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<section article="gcj" article_name="Courts and Judicial Proceedings" number="5-117" title_number="5" title_name="Limitations, Prohibited Actions, and Immunities" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Limitations">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “sexual abuse” means any act that involves:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>An adult allowing or encouraging a child to engage in:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Obscene photography, films, poses, or similar activity;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Pornographic photography, films, poses, or similar activity; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Prostitution;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Incest;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Rape;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Sexual offense in any degree; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Any other sexual conduct that is a crime.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Except as provided under subsection (d) of this section and notwithstanding any time limitation under a statute of limitations, a statute of repose, the Maryland Tort Claims Act, the Local Government Tort Claims Act, or any other law, an action for damages arising out of a claim or claims of sexual abuse that occurred while the victim was a minor may be filed at any time.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Except as provided in §§ 5–303 and 5–518 of this title and § 12–104 of the State Government Article, the total amount of noneconomic damages that may be awarded under this section to a single claimant in an action against a single defendant for injuries arising from a claim or claims that would have been barred by a time limitation before October 1, 2023, may not exceed:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>For an action filed on or before May 31, 2025, $1,500,000; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For an action filed on or after June 1, 2025, $700,000.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>No action for damages that would have been barred by a time limitation before October 1, 2023, may be brought under this section if the alleged victim of abuse is deceased at the commencement of the action.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>In any action for damages filed on or after June 1, 2025, arising out of a claim or claims of sexual abuse that occurred while the claimant was a minor, counsel may not charge or receive fees that exceed:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>20% of the settlement; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>25% of the judgment.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
