Boy Scouts Sexual Abuse Lawsuit: Statute of Limitations
A victim of sexual abuse by the Boy Scouts of America does not want to hear that time has run out on getting justice. They don’t need to hear phrases like “Statute of Limitations.” What they need is their day in court. They need to help prevent this from happening to other boys. They need justice. So, how does the statute of limitations affect your Boy Scouts sexual abuse lawsuit here in Arizona? There’s good news.
What is a Statute of Limitation?
Depending on the type of claim, a plaintiff has a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. The purpose of this time period is to ensure that evidence and witnesses remain intact. In Arizona, personal injury cases have a two-year statute of limitations. Other types of cases vary, for example:
- Personal injury: 2 years
- Many cases, from false imprisonment to breach of contract: 1 year
- Medical Malpractice: 2 years
- Fraud: 3 years
How does this affect your case against the Boy Scouts?
What About Limitations on Boy Scout Lawsuits?
Sexual abuse falls under the category of “Personal Injury”, which typically has a 2-year statute of limitations. Victims of abuse by the Boy Scouts at first were limited to the two years. They had to get their claims filed within that period. However, the Boy Scouts lawsuits quickly started to expand, as more and more victims and perpetrators were discovered. As a result, that statute was extended. Here’s what it means in Arizona.
Deadlines Extended in Arizona
Victims of sexual abuse can have a lifetime of trauma, so it’s only appropriate that they are given more time to seek justice from the courts. Because the Boy Scouts of America is a national organization, the courts have to decide if it makes sense for limitations to be applied on a geographical basis. To that end, a lawsuit was filed in Washington D.C. this past January, with victims from eight states, including Arizona, to seek a change to the statute of limitations.
In the meantime, Arizona has put in place a “lookback window” which gives victims a chance to file lawsuits despite the statutes. Here in Arizona, H.B. 2466 passed and was signed by the governor to extend the window to file suits. This law extended the statute of limitations on sexual abuse from two years to twelve years. Additionally, it added that lookback window, allowing any victim to file their suit by December 31, 2020.
Don’t Wait: Time For Justice
As the deadline nears to file your lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America, please don’t wait. You have until the end of 2020 to get that suit filed. It’s more than a lawsuit. It’s your opportunity to get justice for what was done to you or your child. The attorneys here at The Massey Law firm are experienced in these cases, and we’ll get you the justice you deserve.
