RI lawmaker renews fight to remove statute of limitations on child sexual-abuse lawsuits

Lawmaker from Rhode Island is reigniting the battle to eradicate the statute of limitations for lawsuits concerning child sexual abuse.

The Rhode Island House of Representatives recently passed a bill which would abolish the statute of limitations for said lawsuits. The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee and is currently being deliberated in the Senate. In the event the Senate gives the go-ahead, the bill would become law and no longer impose restrictions on the time frame in which victims of child sexual abuse can seek legal recourse.

McEntee believes the bill is necessary in order to ensure that survivors of sexual abuse have the opportunity to seek justice. She stated, “It is my intention that this legislation will provide those who were sexually abused as a child the ability to seek justice and to hold their perpetrator accountable.”

Currently, Rhode Island restricts the time frame in which victims of child sexual abuse can file a lawsuit. The law stipulates that victims must file suit before their 35th birthday. The bill proposed by McEntee would change this policy and allow victims to file lawsuits regardless of their age.

The bill has been met with some resistance. Opponents claim that striking down the statute of limitations would make it difficult to properly defend against a lawsuit due to the length of time which has passed since the alleged abuse took place. Supporters of the bill, however, dispute these claims and assert that the current statute of limitations is too restrictive and fails to take into account the long-term effects of child sexual abuse.

The bill has been strongly endorsed by the Rhode Island Network Against Sexual Violence and Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence. These organizations believe the bill will provide survivors of sexual abuse with the opportunity to seek justice and hold their perpetrators accountable, regardless of how many years have passed since the incident took place.

McEntee is determined to pass the bill and is hopeful that the Senate will agree that the statute of limitations should not be a barrier to justice for victims of child sexual abuse.

In a bid to expunge the statute of limitations pertaining to lawsuits concerning child sexual abuse, a Rhode Island legislator is waging war against the existing legal framework.

The Rhode Island House of Representatives recently approved a bill sponsored by state Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee that, if greenlit by the Senate, would annul the statute of limitations. If the bill passes, survivors of sexual abuse would be able to file suit regardless of their age.

McEntee believes the bill is essential in order to guarantee that survivors of sexual abuse can seek justice. She stated, “It is my intention that this legislation will provide those who were sexually abused as a child the ability to seek justice and to hold their perpetrator accountable.”

At present, Rhode Island legislation stipulates that victims must initiate legal action before their 35th birthday. The bill proposed by McEntee would alter this policy and enable victims to file lawsuits regardless of the passage of time.

The bill has encountered some dissension. Opponents contest that erasing the statute of limitations would make it difficult to effectively defend against a lawsuit due to the extended period of time that has elapsed since the alleged abuse. Supporters of the bill, however, contend that the current statute of limitations is excessively restrictive and does not consider the far-reaching effects of child sexual abuse.

The bill has been firmly backed by the Rhode Island Network Against Sexual Violence and Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence. These organizations contend that the bill will provide victims of sexual abuse with the opportunity to seek justice and hold their perpetrators responsible, no matter the time that has passed since the incident occurred.

McEntee is resolved to pass the bill and is hopeful that the Senate will recognize that the statute of limitations should not be an impediment to justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.

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RI lawmaker renews fight to remove statute of limitations on child sexual-abuse lawsuits

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