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Statute of Repose vs Statute of Limitations: What Are the Differences?

Do you have a product liability case against an institution or individual? Are you wondering what it will take to win the said case?

The statute of limitations is the period of time you have to file a lawsuit. You can adhere to this advice, make sure to submit your case on time. But, if you’re unsure of which statute is right for you, you’ll need to learn the difference between a statute of repose vs statute of limitations.

Don’t worry, we got you, friend. Below, we’ll give you a full breakdown of what you must know about both. That way, you’ll be better prepared for your case.

Defining the Terms: Statute of Repose vs Statute of Limitations

There are a few key differences between a statute of repose vs statute of limitations. A statute of repose is a period of time after which a claimant prolong a claim. A statute of limitations, but, is a legal deadline for the defendant to respond to a claim.

After the end of either of these deadlines, the case is usually dismissed.

Another key difference is that a statute of repose applies to both civil and criminal cases, while a statute of limitations generally only applies to civil cases. 

When Does the Statute of Repose Begin?

Most people are familiar with the concept of a statute of limitations – a law that sets a time limit on how long someone has to take legal action after an injury occurs. For example, in many states, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years.

But what happens when the time limit has expired? This is where the concept of a “statute of repose” comes into play.

A statute of repose is a law that sets an absolute time limit on when a lawsuit, regardless of when the injury occurred. So, even if the injury happened, if the statute of repose has expired, the victim will no longer be able to file a lawsuit. Check this article for more advice.

The Purpose of Each Implication of Each

The statute of limitations protects defendants from having to defend against claims that are too old. The theory is that after a certain amount of time, the evidence will be gone and it will be unfair to the defendant to try to defend himself.

The statute of repose protects defendants from having to defend against claims after the plaintiff knew or should have known about the injury. 

Implications of Each

The implications of the statute of repose vs statute of limitations are different. A claim will dismiss if it submits after the statute of limitations has run. If the defendant can show that the plaintiff was aware of the injury or should have been aware that it had occurred but failed to file a claim before the statute of limitations had run, the claim dismisses.

The statute of repose favors defendants more than the statute of limitations. But, there are some exceptions. For instance, if the harm is on faulty goods or medical malpractice, the statute of repose might not be applicable in some jurisdictions.

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