Massachusetts Lawmakers Hoping to Reach Deal on Bill Extending Time Sex Abuse Victims Can Sue

The Republic
June 18, 2014

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/0936abcee7f843a1aece5eecbf052ed8/MA--Sexual-Abuse-Lawsuits

Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators will begin work soon to hammer out a compromise bill designed extend the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sex abuse to file lawsuits.

On Thursday the Senate approved a bill extending the time an individual can file a claim of sexual abuse from 3 years after the act occurs to 35 years, taking effect when the victim has reached 18 years old.

On Wednesday, the House approved a bill extending by more than 30 years the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sex abuse to file lawsuits against their alleged attackers or the institutions that employed them.

Both bills increase from three years to seven years the period in which a lawsuit can be filed after the recovery of repressed memories of childhood abuse.