Survivors contact us at every stage: some within days, many decades later, and most unsure whether what happened to them can be the basis of a claim at all. You can ask that question without committing to anything, and without telling the story more than once.
Blank Kim Injury Law brings civil claims on behalf of survivors in Maryland. These cases usually focus on the institution that allowed the abuse to happen, such as a school, daycare, religious organization, youth program, hospital or medical practice.
How a civil claim differs from a criminal case
A criminal case is brought by the state against a person, and the state decides whether to charge. A civil claim is yours. You bring it, you decide whether to settle it, and it seeks compensation rather than a criminal sentence.
- You do not need a criminal conviction, or even criminal charges, to bring a civil claim.
- The standard of proof in a civil case is lower than the standard in a criminal case.
- A civil claim can be brought against an institution that was negligent, not only against an individual.
- You are not required to report to police in order to speak with a lawyer.
Who can be held responsible
Institutional claims ask what the organization knew and what it did. Common facts include prior complaints that went nowhere, a lack of supervision, missing background checks, ignored policies, or a person moved quietly to another location instead of being reported.
We handle claims involving:
- Child sexual abuse and the Maryland Child Victims Act
- Daycare and preschool programs
- Schools, including elementary, middle and high school abuse, and boarding schools
- Colleges and universities
- Churches and religious organizations
- Summer camps and youth programs
- Doctors, hospitals and medical offices, therapists and massage businesses
- Rideshare drivers and nursing homes
We do not name individuals on this website, and we do not publish clients' stories.
Privacy, and how much control you keep
The most common question we hear is whether making a claim means the whole thing becomes public. Some points that usually matter:
- Your first conversation with us is confidential, and speaking with a lawyer does not start a case.
- Courts have ways of protecting a survivor's identity in some circumstances, and we discuss what is realistic in your situation before anything is filed.
- Many claims resolve without a trial.
- You decide the pace. Nothing is filed because a lawyer wants it filed.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For free confidential support at any hour, the national sexual assault hotline is 800-656-4673.
Time limits in Maryland
For abuse that happened while the survivor was a minor, Maryland no longer has a statute of limitations. Since October 1, 2023, the Maryland Child Victims Act has allowed these civil claims to be filed at any time, and it reaches back to abuse from any year, including claims that had already expired. One exception: a claim that had already expired is not revived if the survivor has died before it is filed.
The rule covers claims against the State and local governments too, such as a claim against a county school system. Those claims still raise written notice and immunity questions of their own, which need analysis early. Abuse of an adult follows Maryland’s ordinary limitation rules, which are much shorter. Ask us which rules apply to your situation.
What a civil claim can cover
- Therapy and mental health treatment, past and future
- Medical care related to the abuse
- Lost income, interrupted education and reduced earning capacity
- The lasting personal harm the abuse caused
Where the Child Victims Act revived a claim that was time-barred before October 1, 2023, noneconomic damages are capped. For those claims filed on or after June 1, 2025, the cap is $700,000 per claimant against each private defendant; claims filed earlier keep the higher 2023 cap of $1.5 million. Against the State or a local government, noneconomic damages in actions filed on or after June 1, 2025 are capped at $400,000 per claimant. These caps limit noneconomic damages only, not economic damages such as the cost of treatment. Past results in other cases do not predict the outcome of yours.
What working with us looks like
- A first conversation. Tell us only as much as you want. We will not press for details before you are ready, and we confirm there is no conflict of interest before you share anything sensitive.
- Review. We look at what records exist, which institution was involved and what rules apply to the timing of a claim.
- A plan, then your decision. We explain the realistic options, including doing nothing, and you decide.
- If you go forward. We handle the filings, the institution's lawyers and the insurers, and we keep you informed without making you relive it at every step.
You can speak with our team in English, Korean or Spanish.
