States Remove Time Limits on Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits.

Three US states, Vermont, Maine, and Maryland, have removed all time limits on child sexual abuse lawsuits, with Michigan, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts poised to follow. More than two dozen people have sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine, over the past year, seeking delayed justice since lawmakers allowed lawsuits for abuse that happened long ago and can’t be pursued in criminal courts either because of time limits or evidence diminishing over time. The lawsuits have targeted churches, summer camps, scout groups, and other institutions accused of enabling pedophiles or turning a blind eye to wrongdoing.