Section 10-626 - Unlawful disclosure of personal records. - Maryland Statutes

§ 10-626. Unlawful disclosure of personal records.
 

(a)  Liability.- A person, including an officer or employee of a governmental unit, is liable to an individual for actual damages that the court considers appropriate if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that: 

(1) (i) the person willfully and knowingly permits inspection or use of a public record in violation of this Part III of this subtitle; and 

(ii) the public record names or, with reasonable certainty, otherwise identifies the individual by an identifying factor such as: 

1. an address; 

2. a description; 

3. a finger or voice print; 

4. a number; or 

5. a picture; or 

(2) the person willfully and knowingly obtains, discloses, or uses personal information in violation of § 10-616 (p) of this subtitle. 

(b)  Costs.- If the court determines that the complainant has substantially prevailed, the court may assess against a defendant reasonable counsel fees and other litigation costs that the complainant reasonably incurred. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 76A, § 5; 1984, ch. 284, § 1; 1997, ch. 14, § 20; chs. 338, 339; 2002, ch. 403.]