Does the statute of limitations apply if there is repeated fraud on the court?

Full question:

Does the statute of limitations apply when fraud on the court was committed over and over?

  • Category: Civil Actions
  • Subcategory: Limitations
  • Date:
  • State: California

Answer:

Under California law, the statute of limitations begins when a person knows about an injury or has facts that would lead a reasonable person to suspect negligence. This law sets the maximum time a person can wait to file a lawsuit, which varies by state and type of claim. If a lawsuit isn't filed before the deadline, the right to sue is lost.

In cases of fraud, the statute of limitations may be extended, or 'tolled,' if the fraud was not discovered right away. This means the time limit may not start until the person discovers or should have discovered the fraud. Tolling can apply when someone continues to rely on another person after the initial harm, especially if the wrongdoer conceals their actions.

Additionally, if there are multiple wrongful acts that form a pattern of continuous fraud, the statute of limitations may start at the time of the last act or the conclusion of the entire transaction. Factors such as the relationship between the parties, the sophistication of the harmed party, and the extent of reliance on the other party are important in determining whether to toll the limitations period.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

The statute of limitations sets the maximum time a person has to file a lawsuit after an injury or wrongdoing occurs. In contrast, the statute of frauds requires certain contracts to be in writing to be enforceable. Essentially, the statute of limitations deals with how long you have to take legal action, while the statute of frauds concerns the validity of certain agreements. Both serve different legal purposes.