MASSACHUSETTS
The Republican
By Suzanne McLaughlin | smclaughlin@repub.com
on July 11, 2014
LUDLOW – A new bill has been signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick that extends the statute of limitations for sex abuse victims to file suit against their abusers.
The new law allows any childhood sex abuse victim up to the age of 53 to file civil charges against their alleged abuser. Prior to the passage of the new law sex abuse victims only had until age 21 to file civil suits against their abusers.
The law was signed by Patrick after it was unanimously approved in the House and Senate.
Kathy Picard, 51, of Ludlow, who says she is the victim of childhood sexual abuse, says she worked for 12 years for passage of the bill. She said she now has filed suit against a male family member who abused her between the ages of 7 and 17.
Victims of childhood sexual abuse should have the right to seek justice, Picard said. She said there is no statute of limitation for charging that someone committed murder.
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