Yes. While revenge porn is a crime in Maryland, victims of revenge porn in Maryland also have legal avenues for compensation in the civil court system. Revenge porn is the non-consensual sharing of intimate images or videos without the other person’s consent.
Victims of revenge porn in Maryland have the right to file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator. The most common civil claim for revenge porn is intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED).
A lawsuit can lead to several types of remedies.
Revenge porn lawsuit remedies
Revenge porn victims can ask for several types of remedies. These include: damages, injunctions and protective orders, removal of content and non-monetary relief.
Damages
Victims of revenge porn can sue for several types of damages. These include:
- Emotional Distress: Compensation for the psychological impact, including anxiety, depression, and trauma.
- Reputation Damage: Restitution for harm to the victim’s personal and professional reputation.
- Economic Losses: Reimbursement for any financial losses incurred, such as job loss or expenses related to mitigating the damage (e.g., therapy costs, legal fees).
Injunctions and Protective Orders
Victims can also seek injunctions or protective orders, which are court orders that can prohibit the perpetrator from further distributing the images and engage in any form of harassment or contact with the victim. These orders can be crucial in preventing further harm.
Removal of Content
An important aspect of civil action includes efforts to remove the unauthorized content from websites and social media platforms. However, many say this can be a challenging process and may require the help of a legal professional. An Ocean City revenge porn lawyer can provide more details.
Non-Monetary Relief
Apart from financial compensation, victims may also seek non-monetary relief. This can include public apologies or retractions.
Statute of limitations
It’s important to be aware that there are time limits for filing a lawsuit. If you’ve been accused of revenge porn, this time frame must be followed for the suit to be considered valid. Lawsuits will be thrown out of court if they fail to meet the deadline. A woman in another state was disappointed to see her revenge porn lawsuit dismissed because it was filed outside of that state’s statute of limitations.
A lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress in Maryland must be filed within three years of the occurrence.
Revenge porn is a serious crime in Maryland. If accused, you can face criminal penalties that include fines and jail time and get sued in court. If you are facing revenge porn charges, you should talk to a revenge porn attorney.
Maronick Law, LLC is open during the pandemic and will continue to meet your Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Baltimore, Essex, Ocean City, Towson, White Marsh revenge porn criminal defense attorney needs. If you need an attorney to defend your rights if accused of revenge porn, you should talk to an Ocean City revenge porn lawyer.
If you have access to Zoom, we can meet with you remotely. The consultation is free. You can contact the law office at 410-402-5571 or via the website.