The statute of limitations is a law that prohibits someone from pursuing claims against someone for various types of wrongs that have taken place in the past if a certain amount of time has passed. Different types of wrongs have different statutes of limitations. Usually, the more serious the wrong is, the longer the period will be during which the survivor can bring a lawsuit. (There are also statutes of limitation for crimes; we are focusing here on the statute of limitations for civil claims.)
When children have been sexually assaulted, states have, in recent years, modified their statutes of limitation for sexual assault to give survivors more time to bring a lawsuit. Sometimes the limitations period begins to run when the child survivor reaches a certain age.
Tennessee recently changed its statute of limitations for sexual assault when the assault was committed against a minor. Marlo Greer talks about this in her video on this topic. Here is what you need to know when it comes to bringing a lawsuit against someone who has committed sexual assault against a child in Tennessee.
When the Assault Happened Makes a Difference
As many states have done, Tennessee has slightly different limitations periods when it comes to the limitations period that applies to civil lawsuits for sexual assault against a child, depending on when the sexual assault took place. There are three separate sets of limitations periods for bringing sexual assault lawsuits when the abuse involved children.
Sexual Assault Before July 1, 2019
If the child sexual assault took place before July 1, 2019, but was not discovered at the time it happened, you have three years from the time of discovery of the injury to bring a lawsuit for sexual assault.
Note that the word “discovery” has a specific meaning. It means “when the injured person becomes aware that the injury or illness was caused by child sexual abuse.”
The term “injury or illness” also has a specific, defined meaning. It means “either a physical injury or a psychological injury or illness.” For many survivors of sexual abuse, the long-term effects of this abuse remain buried for years until they become aware of the cause of their mental or sometimes physical issues that stem from that abuse.
What this means as a practical matter is that if you were sexually abused as a child before July 1, 2019, but have only recently discovered that mental or physical issues you are suffering related to that abuse, you still have three years from when you made that discovery to sue the person responsible for your assault.
Sexual Assault After July 1, 2019
If the child sexual abuse happened on or after July 1, 2019, you have 15 years from when you turn 18 years of age to sue the person responsible for your sexual assault. In addition to that, if the “illness or injury” was not “discovered” when the abuse happened, you have three years from when you discover the injury.
Marlo also notes in her video that many child abuse cases involve a series of sexual assaults. In Tennessee, you do not have to pinpoint which of the series of sexual assault incidents is the cause of your injury or illness. Instead, the law starts the limitations period from the date of the last act of sexual abuse committed by the attacker against the child.
Sexual Assault on or After July 1, 2025
For child sexual abuse that happened on or after July 1, 2025, you have 30 years from when you turn 18 to bring your lawsuit. You also have three years from discovering the injury caused by the abuse.
Greer Law Can Help You With Child Sexual Abuse Compensation
If this information about how the limitations period for child sexual abuse works in Tennessee sounds complicated, it’s because it is. At Greer Law, we represent survivors of sexual assault and help them recover compensation for the abuse they have suffered. We understand the laws, rules, and procedures that apply in these cases. We also understand that deciding to sue someone for sexual assault can be an extremely difficult decision to make – especially when the sexual assault happened when you were a child.
We are here to provide you with the information you need to make your decision whether to bring this kind of lawsuit. Of course, compensation can be helpful when it comes to paying for treatment you may need as a result of the sexual assault you’ve suffered. But we will never pressure you into your decision.
Contact us if you would like to discuss your case and learn more about what is involved in suing someone for sexual assault committed against you when you were a child. We can be reached at 303-331-6460 or by submitting our contact form. Let us schedule a free case evaluation.
META title: Tennessee Child Sexual Abuse | Greer Law
Description: Tennessee has different limitations periods for suing your attacker if you were sexually abused as a child
If you are a survivor of sexual assault that happened when you were a child, you may wonder whether there is anything you can do to recover compensation from the person who attacked you. In many cases, childhood sexual assault can leave survivors with mental and sometimes physical injuries that may not reveal themselves for years or even decades.
As Marlo Greer points out in her video on this topic (link in the comments), Tennessee has a statute of limitations that sets a time limit for when you can bring a civil lawsuit for sexual assault against someone who sexually abused you when you were a child. Here is how it works:
If you were assaulted before July 1, 2019, you have three years from when you discover the injury (mental or physical) caused by the abuse to bring your lawsuit.
If you were assaulted on or after July 1, 2019, you have 15 years from when you turn 18 to bring the lawsuit, or three years from when you discover the mental or physical injury caused by the abuse.
If you were assaulted on or after July 1, 2025, you have 30 years from when you turn 18 to bring the lawsuit, or three years after you first discover the mental or physical injury.
To learn more about how Greer Law can help you make what we understand can be a very difficult decision to sue your attacker, send us a message. We’ll set up a meeting to go over your case and give you the information you need to make your decision when you are ready. We understand how hard it can be to decide to bring a sexual assault lawsuit, and we will never pressure you into deciding.
