Illinois statute of limitations and sexual abuse victims

[forum_admin]

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that sexual-abuse victims who discovered their emotional scars before July 2001 should have filed lawsuits within two years of the discovery to have their day in court.

The ruling tries to correct misconceptions about an amendment to the state's statute of limitations in 2003, which gave accusers five years instead of two to file civil suits after they realized they were abused. The law also granted accusers 10 years after turning 18 to file civil suits. The previous statute of limitations gave accusers two years.

Decision shuts the door on some cases, say lawyers for alleged victims.