§ 16-56-130 — Civil actions based on sexual abuse

(a) Notwithstanding any other statute of limitations or any other provision of law that can be construed to reduce the statutory period set forth in this section, any civil action based on sexual abuse which occurred when the injured person was a minor but is not discovered until after the injured person reaches the age of majority shall be brought within three (3) years from the time of discovery of the sexual abuse by the injured party. (b) (1) A claim based on an assertion of more than one (1) act of sexual abuse is not limited to the injured party's first discovery of the relationship between any one (1) of those acts and the injury or condition, but may be based on the injured party's discovery of the effect of the series of acts. (2) It is not necessary for the injured party to establish which act in a series of acts of childhood sexual abuse caused the injury or condition that is the subject of the lawsuit. (c) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Childhood sexual abuse" means sexual abuse which occurred when the injured person was a minor; (2) "Minor" means a person of less than eighteen (18) years of age; and (3) "Time of discovery" means when the injured party discovers the effect of the injury or condition attributable to the childhood sexual abuse.

Legislative History

Acts 1993, No. 370, § 1.