SB 871

Did not advance

Civil Actions - Punitive Damage Awards - Surcharge

Sponsor: William C. Smith, Jr. (District 20)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Civil Actions and ProceduresStatus: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Providing that punitive damages may be awarded in a civil action only if the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with gross negligence; requiring the State Court Administrator to assess a certain surcharge on a defendant against whom a judgment for punitive damages is entered; requiring the Administrator to deposit money collected from the surcharge into the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Fund; applying the Act prospectively; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (22)

MGA witness list

FAV 2FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 17UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	PLAXEN, BRUCE	Maryland Association for Justice	Oral
FAV	Senator Smith, Senator Smithlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Pachman, Laurenlobbyist	Allstate	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Egan, Nancylobbyist	American Property & Casualty Insurance Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Silverman, Cary	American Tort Reform Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Popham, Brysonlobbyist	Bryson F. Popham, P.A.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Braun, Alexislobbyist	MEDICAL MUTUAL/Professionals Advocate	Written (PDF)
UNF	Enten, Robert	Maryland Bankers Association	Oral
UNF	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jeffries, Chris	Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Johnston, Joseph	Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Collins, Carvillelobbyist	Maryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform Coalition	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Whitaker, Jakelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Campion, Louislobbyist	Maryland Motor Truck Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Levine, Brianlobbyist	Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rotunno, Ginalobbyist	NAMIC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Position only
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
UNF	Wise, Steve	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Tolley, George	Dugan, Babij, Tolley & Kohler, LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Dodge, Alison	MD Association for Justice	Written (PDF)
INFO	Vormelker, Will	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AllstateUNF 1

American Property & Casualty Insurance AssociationUNF 1

American Tort Reform AssociationUNF 1

Bryson F. Popham, P.A.UNF 1

Dugan, Babij, Tolley & Kohler, LLCFWA 1

Maryland Association for JusticeFAV 1

Maryland Bankers AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.UNF 2

Maryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform CoalitionUNF 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationUNF 1

Maryland JudiciaryINFO 1

Maryland Motor Truck AssociationUNF 1

MD Association for JusticeFWA 1

MEDICAL MUTUAL/Professionals AdvocateUNF 1

Montgomery County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

NAMICUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

UNFPachman, LaurenAllstateRegistered for: Allstate Insurance Company

UNFEgan, NancyAmerican Property & Casualty Insurance AssociationRegistered for: American Property Casualty Insurance Association

UNFPopham, BrysonBryson F. Popham, P.A.Registered for: Agency Insurance Company of Maryland; Agency Services, Inc.; Army Alliance; Bryson F. Popham P.A.; Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Baltimore (BOMA); CVS Health…

UNFBraun, AlexisMEDICAL MUTUAL/Professionals AdvocateRegistered for: Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland

UNFWiggins, GrasonMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.; Madison Marquette Property Investments LLC; Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; Family Tree, The; OVG Facilities…

UNFCollins, CarvilleMaryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform CoalitionRegistered for: Artesian Resources Corporation; Columbia Gas of Maryland; Maryland Employers for Civil Justice Reform Coalition; Pepco Holdings, LLC.; Health Facilities Association of Maryland; General Motors LLC…

UNFWhitaker, JakeMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association

UNFCampion, LouisMaryland Motor Truck AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Motor Truck Association

UNFLevine, BrianMontgomery County Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

UNFRotunno, GinaNAMICRegistered for: National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC)

UNFKauffman, DannaRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; American Association of Dental Boards c/o Commission on Dental Competency Assessments; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Behavioral Health System Baltimore; City of Rockville; Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland…