Colorado has eliminated the sexual assault statute of limitations for civil lawsuits over assaults that happened on or after January 1, 2022. And if your claim was still valid under the old law on January 1, 2022, you can still file today.
Please note: Greer Law handles sexual abuse claims against institutions and organizations that allowed the abuse to happen, such as schools, churches, youth programs, hotels, and employers. We do not take cases against an individual acting alone, such as a family member, spouse, partner, or acquaintance. If that describes your situation, the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 can connect you with support.
If you survived sexual assault in Colorado, you may have heard there is no “statute of limitations” for these lawsuits. Here is what that means and where the limits are.
What Is a Sexual Assault Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations sets the deadline to file a civil lawsuit. If you file after it passes, you can’t recover compensation, no matter how serious your injuries are. Courts will likely dismiss late cases unless you have a legal reason to extend the deadline.
Colorado Civil Sexual Assault Filing Deadlines
Colorado’s statute says “any civil action based on sexual misconduct” can be brought “at any time without limitation.” There are important qualifications:
| Date or circumstance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sexual assault or other sexual misconduct on or after January 1, 2022 | No statute of limitations. This applies whether you were an adult or a minor when you were assaulted. |
| Assault before 2022, where your right to sue was still valid on January 1, 2022 | If the old statute of limitations had not yet run on January 1, 2022, you can still bring the claim today. This applies whether you were an adult or a minor when you were assaulted. |
| Assaulted as a minor between January 1, 1960, and December 31, 2021 | Survivors had until January 1, 2025, to file. However, if the deadline passed before January 1, 2022, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled survivors cannot file claims. |
Deadlines depend on where the assault happened. Read Sexual Assault Civil Filing Deadlines: Why the State Matters and Tennessee Child Sexual Abuse Civil Filing Deadlines.
What About Repressed Memories?
Many sexual assault survivors repress memories of attacks that happened when they were children. In these cases, you may still file a lawsuit for older assaults, even if the standard deadline has passed. These cases can be very hard to prove, however. If you recently recalled childhood sexual assault, contact us to discuss your options.
Talking to a Lawyer About Your Deadline
Greer Law represents sexual assault survivors seeking compensation from those responsible. We understand how hard it is to talk about your assault, let alone sue your attacker. That’s why our first step is answering your questions about what a lawsuit involves. We’ll give you the information you need to make a careful, informed decision, and we’ll never pressure you to file before you’re ready.
For how a civil case differs from a criminal one, read Civil vs. Criminal Sexual Assault Cases in Colorado.
Call Greer Law at 303-331-6460 or contact us online to set up a free case consultation.
