilities, and treatment centers. Critics are calling it what it is: a calculated move to restore legal immunity to the same systems that enabled decades of abuse.

If this bill becomes law, it will be a disgraceful shield for institutions like the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, where countless children were abused under state watch. Just when survivors thought they finally had a fighting chance for justice, lawmakers are trying to pull the rug out from under them. A hard deadline, reduced compensation, and renewed immunity? That’s not reform—it is straight up betrayal. This is not about protecting kids; it is about protecting the state’s pocketbook at the expense of justice.

March 31, 2025 – Maryland Lawmakers Consider Amending CVA

It has been nearly a year and a half since the Maryland Child Victims Act (the “CVA”) took effect in October 2023. The CVA was a groundbreaking new law that completely lifted the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits based on child sexual abuse. What made the law unique was that it applied this retroactively, so victims of child sex abuse that occurred decades ago are now able to file lawsuits. Since the CVA took effect, around 3,500 victims have filed civil lawsuits against the state of Maryland and its various agencies for negligently failing to protect them from sexual abuse. Many of these cases have involved allegations of sexual abuse at Maryland juvenile detention centers.

The size of the potential liability from the growing volume of these cases is starting to concern many lawmakers in Maryland. Many of these lawmakers are now pushing to amend the CVA to reduce the cap on damages for claims against the state from $890,000 to $400,000. Another proposed bill would block any new claims against the state after the end of this year.

March 14, 2025 – Jennifer Road Detention Center Sex Assault Lawsuit

A federal court ruled on a lawsuit brought by a detainee at the Jennifer Road Detention Center. The victim alleges she was repeatedly sexually abused by correctional officers while housed in the facility’s mental health unit in 2022.

The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, claims that two officers engaged in coercive sexual misconduct, including forced nudity, digital penetration, and threats of solitary confinement. The lawsuit, filed against Anne Arundel County and its officials, argues that the abuse was blatant and captured on surveillance footage that was never properly monitored. Doe’s legal team filed claims under federal civil rights and Maryland state laws. Her lawsuit cites violations of her Eighth Amendment protections, as well as allegations of assault, battery, and negligent supervision.

The court sided with Anne Arundel County, dismissing claims against the county and its supervisors, ruling that the plaintiff did not establish sufficient evidence of institutional negligence under the legal standard set by Monell v. Department of Social Services. But the court rejected the officers’ attempt to dismiss the case, dismissing their claims that the encounters were consensual. As a result, the lawsuit will proceed against the two correctional officers, highlighting the legal hurdles in holding municipalities accountable while reaffirming that individual officers can still face legal consequences for civil rights violations. (Earlier in this case, the court reaffirmed the victim’s right to sue under a pseudonym instead of her real name.)

For Maryland sex abuse lawyers, this case underscores the ongoing challenges in holding municipalities accountable for institutional negligence under Monell, while reaffirming the viability of claims against individual perpetrators. The court’s decision to dismiss claims against Anne Arundel County highlights the evidentiary bar required to prove systemic failure. It should remind attorneys that these are not vicarious liability claims. We need to do thorough discovery into patterns of misconduct, prior complaints, and institutional oversight failures.

February 20, 2025 – Efforts to Limit Victims’ Rights Continue

A proposed bill will be discussed in the Maryland General Assembly today that seeks to impose a January 1, 2026, deadline for filing child sex abuse claims against the state, potentially undercutting the Child Victims Act of 2023. Delegate C.T. Wilson, once a champion for eliminating statutes of limitations, now argues that lawsuits against the state should not become a “financial windfall” for lawyers. Yet, his bill exempts private institutions, raising questions about why public entities should receive special protections when many victims suffered in state-run facilities like juvenile detention centers and foster care.

This move comes as Maryland faces over 4,000 claims with potential payouts of $3.5 to $7 billion, and the state appears more focused on limiting liability than delivering justice. Wilson insists each case should be scrutinized rather than settled, but imposing a sudden filing deadline creates unnecessary hurdles for survivors—many of whom have only recently found the courage to come forward. The bill feels like a betrayal of the survivors Wilson once fought for, protecting state institutions at the expense of accountability.

February 3, 2025 – The Biggest Possible Win for Victims

The Maryland Supreme Court’s ruling in Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. John Doe, et al. is the most significant legal victory for sex abuse survivors in Maryland history, affirming the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act of 2023. This decision allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to bring civil lawsuits against institutions and perpetrators, even if their claims were previously barred by the statute of limitations. It was a 4-3 decision, much closer than we expected.

That is all you really need to know. But let’s talk about the opinion. The court ruled that there is no vested right in an expired statute of limitations. The Court ruled that the expiration of a statute of limitations does not create a vested right for defendants to be free from liability. A statute of limitations is a procedural tool designed to encourage timely litigation but does not extinguish the underlying cause of action.

A big issue was whether this was a statute of limitations or a statute of repose. A statute of limitations limits the time a plaintiff has to file a lawsuit but does not eliminate the right to sue; the legislature can change it retroactively. A statute of repose, however, creates a substantive immunity, protecting defendants from liability after a legislatively defined period. The Court found that the prior 20-year filing limit for child sex abuse claims (established in 2017) was a statute of limitations, not a statute of repose, meaning the Child Victims Act of 2023 could legally revive previously time-barred claims.

So the rule that stands is the Child Victims Act eliminated all time restrictions for child sex abuse claims, allowing survivors to file lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred. This ruling solidifies Maryland as a leader in survivor rights, hopefully influencing similar legal challenges nationwide.

January 30, 2025 – Ravens Kicker Justin Tucker Accused of Sexual Assault

Baltimore Ravens’ beloved kicker Justin Tucker is facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior from six massage therapists in the Baltimore area, according to The Baltimore Banner.

These are not new incidents. The allegations include Tucker intentionally exposing himself by wiggling to remove sheets, brushing therapists with his genitals, and leaving ejaculate on massage tables. Two spa chains, Studio 921 and Ojas, confirmed they banned Tucker after receiving reports from staff. The therapists, who spoke anonymously, fear retaliation from the Ravens organization and fans—which is a sad commentary that I hope is incorrect. Tucker’s attorneys denied the allegations and directed The Banner to other massage therapists who vouched for him, though only four responded.

If you have been sexually assaulted by Justin Tucker as a massage therapist or in any other capacity, we would like to hear from you.

January 29, 2025 – Worrisome Opinion from Maine

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court just ruled yesterday that the state’s retroactive extension of the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims is unconstitutional, effectively barring claims that had previously expired. This is terrible news for victims there, which we hope is not foreshadowing what we get from the Maryland Supreme Court, which is expected to rule any day now.

The plaintiffs in this lawsuit, survivors of clergy abuse, had filed lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, seeking damages for abuse they endured as children. The Court ruled that the legislature’s 2021 amendment to the sex abuse statute of limitations that revived expired claims violated centuries of legal precedent, separation of powers, and constitutional protections under the Maine Declaration of Rights.

The gist of the opinion is that once the statute of limitations has expired, a defendant has a vested right to be free from suit, and any legislative attempt to retroactively revive those claims is impermissible. This is nonsense. As the dissent points out, there is “no such thing as a vested right to do wrong.” But that thinking sadly did not prevail.

For survivors of sexual abuse seeking justice in Maine, this ruling nullifies their ability to pursue legal action for decades-old abuse claims. In Maryland, where the Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on similar constitutional challenges to its recently passed Child Victims Act, plaintiffs and advocates are worried that Maine’s ruling could foreshadow a similar outcome. If Maryland’s high court follows Maine’s lead, it could strike down Maryland’s revival law, severely limiting survivors’ ability to hold institutions accountable for past abuses. Our lawyers do not think this will happen. But we would be lying if we said we were not worried.

January 14, 2025 – Foster Care Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Carroll County

A multimillion-dollar lawsuit has been filed against the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) and Carroll County Department of Social Services (DSS). The suit alleges that these agencies did not adequately protect three boys from years of sexual abuse by a foster parent, who is now serving a 50-year prison sentence for these crimes.

The claim highlights that despite multiple chances to identify the foster parents’ abusive behaviors, the agencies failed in their duty to ensure the safety and well-being of these children. The legal action seeks to address these systemic failures within the Maryland Foster Care System, advocating for necessary reforms to prevent future occurrences of such neglect.

January 4, 2025 – Montgomery County Teacher Sentenced for Sexual Abuse

A former Montgomery County Public Schools teacher at Montgomery Village Middle School and Lakelands Park Middle School received a 30-year prison sentence, with all but 12 months suspended, for sexual offenses against a 14-year-old student. Following her release, she will enter a five-year probation period and is required to register as a sex offender for 25 years. The teacher pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree sex offense. The investigation, initiated by a man who reported being sexually involved with the teacher when he was a minor, revealed the abuse began in 2015.

The question in terms of a sex abuse lawsuit against Montgomery County is whether the school system failed in its duty to protect students. This includes scrutinizing whether appropriate background checks were conducted, whether adequate supervision was enforced, and whether they ignored the obvious warning signs. If it is found that there were previous complaints or signs of inappropriate behavior that were ignored or not properly addressed, the school system can be held liable for its negligence in allowing such abuse to occur.

January 3, 2025 – 3rd Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against McDonogh School

The McDonogh School, a private school in Owings Mills, is now facing a third sexual abuse lawsuit filed under Maryland’s new Child Victims Act. The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff, a former student at the school, was sexually abused by former Dean of Students Alvin Joseph Levy and former teacher Robert Creed. The alleged abuse occurred in the 1980s.

The lawsuit accuses McDonogh School officials of knowing that Levya and Creed were sexual predators, but doing nothing to protect children at the school from them.

December 28, 2024 – Severna Park Elementary Sex Abuse Allegations

A judge in Anne Arundel County will review therapy notes of student victims in the child sex abuse case against former Severna Park Elementary School teacher Matthew Schlegel, as his defense argues “inconsistencies” in their accounts. Schlegel, indicted on 55 charges, allegedly abused eight children between 2022 and 2024. Prosecutors describe a disturbing pattern of grooming, with witnesses recalling him placing young girls on his lap, restricting their movement, and touching them inappropriately. His so-called “mental health surveys” are also under scrutiny as possible grooming tools.

Allowing the therapy notes of the alleged victims into evidence should make you squeamish. It is a dangerous precedent that would have a chilling effect on survivors coming forward in future cases. Defense attorneys often seek these records to attack credibility, rather than to uncover meaningful contradictions. Therapy is a space where victims process trauma—not where they prepare legal statements—and inconsistencies in those notes are expected and natural as memories surface over time.

Maryland courts should be very cautious in granting access to these records. While a judge reviewing them for relevance offers some protection, it still opens the door for aggressive cross-examinations that shift the focus away from the perpetrator and onto the victims. Prosecutors need to fight hard to limit the scope of any disclosures, ensuring that therapy remains a tool for healing, not a weapon for the defense. My guess is the judge will review these notes and make the right call.

November 22, 2024 – Baltimore Sex Trafficker Pleads Guilty

Kenika Leach has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, cocaine distribution, and receiving prostitution earnings. The plea, entered in the Circuit Court for Washington County before Judge Brett R. Wilson, marks a significant conclusion to a two-year investigation led by Attorney General Anthony G. Brown’s Organized Crime Unit.

The investigation began in December 2021 after a Baltimore hospital patient reported being trafficked by Leach from Hagerstown to Baltimore. Authorities uncovered that Leach and her accomplices trafficked at least 11 women across Maryland, including Baltimore and Anne Arundel County, forcing them into commercial sex acts. Many victims were coerced into prostitution under the guise of repaying “drug debts.” Payments were funneled directly to Leach through peer-to-peer payment apps.

The indictment revealed horrific control tactics by the now 33-year-old Leach employed to keep these women in line, including physical violence and psychological manipulation. Victims were reportedly forced to “get on the wall” during assaults to hide their faces and avoid visible injuries.

November 8, 2024 – Still Waiting for Decision from Maryland Supreme Court

The Maryland Supreme Court has yet to issue a ruling on a major appeal that will have a huge impact on the future of child sex abuse claims in Maryland, and on the push for new laws in other states eliminating the statute of limitations on these claims. At issue is whether the Maryland Child Victims Act (CVA), which took effect last year, violates the state constitution. The CVA eliminated all statute of limitations on child sex abuse lawsuits and retroactively revived claims that had been time-barred under prior law. The Maryland Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the first week of September, but no decision has been issued. The court typically issues opinions within 60 days so the decision could be coming very soon.

October 15, 2024 – Navigating a World Without a Statute of Limitations

In civil sex abuse lawsuits, the passage of time can be both a gift and a burden for plaintiffs. On one hand, time can empower survivors—allowing them to process their trauma, seek therapy, and build the emotional strength to come forward. For many, confronting abuse takes years or even decades, especially when it involves powerful institutions like churches, schools, or sports programs. The lifting of statutes of limitations in Maryland reflects the understanding that healing is not on a fixed schedule, and survivors should have the chance to pursue justice when they are ready.

But Maryland civil sex abuse lawyers also need to remember that time can also erode the sharp edges of memory. Key witnesses may be gone, records lost, and physical evidence long deteriorated, giving defense attorneys room to argue that the absence of proof makes the truth murky.

For plaintiffs’ attorneys, the challenge—that we are ready for—is to reconstruct what’s left from fragments, drawing patterns of misconduct, cover-ups, and institutional failings that span years. Yes, it is a little like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing. But when done right, the gaps tell a story just as powerful as what remains intact.

October 1, 2024 – Uber Sex Abuse Lawsuit

In a new Uber sexual assault lawsuit, a woman identified as Jane Roe CL 71 is suing Uber Technologies, Inc. and Rasier, LLC and Rasier-CA, LLC, for alleged sexual assault by an Uber driver. Rasier is a subsidiary of Uber, primarily used as a legal entity to manage and operate Uber’s ride-sharing business in specific regions.

The lawsuit, filed in the District of Maryland, alleges that the incident occurred on October 2, 2021, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, during a ride arranged through the Uber platform.

The plaintiff claims that Uber failed to implement adequate safety measures to prevent such assaults and did not adequately vet or monitor its drivers. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the harm suffered, as well as attorney’s fees and other related costs.

Why would a Maryland resident file a lawsuit in California for something that happened locally? Because the case is part of a more significant MDL class action lawsuit in the Northern District of California addressing all claims of sexual misconduct by Uber drivers in federal court. Our lawyers have a good number of these cases, and we believe they will have high settlement payouts.

September 24, 2024 – Principal Faces Criminal Charges for Not Reporting Rape Allegation

The former principal of Aberdeen Middle School, along with two other staff members at the school, have been arrested and criminally charged for waiting to report an alleged rape incident at the school to the police. Under Maryland law, the principal and staff members had an obligation to promptly report the rape allegation to the proper authorities.

September 11, 2024 – MD High Court Hears Arguments on CVA Law

The Maryland Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in a crucial case determining the constitutionality of the state’s new Child Victims Act (CVA). This significant law retroactively eliminated the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits involving child sexual abuse, allowing thousands of survivors to pursue legal action, even many years after the abuse. The law’s enactment had far-reaching consequences, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s decision to file for bankruptcy.

August 23, 2024 – Priest Abuse Settlement Closer

The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy case is moving towards mediation after attorneys for the church, its insurers, and a sex abuse survivors committee reached a tentative agreement on negotiation terms.

This agreement, pending client approval, includes possibly dropping the archdiocese’s breach-of-contract lawsuit against its insurers, with survivors having a role if it’s refiled. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle M. Harner commended the progress involving independent mediators negotiating settlements for survivor claims and a reorganization plan.

July 16, 2024 – New Baltimore Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed in Federal Court

In a new lawsuit filed in the District of Maryland, a man alleges that he was sexually abused by now deceased Reverend John S. Danilak while he was a minor parishioner at St. Gregory of Nyssa Byzantine Catholic Church in Beltsville, Maryland, between 1981 and 1983.

The complaint claims that the Eparchy of Passaic, which supervised the church, was aware of Rev. Danilak’s history of sexually abusing minors but failed to take action to protect the plaintiff and other children from abuse. Instead, the Eparchy allegedly transferred Rev. Danilak to other parishes, concealing his conduct.

June 28, 2024 – Maryland Supreme Court Hearing Likely in September

As most of you know, churches are questioning the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act of 2023, which removed the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse victims to file lawsuits. The anticipated constitutionality challenge to this act will be addressed in oral arguments in the Maryland Supreme Court in September 2024. The question is this: “Does the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 constitute an impermissible abrogation of a vested right in violation of Article 24 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights and/or Article III, Section 40 of the Maryland Constitution?”

What does this mean? Defendants in sex abuse cases argue that retroactively applying the Maryland Child Victims Act to revive claims that had expired under previous statutes of limitations violates due process under Maryland’s Declaration of Rights. They contend that these claims cannot be revived by the recent amendments to § 5-117(b) and that doing so would violate the Maryland Constitution.

I get the argument. But it is dead wrong. It does not make sense to say that the Maryland General Assembly has no authority to enact and modify statutes of limitation. There is precedent. The Maryland Supreme Court has consistently recognized that statutes of limitations reflect legislative policy about the reasonable time needed to initiate a lawsuit and are subject to legislative changes.

There is also this beef about it being retroactive because someone who was in the clear for molesting a child or negligently allowing a child to be molested was at one point in the clear and now can be held accountable. First, think about the insanity of making that argument.

Once you digest that, understand that Maryland courts have long held that the legislature can retroactively change procedural laws, including statutes of limitations, as long as the new law provides a reasonable time for existing rights to be asserted, procedural statutes, including those altering limitation periods, do not create vested rights. Our attorneys anticipate that the Maryland Supreme Court will uphold this view in its ruling, which we think will come down in 2025.

Our law firm is also accepting new detention center sex abuse lawsuits. Those are a different animal. Those cases will move forward regardless of the outcome of the constitutional question. The state retains the authority to grant victims the right to sue the state.

June 27, 2024 – New Clergy Abuse Lawsuit

A 74-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a Catholic order based in Delaware, alleging that she was sexually abused by an Oblate priest more than 60 years ago on Maryland’s Eastern Shore when she was just ten years old.

The lawsuit claims the abuse occurred at Our Mother of Sorrows Church in Centreville, where she and another girl were allegedly assaulted by the priest in his room after being invited to help count the Sunday offering money. Plaintiffs’ lawyers argue in this lawsuit – like all clergy abuse claims – that Oblates of St. Francis de Sales negligently supervised Mahoney and concealed his history of abuse, thereby allowing him to continue to harm children in multiple locations, including Maryland.

June 10, 2024 – Maryland Clergy Abuse Lawsuit Filed in Delaware State Court

In a new lawsuit filed in Delaware state court, a woman alleges that she was sexually abused by a Catholic priest, Reverend George A. Mahoney, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 1960.

The case, based on Maryland’s Child Victims Act of 2023, is being pursued in Delaware because one of the defendants, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, is incorporated in Delaware. This provides the Delaware court with personal jurisdiction over the defendant, as the corporate defendant’s presence in the state creates a legal basis for filing the case there.

This lawsuit claims that the Delaware-incorporated Oblates negligently supervised Mahoney and concealed his history of abuse, thereby allowing him to continue to harm children in multiple locations, including Maryland.

June 4, 2024 – Hotel Sex Trafficking Lawsuits

Kanika Danielle Leach, 33, from Baltimore, was indicted by a Washington County grand jury on 135 counts. The indictment follows a comprehensive two-year investigation led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, revealing Leach’s involvement in trafficking at least 11 women from Hagerstown, Maryland, to various hotels and motels across Maryland for commercial sex acts.

Charges listed in the indictment encompass managing a criminal organization and conspiring to commit sex trafficking through force, threat, coercion, or fraud.

There is a strong likelihood that the hotels involved will see lawsuits from these 11 women. What is the likelihood that no one saw something suspicious given the apparent scope of this operation?

May 15, 2024 – Lawsuit Alleges Abuse By McDonogh School Dean

In a new school sex abuse lawsuit in federal court in Baltimore, a former McDonogh School student alleges gross negligence and complicity in enabling abuse by the school’s former dean of students four decades ago. The plaintiff describes multiple incidents of assault by the dean, who exploited his authority and the plaintiff’s vulnerability as a boarding student.

The allegations in this lawsuit are very typical. The dean would intimidate the plaintiff by threatening expulsion, presumably to make him more vulnerable and easier to victimize. He orchestrated the ransacking of the plaintiff’s dorm room while the plaintiff was in class and subjected him to discriminatory discipline, such as curtailing his free time and requiring him to be in his room earlier than other students.

The lawsuit contends that the dean’s predatory behavior was an open secret long before the plaintiff’s enrollment, but McDonogh chose to cover up the sexual misconduct rather than remove him. Despite numerous reports and knowledge of the dean’s inappropriate conduct with male students, the suit alleges that the school’s administration and board allowed him to remain in his position, failing to protect the plaintiff and other students.

Levy died before he could face charges.

In 2019, McDonogh, to its credit, hired a law firm that conducted an investigation of similar allegations. It found that this man had sexually assaulted multiple children at the school.

May 9, 2024 – AOB Suing Insurance Companies for Coverage

All over the country, insurance companies are looking for ways to avoid paying on sex abuse lawsuits. Now we are seeing this same pattern play out in Maryland.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has initiated a lawsuit against several insurance companies in bankruptcy court, seeking coverage for a multitude of child sex abuse claims.

The lawsuit complaint accuses the insurers of breaching their contractual obligations by failing to provide the promised coverage under various policies that extend back to 1956. This lawsuit reflects a similar legal approach taken by other dioceses facing challenges with insurers over the coverage of legacy abuse claims.

May 7, 2024 – Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse at Anne Arundel Detention Center

A woman has filed a lawsuit against Anne Arundel County, Maryland, its officials, and several correctional officers, following multiple sexual assaults and harassments she endured at the Jennifer Road Detention Center during her detention in 2022.

The lawsuit asserts that these assaults by officers Joseph Oluwafemi Osiberu and Tajudeen Olarotimi Durodoye, who have both pleaded guilty, were not isolated incidents but resulted from systemic failures within the county’s Department of Detention Facilities to adhere to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and other safety protocols.

The complaint includes claims under the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the Maryland Constitution, and state law, arguing that the defendants’ actions and the facility’s negligent policies directly violated her rights to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Her correctional center sex abuse lawsuit hones in on the county’s failures in training, supervision, and policy implementation that made these abuses possible and criticizes the county’s zero-tolerance sexual assault policy as ineffective, given the circumstances.

She has also filed a motion to proceed using the pseudonym “Jane Doe” and to seal documents revealing her identity. Judge Julie R. Rubin approved this motion based on several factors, primarily focusing on the sensitive and personal nature of the allegations, which involve repeated sexual assaults and harassment by correctional officers while Doe was detained at the Jennifer Road Detention Center.

April 12, 2024 – Abuse Lawsuit Against Good Shepherd Services

Numerous individuals have filed two separate lawsuits claiming they suffered child sexual abuse at Good Shepherd Services, a Maryland residential program for youth that closed in 2017 due to similar allegations. The lawsuits detail alleged abuses spanning decades at the behavioral health treatment center, once operated by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, a Catholic religious order. The claims involve sedation of victims to inhibit resistance, bribes with food and gifts, and threats of violence. Plaintiffs include women alleging abuse by nuns and priests at the center.

The lawsuits target the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health for failing to oversee the facility adequately. Despite the serious allegations, the religious order is not named in the lawsuits.

State agencies emphasized their commitment to child safety in response, although they hadn’t been served with the lawsuits at the time of their statement. The legal actions follow Maryland’s removal of the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse cases last year, prompting a wave of new allegations, particularly focusing on the juvenile justice system.

April 11, 2024 – Sex Abuse Survivors Tell Stories in Court

Childhood sexual abuse survivors shared their harrowing experiences directly with Archbishop William E. Lori in court, as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy proceedings.

The session, held by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle M. Harner, aimed to provide survivors a voice, particularly significant after the archdiocese’s bankruptcy filing preempted the enactment of Maryland’s Child Victims Act. This law would have allowed survivors to sue regardless of when the abuse occurred. Still, the bankruptcy declaration forced claims into bankruptcy court instead, denying survivors a traditional day in court. Survivors, including Teresa F. Lancaster whose abuse by Joseph Maskell was highlighted in the Netflix series “The Keepers,” recounted their stories of prolonged abuse and its lasting effects.

Archbishop Lori expressed apologies. None of this abuse falls on him. But he did, admittedly, make a huge mistake in orchestrating the exclusion of the names of 11 bishops and cardinals from a report submitted to the Vatican that centered on claims of sexual harassment directed at seminarians and young priests. So with the decision to file for bankruptcy and the ongoing legal battles over the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act, many victims do not feel the Church has their back even now.

April 2, 2024 – Montgomery County Judge Rules CVA Invalid

A Montgomery County judge in Maryland has ruled the Child Victims Act, a law enacted in April 2023 to remove the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits related to child sexual abuse, as unconstitutional. This ruling sounds awful to the cause of victims who are bringing sex abuse lawsuits under the new Maryland law. But it is not as bad as it sounds, as we will explain in a moment.

The ruling came in a case where the Archdiocese of Washington was sued for alleged child sex abuse. The archdiocese’s defense argued that the law’s removal of time limits for filing such lawsuits violated Maryland’s Constitution and Declaration of Rights, citing a “vested right” for defendants after a victim turned 38. The judge agreed and dismissed the lawsuit.

This is upsetting, but, at the end of the day, it means nothing. This decision contrasts with rulings in Prince George’s and Harford Counties, where the law was deemed constitutional. But none of that particularly matters either. The question of the constitutionality of the new Maryland sex abuse statute of limitations will be decided by the Supreme Court of Maryland.

March 30, 2024 – Dismissal of School Sex Abuse Case in Harford County Denied

The Harford County Board of Education attempted to dismiss a lawsuit from a former student, identified as John Doe, who alleges he was sexually abused by two school employees in the 1980s and 1990s at Deerfield Elementary and Edgewood High School.

All defendants are filing these motions, arguing the constitutionality of Maryland’s 2023 law that lifted the statute of limitations for survivors of child sex abuse to sue their perpetrators. So this is nothing out of the ordinary. Then things get… out of the ordinary.

The school board’s attorneys argued that the victim might share responsibility for the abuse, suggesting that an “ordinarily prudent minor” should understand the risks of engaging in sexual conduct with an adult. This might be the single dumbest and the single most awful legal argument ever, all wrapped up in one argument. The court dismissed the board’s constitutional challenge and, of course, this ridiculous argument.

March 20, 2024 – Good Shepherd Services Abuse Lawsuit

Twenty-six women have initiated a lawsuit against three Maryland state agencies, accusing them of placing them in a facility where they were subjected to sexual abuse during their childhood.

This legal action, filed in Baltimore Circuit Court, centers around the allegations that despite knowing about the abuse at Good Shepherd Services, a residential treatment center, the state’s departments responsible for juvenile services, human services, and health continued to send vulnerable children there.

The plaintiffs, whose ages range from 23 to 55, report abuse dating back as far as four decades to as recent as 2017, involving staff members exploiting their positions to abuse the residents. The lawsuit highlights the severe implications of this neglect, including lifelong trauma and difficulties in forming relationships, as well as financial burdens due to the need for ongoing medical and psychological care.

March 16, 2024 – PG County Circuit Court Upholds CVA

A big win yesterday. Prince George’s County Judge Robin D. Gill Bright ruled the 2023 Child Victims Act constitutional, marking a win for sexual abuse survivors in Maryland. The law allows survivors to file lawsuits regardless of when the abuse occurred. As we have said, this is not over until the Maryland Supreme Court rules. But this is a significant step forward.

February 28, 2024 – First Challenge to CVA Brought

This week marks the first court challenge to the constitutionality of Maryland’s Child Victims Act. Again, this legislation permits those who suffered child sexual abuse to sue their abusers, eliminating previous time limits. Since becoming effective on October 1, a wave of lawsuits has emerged against entities with allegations of authority figures committing sexual abuse. The law’s constitutionality is being questioned in at least eight instances, prompting hearings to determine its validity.

One key hearing is against the Archdiocese of Washington in Prince George’s County Circuit Court, centering on accusations of widespread abuse by church officials. No matter how Judge Robin D. Gill Bright rules, the ultimate decision will be made by the Supreme Court of Maryland. A central point of contention is a 2017 statute that capped the age for filing claims at 38, which the defendants claim provided them immunity from lawsuits filed after that age.

However, the 2023 Child Victims Act nullifies these age limitations, sparking debates on its legality. Plaintiffs’ sex abuse lawyers in Maryland firmly maintain that the legislature can amend statutes of repose, a stance backed by the Maryland Attorney General in support of the Act’s constitutionality.

December 12, 2023 – Lawyers Gear Up to Defend CVA

Attorneys in Maryland specializing in sex abuse cases are preparing to staunchly defend the Child Victims Act, a crucial law we have long anticipated would face challenges. As expected, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is contesting the validity of lawsuits filed in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, questioning the constitutionality of the act in their bid to have these clergy sexual abuse lawsuits dismissed.

At the heart of this dispute is the 2017 statute of repose enacted by the Maryland General Assembly, which the church claims grants an irrevocable right, barring legal claims after a set period post the last related action or occurrence, regardless of when the harm was discovered. Our Maryland sex abuse lawyers think this argument is fundamentally flawed.

The Maryland legislature, having established this rule, also possesses the authority to amend it, right? The decision to dismiss these cases currently rests with the trial judges. While a favorable ruling at this level is of course desirable, the ultimate decision is expected to be made by the Maryland Supreme Court. Our legal team believes the Supreme Court is unlikely to invalidate the statute.

November 15, 2023 – Baltimore Priest Forced to Leave

The Catholic community in Baltimore is facing the closure of a church following the ousting of its head pastor, Father Paschal Morlino, due to a sex assault claim. The Archdiocese of Baltimore declared that the church, served by Father Morlino for almost four decades, would cease most of its operations from November 15.

This follows a 2018 accusation that Morlino sexually harassed an adult congregant who has since passed away in 2020. Although Morlino settled the complaint with an undisclosed payment, his departure has left the parish without a leader, prompting the joint decision for closure by the Archdiocese and the church’s managing body, Saint Vincent Archabbey.

The Archdiocese’s statement expressed regret and offered assistance to parishioners for transitioning to nearby churches for continued Catholic services. Despite this, the church’s community programs will persist under the stewardship of the Benedictines.

This shutdown in the latest punch amid an influx of child sex abuse lawsuits due to a change in Maryland’s new law allowing for unlimited filing times for such cases. The Archdiocese, as we discuss below, is seeking bankruptcy protection in September, with the new sexual assault statute of limitations law in Maryland cited as a major reason.

November 11, 2023 – New Lawsuit Against Key School

In a new lawsuit filed in the District of Maryland, a woman has sued The Key School, Incorporated and its related entity for sexual abuse that allegedly occurred while she was a student in the 1970s.

The lawsuit claims that teachers at The Key School sexually abused the plaintiff and other students as part of a systemic culture of abuse that spanned decades. The suit alleges that the school’s administrators, faculty, and board members were aware of the abuse but chose to remain silent. She seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the severe emotional, physical, and psychological trauma she endured as a result of the abuse and the school’s failure to protect her.

In January 2019, the Baltimore law firm of Kramon & Graham issued a report to the Key School Board of Trustees that revealed at least 10 adults had sexually assaulted at least 16 children over three decades. The report also stated that faculty, staff, administrators, and Board members were aware of the abuse and chose to remain silent rather than report or address the situation.

October 20, 2023 – Abuse Lawsuit Under CVA Filed

A Maryland woman has launched a lawsuit against St. Clement Parish in Baltimore, alleging she was subjected to sexual and psychological abuse by a priest during her youth. This legal action leverages the newly enacted Child Victims Act in Maryland, which eliminates the statute of limitations for civil claims against institutions related to minor sexual abuse cases.

The case gains its foundation from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office’s extensive investigation into the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which revealed a shocking history of abuse and cover-up spanning eight decades. The investigation identified over 600 child victims and implicated more than 156 clergy members in the abuse scandal.

The plaintiff, now 68, is seeking justice and accountability for the abuse she claims to have suffered at the hands of a priest at her parish school, St. Clement’s of Lansdowne. Her lawsuit accuses the parish and its school of negligence in their employment, training, and retention of Maskell, highlighting a failure to protect students under their care.

October 9, 2023 – Archdiocese of Baltimore Files Bankruptcy

The new Maryland law lifting the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse took effect on October 1st. The Archdiocese of Baltimore was expected to be a significant target in the anticipated wave of lawsuits that would get filed this week. In a preemptive strike, however, the diocese filed bankruptcy last week. The bankruptcy blocks all civil lawsuits and eventually forces abuse victims to seek compensation under a bankruptcy trust fund.

September 30, 2023 – New CVA Law Takes Effect Soon

Next week, the new Maryland law lifting the statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims will take effect, and hundreds of lawsuits are expected to be filed. The Archdiocese of Baltimore (AOB) will be the primary target of these lawsuits. It is becoming increasingly likely that the AOB will file for bankruptcy to help limit its potential liability in these cases.

The AOB has a checked history of hiding assets to protect itself from potential liability. A recent article in the Baltimore Sun details how the AOB has previously transferred assets and deeded properties away to protect them from possible creditors. Other churches and organizations (such as the Boy Scouts) have also used bankruptcy to help protect them from a wave of child sex abuse liability. If the AOB files for bankruptcy, it doesn’t mean victims will get nothing. However, victims will likely get less compensation than they would otherwise, and their search for justice will be delayed.

September 27, 2023 – New AOG Report on Clergy Abuse

This week, the Maryland Attorney General’s office released a new version of the investigation report detailing decades of child sexual abuse and coverups within the Baltimore Catholic Church. This new version of the report had fewer redacted names of the accused abusers. However, the names of 5 critical officials within the Archdiocese remain redacted because they are appealing the decision to allow their names to be released. There is no question that this fuels more clergy abuse lawsuits in Maryland.

September 15, 2023 – Archdiocese of Baltimore Considering Bankruptcy

Earlier this week, the Archdiocese of Baltimore admitted that it is considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy as one option for dealing with the mounting tide of child sex abuse liabilities. On October 1^st of this year, the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 goes into effect, eliminating the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits for clergy sexual abuse. The Baltimore Archdiocese is expecting to face hundreds, possibly thousands of civil claims by sex abuse victims under the new law.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy is a tool other churches have utilized in clergy abuse lawsuits around the country, and it is likely coming to Baltimore. It does not mean that victims will not get compensation. The bankruptcy court would establish and supervise a victim’s trust fund. Victims would submit claims and be awarded compensation from the fund.

August 15, 2023 – Court Orders Release of Priest Names in Sex Abuse Report

A court order in Baltimore has approved the unveiling of the majority of the concealed identities in a report detailing the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s history of child abuse as the pressure for more transparency heats up.

According to the recently disclosed court records, 43 out of 46 obscured names are set to be made public. Before the attorney general’s office releases an unredacted version of the report, those named will have the chance to challenge the decision. Challenge based on what? Who knows? But previous proceedings occurred privately.

The Baltimore Sun had previously identified some individuals, which caused a stir and led to resignations and reassignments. The newspaper also highlighted ten alleged abusers in its articles. One key individual, former Rev. Joseph F. O’Brien, remains anonymous in the report because he wasn’t informed about his presence in the report, which is utter nonsense.

The 463-page report by the attorney general outlines how, over the 20th century, 156 church staff members abused at least 600 minors and young adults. Just awful. And it understates the scope of the abuse. But the report is even worse because it is not just the bad guys who are at fault. The report also underscores the allegation that Baltimore sex abuse lawyers have been making for years: the Catholic Church made extensive efforts to conceal these heinous crimes.

Some abuse survivors have commented on the redactions in the report, equating them to the Church’s previous attempts at concealment. They are not equal, but it is easy to see their point. Yes, the Archdiocese of Baltimore had agreed to make the report public following the completion of the attorney general’s four-year inquiry. But it also supported some employees and clergy members who contested their inclusion in the report. This report primarily draws from the church’s records, procured through a grand jury subpoena.