Green v. N.B.S. Inc. (Ct. of Appeals)

Opinion by Judge Joseph F. Murphy, Jr.
Filed July 21, 2009

Held: The statutory cap on non-economic damages applies to personal injury claims brought pursuant to the Consumer Protection Act.

Facts: The Plaintiff won a verdict in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on her claim for lead paint poisoning pursuant to the Maryland Consumer Protection Act (the "CPA"). The Circuit Court reduced the verdict to comply with Maryland's statutory cap on non-economic damages for personal injury - §11-801, Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article.

The Plaintiff argued on appeal that the cap on non-economic damages, which applies to "victims of tortious conduct" in "personal injury actions," does not apply to awards pursuant to the CPA. She contended that a violation of the CPA is not a tort, and an action for violation of the CPA is not a "personal injury action."

The Court of Appeals rejected the argument. The full opinion is available in PDF.