The Maryland Supreme Court, answering a certified question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, has determined that the waiver of sovereign immunity for tort actions under the Maryland Tort Claims Act does not extend to federal statutory claims.

The underlying case, Michele Williams v. Morgan State University, came to the Supreme Court of Maryland as a certified question from the Fourth Circuit in a case that originated in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and was later removed to federal court, according to the opinion. The Maryland Tort Claims Act (MTCA), waives the state's immunity in a tort action in a court of the state, according to the opinion.