Personal Injury Blog

New Jersey Passes Bill to Extend Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations

Under NJ law the statute of limitations have been extended to file Sex abuse claims

New Jersey lawmakers recently passed a bill that extends the state’s statute of limitations for sex abuse. The legislation, known as AB 3648, passed through both the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly and was sent to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for approval. Individuals who were victims of sexual abuse by priests, clergy, or employees of religious institutions and organizations may seek justice against their abusers and hold them accountable by taking legal action. The experienced litigators at New Jersey’s Leonard Legal Group provide compassionate counsel, explain your rights, and skillfully navigate the legal process for the most favorable outcome.

Statute of limitations for sexual abuse in New Jersey

The statute of limitations is the amount of time an individual has under the law to file a claim in the civil court system. Statutes of limitation vary from state to state and also vary depending upon the claim itself. In New Jersey, the existing law provides that child victims of sexual abuse have two years from the time the abuse occurred or from the time the victim discovered the abuse to file a claim in civil court.

New Jersey’s proposed legislation

New Jersey’s proposed legislation was recently approved by the New Jersey Senate and the General Assembly. The proposed bill – AB3648 – would expand New Jersey’s current statute of limitations for sexual assault victims for civil cases. Under this new legislation, child victims of sexual abuse will have until the age of 55 years old or from seven years from the time they became aware that the abuse occurred to file a claim. This bill also provides that adult victims of sexual abuse have seven years to file a civil lawsuit – or seven years from the time they discovered their abuse, whichever is later. The legislation is before New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who has expressed support for the bill. If the bill is signed into law, a two-year “lookback” window would allow older victims of sexual abuse to pursue litigation; victims of all ages would be permitted to file a civil lawsuit until November 30, 2021. While the Catholic dioceses of New Jersey are offering independent out-of-court settlements to sexual abuse victims, this proposed legislation would give those victims the option of bringing their claims to court.

We advocate for sexual abuse victims and fight on their behalf

The dedicated civil litigation attorneys at New Jersey’s Leonard Legal Group advocate for victims of sexual abuse by clergy members and fight tirelessly on your behalf. Our team is compassionate, knowledgeable, and skilled. We protect your rights and stay by your side throughout the entire process as we seek justice against your abusers. We are here to answer your questions, discuss your options, and explain the process. To schedule a confidential consultation with a member of our team, contact our office at 973-984-1414 or contact us online.