AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court struck down a 2021 law that eliminated the statute of limitations on civil claims of child sex abuse to allow survivors to seek justice through the courts regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Assistant House Majority Leader Rep. Lori K. Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, who sponsored the 2021 law, responded to the ruling:
“I am profoundly disappointed by the Law Court’s majority opinion. My heart is broken for all Maine’s adult survivors of childhood sex abuse, for whom this law represented a chance to finally pursue long overdue justice. This decision will reopen emotional wounds and make it harder for survivors to achieve that justice.
“I want fellow survivors to hear this loud and clear: You are not defined by your abuse. You deserve to be heard and believed. You deserve justice. That’s why I sponsored this legislation, and it’s what I will keep working for. Our system should hold perpetrators accountable.
“As a social worker, I have worked my entire career to give voice to those who need it most and to make life better for others. Today’s ruling is a devastating setback, but I will never stop fighting to support fellow survivors.”
Contact:
Brian Lee (Gramlich) | 305-965-2744