Section 5-1006 - Compensatory or punitive damages. - Maryland Statutes

§ 5-1006. Compensatory or punitive damages.
 

(a)  Distribution.-  

(1) Any compensatory or punitive damages awarded to a prisoner in connection with a civil action shall be paid directly to satisfy any outstanding judgment of restitution or child support order pending against the prisoner. 

(2) If there are multiple judgments of restitution or child support orders pending against the prisoner, any compensatory damages shall be distributed against those judgments or orders on a pro rata basis. 

(3) (i) The State, the Department, and the Division of Correction may not be liable for any failure to credit an award as provided in this section. 

(ii) The State, the Department, the Division of Correction, and any county or municipality, through any authorized employee or official, may reclaim any money erroneously credited to a prisoner without judicial action in order to comply with this section. 

(b)  Notice of award.- If a prisoner is awarded compensatory or punitive damages for a civil action, the prisoner's custodian shall notify, in writing, the victim or victims of the crime for which the prisoner is incarcerated and the recipient or recipients of any child support obligation for which the prisoner is responsible. 
 

[1997, ch. 495; 1998, ch. 20, § 1; 2006, ch. 44.]