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Committee hears support for bill to protect sexual‑assault survivors from retaliatory lawsuits
Summary
Proponents told the committee HB 465 would shift burdens in retaliatory civil suits against survivors, requiring plaintiffs to prove bad faith or actual malice; advocates said it would reduce chilling effects and align Maryland with other states.
Delegate Emry (Embry) introduced House Bill 465 as a measure to reduce retaliatory civil suits that can silence survivors of sexual assault. Sponsor testimony described the bill as requiring plaintiffs who sue survivors for statements about assaults to prove they acted with "actual malice" or intentionally and recklessly disclosed false information.
Lisa Jordan of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault said the bill would "reduce the burden on survivors…
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