Limitations of Actions Act To Be Proclaimed Sept. 1

Legislation that sets standard time limits to file civil lawsuits will come into force Sept. 1.

The Limitation of Actions Act was introduced last fall with amendments added this spring.

"This modernized legislation is simpler and provides more certainty and better protections for victims of sexual abuse," said Justice Minister Diana Whalen. "This is the first time this legislation has been significantly updated in decades."

The act establishes a two-year basic limitation period, including for personal injury or breach of contract. It also creates an ultimate limitation period of 15 years for claims, which may not be discovered right away, such as undetected medical complications from surgery. This gives Nova Scotians up to 15 years from the date of an action or omission to start a civil lawsuit.

Victims of sexual misconduct and those abused in an intimate or dependent relationship can now file a civil lawsuit against their abuser no matter when the event happened.

More information can be found at http://novascotia.ca/just/documents/Limitation-of-Actions-Act.pdf .