Civil Actions - Noneconomic Damages - Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

SB 474 repeals Maryland’s current caps on non-monetary damages in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, removing limits of $350,000 for personal injury claims and $500,000 for wrongful death claims. The bill directly affects plaintiffs filing these types of lawsuits in Maryland courts, eliminating the fixed dollar thresholds that previously restricted compensation for harms like pain, suffering, or loss of companionship. It applies prospectively to cases arising on or after October 1, 2026, meaning existing cases and prior claims remain unaffected. The change removes the requirement for courts to reduce jury awards that exceed these limits, allowing full compensation for non-monetary harms in new cases.