Maryland Child Victims Act was enacted last year, allowing child sex abuse lawsuits to be filed by survivors, regardless of how long ago the acts occurred.
Oral arguments will be heard on March 28, for a panel of judges to decide for the second time whether all hotel sex trafficking lawsuits filed in the federal courts should be consolidated in one court as part of an MDL.
Archdiocese of Washington indicates it will appeal the ruling to the Maryland Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the Maryland Child Victims Act, which removed the statute of limitations for sexual assaults on children
Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy filing has resulted in a deadline of May 31, for individuals who were sexually abused by priests or clergy to present claims
Survivors pursuing hotel sex trafficking lawsuits throughout the federal courts indicated they filed the MDL motion at the request of a judge presiding over some of the cases, following failed attempts at informal coordination.
The request comes on behalf of a federal judge who says judicial resources are being wasted due to a lack of coordination for hotel sex trafficking lawsuits.
Problems at Maryland juvenile facilities were well-known, but officials did little to stop rampant sexual abuse of children, according to lawsuits brought under new Maryland law that now allows survivors to pursue claims.
The ruling gives plaintiffs a total of 245 days to file sex abuse claims against the Archdiocese of Baltimore since its late-September bankruptcy filing.
Critics say the video chat website regularly paired children with sexual predators, resulting in instances of harassment, rape and child sex trafficking.
The closure comes as the Baltimore Archdiocese pursues bankruptcy protections from a growing flood of clergy sex assault claims, most involving children abused by pastors and church employees.
