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A federal judge has ruled that survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Maryland can individually sue the Archdiocese of Baltimore, even as the Church remains in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Scott Maucione of WYPR reported. The decision marks a critical development for victims who, for more than a year, have been blocked from pursuing their cases in court and instead funneled into the bankruptcy claims process.
The ruling, issued by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle Harner, comes amid growing legal complexity surrounding Maryland’s Child Victims Act. The law originally allowed survivors to file lawsuits against abusers and institutions at any time and seek up to $1.5 million in damages. If bankruptcy negotiations were to fail, survivors could have returned to court under that legal framework. While such breakdowns in bankruptcy talks are rare, precedent exists for courts allowing lawsuits to move forward when good faith efforts to resolve claims are lacking.
Recent legislative amendments, however, have created confusion and urgency. In April 2025, Maryland lawmakers voted to reduce the maximum compensation survivors can receive. For private institutions like the Church, payouts are now capped at $700,000. For public institutions, the cap dropped from $890,000 to $400,000. The changes also include limits on attorneys’ fees—capping them at 20% for out-of-court settlements and 25% for cases that go to trial.
Judge Harner’s ruling hinges on timing. Cases filed before June 1, 2025, will not be subject to the new lower caps. As explained by a plaintiff’s attorney involved in the litigation, the court lifted the automatic stay as it pertains to the Archdiocese, allowing lawsuits to be filed. Those suits will remain paused while the bankruptcy process continues, but if negotiations fail, they could proceed with the original compensation limits in place.
Attorneys handling these cases are now facing a surge of filings in advance of the June deadline. One plaintiff’s attorney described the effort to process these cases statewide—including those unrelated to the Archdiocese—as “herculean,” but said law firms are determined to meet the deadline.
The Archdiocese of Baltimore did not respond to a request for comment.
If you’re a victim of clergy abuse, learn what your legal rights are and find out if you may be entitled to compensation. Read the Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide For Survivors.
