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Maryland Caps on Damages in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

The noneconomic damages cap in Maryland medical malpractice cases arising in 2024 is $890,000. The cap is $1,112,500 in wrongful death cases made by two or more surviving family members. There is no cap on economic damages.

Maryland’s malpractice cap on damages is based on the year of the injury or death. Below is the cap on pain and suffering damages in Maryland medical malpractice claims by year:

Cause of action arises on or after Limit on all claims from the same medical injury (except wrongful death) Limit on all claims if wrongful death cases is filed with two or more beneficiaries Total limit
1/1/2024 $890,000.00 $1,112,500.00 $1,112,500.00
1/1/2023 $875,000.00 $1,093,750.00 $1,093,750.00
1/1/2022 $860,000.00 $1,075,000.00 $1,075,000.00
1/1/2021 $845,000.00 $1,056,250.00 $1,056,250.00
1/1/2020 $830,000.00 $1,037,500.00 $1,037,500.00
1/1/2019 $815,000.00 $1,018,750.00 $1,018,750.00
1/1/2018 $800,000.00 $1,000,000.00 $1,000,000.00
1/1/2017 $785,000.00 $981,250.00 $981,250.00
1/1/2016 $770,000.00 $962,500.00 $962,500.00
1/1/2015 $755,000.00 $943,750.00 $943,750.00
1/1/2014 $740,000.00 $925,000.00 $925,000.00
1/1/2013 $725,000.00 $906,250.00 $906,250.00
1/1/2012 $710,000.00 $887,500.00 $887,500.00
1/1/2011 $695,000.00 $868,750.00 $868,750.00
1/1/2010 $680,000.00 $850,000.00 $850,000.00
1/1/2009 $665,000.00 $831,250.00 $831,250.00
1/1/2008 $650,000.00 $812,500.00 $812,500.00
1/1/2007 $650,000.00 $812,500.00 $812,500.00
1/1/2006 $650,000.00 $812,500.00 $812,500.00
1/1/2005 $650,000.00 $812,500.00 $812,500.00
New Malpractice Cap
10/1/2004 $650,000.00 $975,000.00 $1,625,000.00
10/1/2003 $635,000.00 $952,500.00 $1,587,500.00
10/1/2002 $620,000.00 $930,000.00 $1,550,000.00
10/1/2001 $605,000.00 $907,500.00 $1,512,500.00
10/1/2000 $590,000.00 $885,000.00 $1,475,000.00
10/1/1999 $575,000.00 $862,500.00 $1,437,500.00
10/1/1998 $560,000.00 $840,000.00 $1,400,000.00
10/1/1997 $545,000.00 $817,500.00 $1,362,500.00
10/1/1996 $530,000.00 $795,000.00 $1,325,000.00
10/1/1995 $515,000.00 $772,500.00 $1,287,500.00
10/1/1994 $500,000.00 $750,000.00 $1,250,000.00

Maryland’s Malpractice Cap

The Maryland General Assembly created a lower cap for medical malpractice cases than other negligence claims. This means pain and suffering is worth less in Maryland if the injuries or death is from malpractice.

Is this unfair? Absolutely. But the Maryland high court has continued to bless these unfair caps and the existence of a different maximum limit for malpractice lawsuits.

This cap applies a broad definition of health care providers. The malpractice cap protects unskilled nursing home employees, dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, nurses, and the like.

Recent Maryland legislative sessions have had some optimism about a catastrophic injury bill that would increase the cap for certain types of injuries. Miller & Zois clients whom the bill has harmed testified in Annapolis along with Miller & Zois partner Laura Zois. One of our clients also testified in Annapolis about the unfairness of our current law and how it impacted her and her family. But nothing has changed.

What Is a Damages Cap?

Caps on damages are statutory laws enacted by state legislatures that set maximum limits on the amount of money that plaintiffs can get in medical malpractice and other types of tort cases. Damage caps vary from state to state. Some states do not have damage caps at all. Others have stringent caps. Maryland has damage caps, but they only apply to pain and suffering damages.

Is There A Limit on The Amount of Damages in A Malpractice Case?

In Maryland, there is a cap on the amount of damages a plaintiff can receive for “pain and suffering” in medical malpractice cases. Again, there is no limit on the amount of economic damages (lost income, medical expenses, etc.) a plaintiff can receive.

In 2024, the cap on pain & suffering damages is $890,000 for an injury case and $1,112,500 for a wrongful death case with two or more survivors. This cap will increase again on January 1, 2025.

The Maryland Statute That Lays Out the Malpractice Cap

You can find the malpractice cap in § 3-2A-09. It does not lay out the numbers as we do above, but it gives you the formula to calculate.

§ 3-2A-09. Limitation of noneconomic damages.

  1. Application of section. — This section applies to an award under § 3-2A-05 of this subtitle or a verdict under § 3-2A-06 of this subtitle for a cause of action arising on or after January 1, 2005.
  2. In general. —
      1. Except as provided in paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, an award or verdict under this subtitle for noneconomic damages for a cause of action arising between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2008, inclusive, may not exceed $ 650,000.
      2. The limitation on noneconomic damages provided under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph shall increase by $ 15,000 on January 1 of each year beginning January 1, 2009. The increased amount shall apply to causes of action arising between January 1 and December 31 of that year, including
        ve.
      1. (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the limitation under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall apply in the aggregate to all claims for personal injury and wrongful death arising from the same medical injury, regardless of the number of claims, claimants, plaintiffs, beneficiaries, or defendants.
      2. (ii) If there is a wrongful death action in which there are two or more claimants or beneficiaries, whether or not there is a personal injury action arising from the same medical injury, the total amount awarded for noneconomic damages for all actions may not exceed 125% of the limitation established under paragraph (1) of this subsection, regardless of the number of claims, claimants, plaintiffs, beneficiaries, or defendants.
  3. Jury trials; reduction of awards over the limit. —
    1. In a jury trial, the jury may not be informed of the limitation under subsection (b) of this section.
    2. If the jury awards an amount for noneconomic damages that exceeds the limitation established under subsection (b) of this section, the court shall reduce the amount to conform to the limitation
    3. In a wrongful death action in which there are two or more claimants or beneficiaries, if the jury awards an amount for noneconomic damages that exceeds the limitation under subsection (b) of this section or a reduction under paragraph (4) of this subsection, the court shall:
      1. If the amount of noneconomic damages for the primary claimants, as described under § 3-904(d) of this title, equals or exceeds the limitation under subsection (b) of this section or a reduction under paragraph (4) of this subsection:
        1. Reduce each individual award of a primary claimant proportionately to the total award of all primary claimants so that the total award to all claimants or beneficiaries conforms to the limitation or reduction; and
        2. Reduce each award, if any, to a secondary claimant as described under § 3-904(e) of this title to zero dollars or
      2. If the amount of noneconomic damages for the primary claimants does not exceed the limitation under subsection (b) of this section or a reduction under paragraph (4) of this subsection or if there is no award to a primary claimant:
        1. Enter an award to each primary claimant, if any, as directed by the verdict and
        2. Reduce each individual award of a secondary claimant proportionately to the total award of all secondary claimants so that the total award to all claimants or beneficiaries conforms to the limitation or reduction.
        3. In a case in which there is a personal injury action and a wrongful death action, if the total amount awarded by the jury for noneconomic damages for both actions exceeds the limitation under subsection (b) of this section, the court shall reduce the award in each action proportionately so that the total award for noneconomic damages for both actions conforms to the limitation.
  4. Medical expenses; loss of earnings. —
    1. A verdict for past medical expenses shall be limited to the following:
      1. The total amount of past medical expenses paid by or on behalf of the plaintiff and
      2. The total amount of past medical expenses incurred but not paid by or on behalf of the plaintiff for which the plaintiff or another person on behalf of the plaintiff is obligated to pay.
      1. A court may, on its own motion or on motion of a party, employ a neutral expert witness to testify on the issue of a plaintiff’s future medical expenses or future loss of earnings.
      2. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the costs of a neutral expert witness shall be divided equally among the parties.
      3. Nothing in this subsection limits the authority of a court concerning a court’s witness.

History of Cap

The Maryland legislature enacted a noneconomic damages cap for all tort cases in 1986, primarily because doctors’ advocacy groups complained about their rates. Hindsight proves these cyclical increases in medical malpractice insurance premiums occur occasionally for reasons that only marginally relate to the volume of malpractice claims.

In 1994, the Maryland legislature amended the noneconomic damages limits to apply to wrongful death actions. Although the amendments increased the cap’s limit and included meager annual adjustments for inflation in future years after a short-term freeze, this cap has substantially taken power from the jury.

More on Damage Caps in Maryland

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