The Andres Lopez Law Firm just secured a $3 million judgment under Maryland’s Child Victims Act. I want to tell you about this case because it shows what’s possible when survivors of childhood sexual abuse decide to come forward. This wasn’t just about winning money. It was about holding people accountable. Both the abuser and the institution that let it happen.
Understanding Maryland’s Child Victims Act
Maryland passed this law because it recognized something important. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often can’t come forward right away. Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes decades. There’s no shame in that, trauma doesn’t work on a legal timeline. The Child Victims Act extends the window for filing civil lawsuits. It gives survivors the time they need to process what happened to them before they’re forced into a courtroom. And when they’re ready, the law allows them to go after:
- The person who abused them
- Any institution that knew about the abuse and did nothing
- Organizations that should have protected them but failed
You can’t rush healing. This law recognizes that reality and gives survivors control over when they seek justice.
The Significance Of This Case Result
Three million dollars, that’s what the court said this survivor’s case was worth. But the money isn’t really the point. Our client’s voice was heard. After years of silence, after carrying this weight alone, the legal system said: “We believe you. What happened to you matters.” That validation can be just as powerful as the financial recovery. This case result gives our client resources for therapy, medical care, and whatever else they need as they continue healing. It also sends a message to other institutions that might be tempted to sweep abuse under the rug. We’re watching. And there are consequences.
Why Civil Cases Matter For Survivors
Sometimes criminal prosecution isn’t an option. Maybe too much time has passed, and the criminal statute of limitations has run out. Maybe the evidence is hard to gather after all these years. Maybe the survivor just isn’t ready for a criminal trial. That’s where civil cases come in. They offer a different path. You can obtain compensation for what you’ve been through. You can force institutions to admit they failed you. Discovery in these cases often uncovers patterns of abuse that were hidden for years, and that exposure can lead to real policy changes that protect other children. Civil litigation gives survivors options when the criminal justice system can’t help them anymore.
Institutional Accountability
Most childhood sexual abuse doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens in schools, churches, youth programs, and at sports leagues. Places where parents trusted adults to keep their kids safe. Which is why one of the most powerful parts of Maryland’s Child Victims Act is that it doesn’t just go after individual abusers. It targets the systems that enabled them. This case result proves that organizations can’t hide behind the passage of time. If you turned a blind eye to abuse happening under your roof, you’re going to answer for it. The law doesn’t care how long ago it happened, and Justice doesn’t have an expiration date.
The Road To Recovery
Pursuing a childhood sexual abuse claim is hard. You have to revisit memories you’ve probably spent years trying to forget. You share intimate details of your trauma with lawyers, investigators, maybe a judge, and a jury. Many survivors tell us that taking legal action helped them reclaim power over their own story. The legal process becomes part of their healing, not an obstacle to it. When you get a favorable judgment or settlement, it’s an acknowledgment that what happened to you was wrong. That you deserved better. That the people who hurt you or failed to protect you are being held responsible. If you experienced childhood sexual abuse, you have options now that didn’t exist before Maryland passed this law. Every case is different, and the details matter enormously. What remedies are available to you depends on the specific circumstances of your situation. Our firm takes these cases seriously. We handle them with the discretion and respect they require. Coming forward takes incredible strength, and we do everything we can to make the legal process manageable for survivors who are ready to seek accountability. You don’t have to carry this alone anymore. If you’re ready to explore your legal options, we’re here to listen and help you figure out the best path forward. Sometimes that means filing a lawsuit. Sometimes it doesn’t. But you deserve to know what’s possible.