{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-general-provisions-4-401","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, General Provisions § 4–401","heading":"","body":"(a) 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:\n(1) (i) the person willfully and knowingly allows inspection or use of a public record in violation of this subtitle; and\n(ii) the public record names or, with reasonable certainty, otherwise identifies the individual by an identifying factor such as:\n1. an address;\n2. a description;\n3. a fingerprint or voice print;\n4. a number; or\n5. a picture; or\n(2) the person willfully and knowingly obtains, discloses, or uses personal information in violation of § 4–320 of this title.\n(b) 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.","path":["Article - General Provisions"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ggp\u0026section=4-401","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:37Z","sha256":"c9238a300a0448f452901d6a64b08d4bc14e7ee2aa51fc3414777b8b49f43363","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-general-provisions-4-362","next":"us-md/md.-code-general-provisions-4-402"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}