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HB 113

Civil Actions - Noneconomic Damages - Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Regina Boyce and 7 co-sponsors

HB 113 modifies noneconomic damage rules in Maryland personal injury and wrongful death cases, adjusting how juries award and courts limit pain-and-suffering compensation.

Hearing 2/19 at 11:00 a.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 113

Legislative bill overview

HB 113 modifies Maryland's laws governing noneconomic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress) in personal injury and wrongful death civil lawsuits. The bill specifically addresses how juries can award and how courts can limit these damages in cases involving bodily harm or loss of life.

Why is this important

Noneconomic damages represent a significant portion of civil lawsuit awards and directly affect how much plaintiffs receive for injuries. Changes to these rules impact both injured parties seeking compensation and defendants (including businesses and insurers) facing liability exposure, making this a consequential issue for access to justice and litigation costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Damage caps vs. jury discretion: Debate over whether limits on noneconomic damages protect defendants from excessive awards or unfairly restrict compensation for severely injured plaintiffs
  • Impact on specific injury types: Different stakeholder groups (medical professionals, insurance companies, plaintiff attorneys, patients) likely disagree on whether current rules are too generous or too restrictive
  • Economic ripple effects: Disagreement about how damage awards affect insurance premiums, healthcare costs, and business operating expenses versus how restrictions affect injured parties' ability to recover losses

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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