Statute of Limitations

Question 1

What is the SOL for indemnity and contribution?

Answer 1

SOL = 6yrs running from the date of actual pmt of judgment for which indemnity or contribution is sought

Question 2

When does the SOL begin to run?

Answer 2

When the cause of action “accrues” (i.e. when the injury first occurs)

SOL is NOT measured from the date that the π DISCOVERS the injury (i.e. it runs even if the π is unaware of the injury)

Question 3

What actions have a SOL of 3 - 6 yrs?

Answer 3

1) 3 yrs
Personal injury based on negligence & strict
PL: accrual from date of injury UNLESStoxic substance, then it’s from date of discovery
Property damages (including conversion & replevin) Non-medical professional malpractice (e.g. legal malpractice!)

2) 4 yrs
Ks governed by UCC Article 2 (Sales): accrual from tender of delivery (e.g. breach of warranty claim)

3) 5 yrs
Action by victim of rape-related felony: accrural from date of crime (NOTE: if perp is prosecuted, victim gets EXTRA 5 yrs from termination of criminal proceedings nws outcome of trial)

4) 6 yrs			
K breaches (express or implied; NOT UCC Art. 2): accrual from date of breach regardless of knowledge of breach			Indemnity or contribution: accural from date of payment for which indemnity/contribution is sought			
Fraud: π may sue w/in 6 yrs. of commission OR 2 years of discovery, whichever is longer			
Equity actions (recission, reformation, accounting)

Question 4

What actions have a SOL of 7 - 20 yrs?

Answer 4

1) 7yrs
Action by crime victim against convicted ∆ for ANY crime: accrual from date of crime

2) 10yrs
Action to recover realty: same pd as adverse posession Action by crime victim against convicted ∆ for a SERIOUS crime: accural from date of conviction (NOTE: victim may also sue for damages for up to 3 yrs from discover of ∆’s receipt of money/property from any source)

3) 20 yrs
Action on judgment

Question 5

What are the tolling rules if a potential ∆ dies?

Answer 5

If potential ∆ dies AT ANY TIME before the SOL expires, 18 months (1.5 yrs) are always added to the relevant SOL pd (regardless of whether π needs the extra time)

Question 6

How can a π get a 6 month grace pd for SOL purposes?

Answer 6

If an action is timely commenced BUT dismissed before trial & at the time of dismissal SOL has EITHER expired OR has less than 6 months remaining → π gets 6 months from the date of dismissal to re-file the same action & serve process on ∆

4 EXCEPTIONS where grace pd is NOT applicable… 1) dismissal on the merits

2) voluntary discontinuance by the π (dropped the suit) 3) π neglects to prosecute(if it consisted of a general pattern of delay; BUT NOT merely one act)
4) dismissal for lack of pjx

Question 7

What is the SOL for personal injury or property damage against a gov’t subdivision of the state (county, city, town, school district, or municipal hospital)?

Answer 7

The SOL is 1 yr, 90 days from the date of the accident

Notice of claim requirement: necessary to commence action against municipality (otherwise the action will be dismissed as “failure to state c/a”): π must serve a notice of claim on the potential municipal ∆ w/in90 days from the date of the accident (NOTE: service of the notice is NOT a commencement of the action)

After service of notice, the π must wait 30 days and THEN commence the action against the municipality
The complaint must plead compliance with the notice of claim requirement

Question 8

How is the SOL measured in a toxic tort case?

Answer 8

SOL = 3yrs against the manufacturer, distributor or supplier of the toxic substance running from the date of discovery ORshould have discoveredw/ reasonable diligence

“Toxic substance exposure”= any inherently harmful toxin that has latent or slow-developing effects (e.g. asbestos, leaking petroleum, etc) assimilated into π’sperson or property

NOTE: the toxic tort discovery rule does NOT apply to claims of medical malpractice (toxic tort cases are against the mnfr/distributor of the toxic substance)

Question 9

How do you compute the SOL pd?

Answer 9

To compute SOL (and ANY OTHER TIME PD IN CPLR), exclude the day upon which the triggering even occurs AND begin counting the next day

Practically: SOL end dates always fall on “anniversary date” of the injury in question

NOTE: if the LAST DAY of the SOL pd falls on a (i) Saturday; (ii) Sunday; or (iii) public holiday, then π gets until end of the next business day to commence action

Question 10

What is the SOL for medical malpractice (doctors, dentists, podiatrists, nurses and hospitals)?

Answer 10

General rule: the SOL pd. is 2.5 yrs, accruing from date of injury

The date of π’s discovery of the malpratice is IRRELEVANT

NOTE: if π is suing hospital for vicarous liability (respondeat superior), the SOL is 2.5 yrs, BUT if π is suing hospital for negl. hiring, then the SOL is 3 yrs (personal injury damages)

EXCEPTIONS:

1) Continuous Treatment Rule: after malpractice, if a physician continues to treat the patient after an operation FOR THE EXACT SAME CONDITION, then SOL is 2.5 yrs, accruing from the end of treatment
2) Foreign Object Rule: if the physician was responsible for introducing a foreign object into patient’s body (and leaves it behind), π gets SOL of (i) 2.5 yrs from date of operation; OR (ii) 1 yr from the date of discovery (or should have discovered), WHICHEVER IS LONGER Foreign object = something the doctor didnt intend to leave behind (e.g. surgical clamps, scalpels, etc) Foreign object ≠ (i) chemical substance (medicine); (ii) prosthetic device (plastic hip joint); (iii) fixation device (pacemaker, internal sutures, etc)

Question 11

What is the “borrowing statute”?

Answer 11

When the c/a arises outside of NY a choice of law problem occurs if SOL of the other state is different from NY

The “borrowing statute” is desiged to prevent forum shopping by non-resident πs seeking a longer SOL in NY

Rules:

1) If π was a non-resident when out-of-state claim arose → if SOL in state where COA arose is shorter, NY will apply it; otherwise NY SOL applies (which would be shorter)
2) If π was resident when out-of-state claim arose→will always apply NY SOL (regardless of whether the other state’s SOL is shorter/longer)

Question 12

What are the tolling rules for infants or the insane?

Answer 12

Infants (i.e. under 18) OR insane πsMAY sue w/in regular SOL (w/ competent adult rep.) BUT they could get a toll until the disability ends (i.e. infant reaching 18 or insantiy clears up)

Once the disability ends…
If SOL for c/a was 3+ yrs.: π gets the LONGER of (i) the usual SOL pd running from usual date of accrual; OR (ii) 3 yrs from date of disability ending
If original SOL was less than 3 yrs: π gets specified statutory pd measured from the date of disability ending

NOTE: There is a 10yr ABSOLUTE ltd on SOL from original accrual. Claims of insane πs barred after 10 yrs. Claims for med malpracticebarred after 10 yrs (for infants and insane πs).

ALSO NOTE: for med malpractice, continuous treatment toll and legal disability toll are separate so if applicable then run separately to see what’s best

Question 13

How does a π satisfy the SOL requirement?

Answer 13

To satisfy the SOL, the c/a must be “commenced” no later than the last day of the prescribed pd of limitations

Commencement consists of “filing process” (process = summons and complaint OR summons with notice), which must be filed with the COUNTY clerk (the clerk for the ct)

Question 14

What are the tolling rules for absent ∆s?

Answer 14

1) If ∆ not in NY when COA accrues:SOL does not begin to run (i.e. it’s tolled) until he returns to NY
2) If ∆ in NY when COA accrues BUT thereafter leaves NY AND is continuously absent for at least 4 months:SOL tolls during time absent

EXCEPTION: no tolling if π has a basis of pjxover absent ∆ that would allow process to be validly served (NOTE: this is often the case, so usually absence tolling isn’t available)

Question 15

What is the SOL for products liability claims?

Answer 15

Depends on the tort theory…

1) Negligence:3 yrs. running from date from injury as against “all ∆’s in the chain of distribution”
2) Strict Products Liability: 3 years running from date of injury as against “all ∆’s in the chain of distribution”
3) Breach of Warranty (UCC Art. 2 sales): 4 yrs.from date of delivery of productas against whom the warranty claim is asserted

Question 16

What actions have a SOL of 0 - 2.5 yrs?

Answer 16

1) 4 months
CPLR Article 78 proceedings (judicial review of NY state/local gov’t administrative action)

2) 1 yr
Intentional torts to the person (e.g. assualt, battery, false imprisonment)

3) 1 yr, 90 days
Personal injury/property damage claims against municipal ∆s. NOTE: only runs provided there is notice to muni ∆ w/in 90 days of accident

3) 2 yrs
Wrongful death: runs fromdate of death AS LONG AS can also be shown that decedent’s personal injury claim had not expired on date of death NOTE: If criminal proceeding is brought against ∆, executor gets optional & independent 1 yr. from termination of criminal proceeding (TOTALLY INDEPENDENT FROM OTHER RUNNING OF SOL)

4) 2.5 yrs
Medical, dental & podiatric malpractice:from date of malpractice injuryUNLESS continuous treatment (end of treatment) OR foreign objects (1 yr. from discovery)

Question 17

What is the SOL for non-medical malpractice (architects, engineers, accountants, attys)?

Answer 17

1) If client has financial loss: there is an EXCLUSIVE (supercedes all other relevant SOL) 3 yr SOL, which applies REGARDLESS of whether the claims are based on tort or breach of K. The SOL begins to run when the services are completed, REGARDLESS of the π’s lack of awareness of malpractice.
2) If client has bodily injury: there is a 3 yr SOL running from the date of the bodily injury REGARDLESS of the date of completion of the work.

NOTE: there is a special procedure for architects/engineers for c/as brought more than 10 yrs after the building was completed:
π must serve a notice of claim on the architect or engineer at least 90 days before suit; π may obtain pre-action discovery from the potential ∆ during the 90-day waiting pd; AND After suit is commenced, if ∆ moves for summary jdgmt, the burden will be on π to make an immediate evidentiary showing that there is a “substantial basis” to believe that ∆’s negl. was the proximate cause of π’s injuries

Question 18

What are the tolling rules for dead πs?

Answer 18

Depends on whether it’s a wrongful death or survival claim…

1) Survival Claim =any cause of action π could have brought if still alive
SOL = if claim still timely on date of death,executor gets time remaining running from date of accrual OR 1 yr. from date of death (whichever is LONGER)

2) Wrongful Death Claim =tort claim for economic (pecuniary) damages of decedent’s statutory distributees (e.g. surviving spouse, etc)
SOL =if claim still timely on date of death, 2yrsfrom date of death

NOTE: wrongful death actions and survival claims are often asserted in ONE action, but you have to apply different SOL rules