Assembly panel approves bill to remove statute of limitations on child sexual abuse lawsuits

NEW JERSEY
NJ.com

By Matt Friedman/Statehouse Bureau

TRENTON — An Assembly panel has approved a bill to remove the state’s two-year statute of limitations on lawsuits for child sexual abuse.

Under current law, adult victims of childhood abuse have two years to bring suit against individuals or institutions from the point when they realize it damaged them. The measure (S2405) would allow them to file suit no matter how much time has passed, against individuals and institutions – public, private, for-profit and non-profit.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted four to one to approve it, with one abstention. A different version cleared a Senate panel a year ago, but had stalled until now.

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), said it would allow victims “essentially unfettered access” to the courts. He said he expects it to be posted for a vote in both the Assembly and Senate on Monday.

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