Answering a certified question from a federal judge, the Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled that its former chief justice had the authority to temporarily toll the statue of limitation on civil matters during the pandemic.

The underlying case, brought by Liberty Mutual against a concrete subcontractor working on a Maryland State Police facility at Martin State Airport, was filed in July 2021. According to court documents, Liberty Mutual issued payment and performance bonds on the project, and when the contractor, Murphy Enterprises defaulted on aspects of the project, the insurer had to pay claims to third parties. Those claims occurred between February and August of 2017.